Sabbath School Relationships

1. Sabbath School Relationships Presented by Oscar L. Sherrod

2. AdultDivision • Relationships mean the state of being related or interrelated, which means to bring into or have a mutual relationship. • Our churches need to place more emphasis on training, particularly in the area of relationships. • We need to show people what love looks like.

3. Adult Division continued.. • It is imperative to build strong relationships in order to have a favorable Sabbath School Department that will be attractive, warm, and kind, pleasant, sound, well rounded, with loyal leaders that bring a bountiful harvest.

4. Sabbath School Facilitators and Professionalism • Look like a professional • Speak like a professional • Take initiative like a professional • Be accountable like a professional • Be dependable like a professional

5. Sabbath School Facilitators and Professionalism • Look Like A Professional Develop a professional appearance by carefully choosing those items which are appropriate and by letting your appearance indicate that you are well organized in everything including dress and appearance.

6. Sabbath School Facilitators and Professionalism • Speak Like A Professional Voices, like appearance, convey a message. Use the power of your voice. Express yourself so you will be listened to. Ask for what you want with class.

7. Sabbath School Facilitators and Professionalism • Take Initiative Like A Professional Any leader called a professional should learn to take the initiative. There is only minimal worth for a leader who performs robotic tasks, never learns the problems of the job, and never seeks ways to improve performance. Professionals must constantly take the initiative to greater learning and improvement.

8. Sabbath School Facilitators and Professionalism • Be Accountable Like a Professional Accepting blame is perhaps the most difficult responsibility of all, but it is a sure sign of a true professional. Professionals must learn to accept criticism as a learning experience which uses their skills and attitudes. By accepting praise, they must be cautious of the hidden danger of viewing praise as the end of learning.

9. Sabbath School Facilitators and Professionalism • Be Dependable Like a Professional The Sabbath School Superintendent should be able to depend upon professional to report to Sabbath School promptly and regularly and is entitled to their complete concentration during church hours. Responsibilities outside the church should remain outside the church.

10. Sabbath School Facilitators and Professionalism • Treat Others Like A Professional Treating others like a professional will most often bring the same treatment for you. Each person is entitled to their complete concentration during church hours. Responsibilities outside the church should remain outside the church.

11. Sabbath School Facilitators and Professionalism • Be Trustworthy Like A Professional A professional continues to build trust every day, strives to promote the welfare of the Sabbath School, and can always be relied on to keep a person’s confidence.

12. Sabbath School Facilitators and Professionalism • Grow Like a Professional Professional growth never ceases; the valued worker is one constantly seeking new ways to learn and grow in Sabbath School.

13. Sabbath School Establish officers with your class: • President- Organize class for Mission and Outreach. • Secretary- Record keeper, sends cards to visitors etc. • Treasure- Collects Sabbath School offering to be turned in to church treasurer. • Chaplain- Makes contact with missing members.

14. Sabbath School Personalize Your Class by remembering: • Birthdays • Anniversaries • Graduations • Special Events

15. Discourtesy and It’s Influence • “The good qualities which many possess are hidden, and instead of attracting souls to Christ, they repulse them. • If these individuals could see the influence of their incautious ways and unkind expressions upon non-believers and how offensive is such conduct in the sight of God, they would reform their habits, for a lack of courtesy is one of the greatest stumbling blocks to sinners. • Selfish, complaining, sour Christians bar the way so that sinners do not care to approach Christ.” • RH, September 1, 1885. (HC 229.)

16. Be Lovable • “Let Christ be seen in all that you do. Let all see that you are living epistles of Jesus Christ. Be lovable. Let your life win the hearts of all who are brought in the present time to render the truth attractive to others.” • MS 6, 1889.

17. Every Action and Influence • “Every word you speak, every action you perform, has influence for good or evil upon those who associate with you; and oh! How necessary it is that you have Christ dwelling in your heart by faith, that your words may be words of life, and your works, the works, of love.” • -RH, June 12, 1888

18. Responsible for One’s Influence • “God holds everyone responsible for the influence that surrounds his soul or his own account, and on the account of others. He calls upon young women to be strictly temperate and conscientious in the use of their faculties of mind and body. Their capabilities can be developed only by the diligent use and wise appropriation of their powers to the glory of God and the benefit of their followers.” • LT 145, 1897

19. Far-reaching Effects of Influence • “We may never know until the judgment the influence of a kind, considerate course of action to the inconsistent, the unreasonable and unworthy. If after a course of provocation and justice on their part, you treat them as you would an innocent person, you ever take pains to show them special acts of kindness, then you have acted the part of a christian; and ashamed, and shown their aggravated acts to rebuke them. • LT 20, 18892 (MM 209, 210.)

20. Helping Others Helps Oneself • “Many are obscurity. They have lost their bearings. They know not what course to pursue. Let the perplexed ones search out others who are in perplexity and speak to them words of hope and encouragement. When they begin to do this work, the light of heaven will reveal to them the path that they should follow. By their words of consolation to the afflicted they themselves will be consoled. By helping others, they, themselves will be helped out of their difficulties. Joy takes the place of sadness and gloom. The heart, filled with the spirit of God, glows with warmth toward every fellow being. Every such a one is no longer in darkness: for his “darkness” is “as the noon day.” • MS 116, 1902. (4BC 1151.)

21. The Law of Mutual Dependence • We are all woven together in the great web of humanity, and whatever we can do to benefit and uplift others will reflect in blessings upon ourselves. The law of mutual dependence runs through all classes of society. • PP. 534, 535

22. Host or Hostess • You make or brake your church. • You must remember you’re in the people business. • You must be kind and be attentive. • Speak cheerful, kind, encouraging words. • Have a tender spirit, a gentle, winning department.

23. Sabbath School Receptionists Show Love • As the receptionist always wear a smile. • Always greet people quickly. • Give handshakes or hugs. • Say kind words.

24. Receptionists • The role of the receptionist is to make the atmosphere of the church warm and inviting. • Set the climate for Sabbath School. • Make others feel comfortable, welcomed and loved. • Treat visiting guest like family. • Sabbath School Handbook, p. 100

25. Receptionists • Line of Authority The Sabbath School receptionist is responsible to the Sabbath School Coordinator or to the assistant coordinator for hospitality. In larger churches there may be a receptionist committee with one person acting as chairperson. In that case each receptionist would be responsible to that committee. The receptionists will work closely with the deacons or ushers. -Sabbath School Handbook, p. 100

26. Receptionists • Time Commitment- 3 hours a month Receptionists are often scheduled to serve one Sabbath a month, or every Sabbath for one month of the year or the quarter. The receptionist should be on duty thirty minutes before Sabbath School begins and should continue at least until the sermon begins. In large congregations the receptionist may be asked to attend a receptionist’s committee once or twice during the year. -Sabbath School Handbook, p. 100

27. Receptionists • Duties and Responsibilities • Become acquainted with the regular members so they can recognize visitors when they arrive. • When approaching guests introduce themselves first, extend a welcome, then ask for the visitor’s names. • Introduce the person to someone who will show them a seat or help them find Sabbath School classes or the parent’s room. • Introduce newcomers to one or two other people in the church with whom they might feel comfortable because of shared ages or interests. -Sabbath School Handbook, p. 100

28. Receptionists • Making People Feel Comfortable • The church should appear personal and caring to all who walk through the doors, both members and visitors. • Try to sense the needs of people arriving in church for the first time. Help them with such needs as: where to find the children’s room, where to hang coats, the location of restrooms, location of the mother’s room as well as the variety of classes and where they meet. This can be accomplished through a map in the bulletin or a foyer announcement board. Sabbath School Handbook, p. 101

29. Receptionists Making People Feel Comfortable continued 3. Arrange for someone to greet people in the parking lot, particularly when the weather is bad. Assistance with an umbrella on rainy days is often appreciated. 4. Be alert to people carrying children, packages or other ways. 5. Educate the regular members about the importance of mixing and talking with visitors after the service. -Sabbath School Handbook, p. 101

30. Receptionist and Hospitality • A Quick Look at How to Treat Guests The receptionist system in your church is one of its most important activities, and deserves careful attention and training of personnel. What do people look for when they step inside your door? This is not an easy question to answer because people’s personalities vary so much. Here are some of the most common things people look for when entering a church: • People look for a warm, friendly place. -Sabbath School Handbook, p. 101

31. Receptionists and Hospitality A Quick Look at How to Treat Guests continued • Look for the right kind of human contact. • They expect courteous treatment, and expect to be recognized. • They look for verbal and body language that says: “You are welcome and accepted.” • They expect an attitude that says: “We want you here.”

32. Who Walks in Your Church Door? • There are four general categories of guest who walk in your church door: • Non-believers • Non-Attending or Occasionally-Attending Adventists • Visitors (friends, relatives and acquaintances) • Adventists from out of town or from other Adventist churches -Sabbath School Handbook, p. 101

33. Who Walks in Your Church Door? Continued… • Non-believers Non-believers tend to be suspicious and fearful of church people and church buildings. They are in unfamiliar territory and don’t know what to expect. They don’t understand “church” language. -Sabbath School Handbook, p. 102

34. Who Walks in Your Church Door? Continued.. • Non-Attending or Occasionally-Attending Adventists The language used when greeting them is very important. Do everything in your power to protect these guests from the more unstable people in your congregation who somehow tend to surface in exactly the wrong place at the wrong time. -Sabbath School Handbook, p. 102

35. Who Walks in Your Church Door? • Visitors (friends, relatives and acquaintances) These guests already have a point of contact. The people who bring them can tell you whether they want to be smothered with affection or left alone. -Sabbath School Handbook, p. 102

36. Who Walks in Your Church Door? • Adventists from out of town or from other Adventist churches Adventists have a keen sense of “family.” We expect to be received in any of our churches as if it were our own. In practice, we may end up being ignored, and as a result feel hurt. Untrained greeters tend to pay attention to people they know, not the people they don’t know. But it is precisely their job to pay attention to people they don’t know. -Sabbath School Handbook, p. 102

37. Who Walks in Your Church Door?

38. Who Walks in Your Church Door? • Lasting impressions are made in the first 30 seconds, and guests often decide within about five minutes whether or not they will come back to your church. -Sabbath School Handbook, p. 102

39. Invitations to Lunch • Make sure the church has a plan to ensure that visitors are either invited to lunch at someone’s home or to a church fellowship dinner. • Larger groups organize sub-committees to host dinner every Sabbath. • Small churches usually have a potluck once a month with individuals taking responsibility for inviting guests on other Sabbath. -Sabbath School Handbook, p. 103

40. Invitations to Lunch 2.Extend a dinner invitation to each visitor. If the invitation is to someone’s home, introduce the host to the visitor sometime during the morning’s program. 3. Greet visitors again after the church service, making sure they have an invitation and know where to go for the dinner. Take them with you to the church fellowship dinner and introduce them to two or three other people. 4. At the church fellowship dinners it is important to seat visitors with members so they feel welcome and part of the fellowship. Often visitors are asked to go through the servicing line first and end up sitting with other visitors, and may feel ignored by the rest of the church. -Sabbath School Handbook, p. 103

41. Invitation to Lunch Continued…. • A smile, a warm sign of welcome, either a handshake or whatever form is used in your culture, and a brief word of welcome are always in order. -Sabbath School Handbook, p. 103

42. An Effective Receptionist System • Make sure you have enough greeters to give individual attention to guests. • Know where they should sit. • Know where church facilities are located: Sabbath School rooms, Mother’s Room, restrooms, etc. • Ask questions: “Is there anything you would like to see?” -Sabbath School Handbook, p. 103

43. An Effective Receptionist System 2. Develop a welcome packet. Include everything you can think of about your church that a guest might want to know. 3. Take people- don’t just send them. The idea is to designate a special section in the church where carefully trained people sit who know how to receive guests. When guests arrive, you may seat them in the section. -Sabbath School Handbook, p. 103

44. An Effective Receptionist System Only the receptionist and the people who sit at the welcome desk make available a welcome packet and other materials about the church. At the welcome desk you could have: • The welcome packets. • Visitors buttons or ribbons for children. • Anything else you may want a guest to have. • Well-trained people informally gathered around the welcome desk. They offer help, answer questions, and take people to wherever they want to go next. -Sabbath School Handbook, p. 104

45. What to Put in an Information Packet • A map of the Sabbath School rooms and church. • Some history of the church. • A list of weekday activities such as Bible study groups, Pathfinder or Adventurer Clubs, Community Services Center, Family Life Workshops, and Evangelistic Seminars. • A Quick Look at Seventh-day Adventist brochure • Phone numbers of key church personnel. • Information about the local Adventist school. -Sabbath School Handbook, p. 104

46. An Effective Receptionist System continued… 4. Learn the names of regular members so they don’t feel neglected. New greeters especially need to know who the members are. -Sabbath School Handbook, p. 104

47. Summary • Every Sabbath School member should make themselves a committee of one to be kind and courteous to everyone in the church. • During Divine Worship Service Sabbath School members should reach out and be intentional in greeting visitors. Everyone should do this but we encourage Sabbath School members to be on point.