Back-to-School ideas
Monday, August 2nd, 2010
You can also read this article on Baptist Press.
Pupils, Pencils and Prayers
Diana Davis Posted
INDIANAPOLIS (BP)–A new school year begins soon. What an opportune time for a church to encourage students and teachers. Need fresh ideas?
– Pray for students and teachers. An adult Bible class can adopt a youth class to pray for them by name. During worship, a pastor could invite students to kneel at the altar as he or the youth minister prays for them. Or he could invite teachers and school staff (elementary, secondary, college, home school) to stand, then pray and challenge the entire church to pray for them faithfully. After taking children to school the first day, moms can gather for coffee, fellowship and prayer for the kids and teachers.
– Make it easy for kids to invite friends to church. Print a bookmark-size schedule of weekly and special fall events for kids at your church. Order book covers, notebooks, T-shirts or pencils with Scripture, the youth motto, the church website and the church name. Our church teens redecorate their Sunday School classrooms annually, painting murals and Scripture art. Plan a back-to-school party or Christian concert. After school the first day, serve homemade pizza at the church. Work hard to provide relevant, top-quality Bible classes and activities for students.
– Adopt a school. Your church or adult Bible class could help a nearby school. Visit the principal to offer assistance, such as mentoring, office help, reading, crossing guards, scholarship application aid or providing shoes, haircut or school supplies for a child in need. Send encouraging prayer notes to the principal. Deliver a huge basket of snacks for the teacher’s break room with a note from your church. An Indiana church painted the playground and developed a great relationship with the school. Be flexible, and joyfully show God’s love as you respond to requests.
– Prepare for guests. In Sunday’s bulletin, print names of children’s and youth Bible teachers, choir leaders, missions teachers, and so on. Church members can pray for them, and guests will see your commitment to disciple kids. Since families often relocate during summer, purchase a newcomer list for your town, and mail or deliver church invitations before school begins. You could advertise in the local paper to invite all teachers and school faculty in town to worship on Sunday before school begins. Recognize them, pray for them, and give a gift (coffee cup, pen) with a Scripture and promise of prayer.
As our children, youth and teachers return to school as ambassadors for Christ, will you assure them of your church’s love and prayers?
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Diana Davis is the author of “Fresh Ideas,” “Fresh Ideas for Women’s Ministry” and “Deacon Wives” (B&H Publishing) and the wife of the Indiana Baptist State Convention executive director. Learn more at www.keeponshining.com.



BACK OF BOOKMARK:



I’ll be flying to Texas to lead a Deacon Wives training at Englewood Baptist Church in the Dallas area. Please pray that God will use me to encourage those wonderful ladies.
CHRISTMAS 2009
Autumn married Yale Wall in January! It was a beautiful time of celebration, and we loved seeing so many friends. You won’t believe it—Autumn and Yale have relocated to INDIANAPOLIS! Yale is the Media Specialist for the Indiana Baptist convention, doing layout and design for the Indiana Baptist, the state’s website (www.scbi.org), all the audio/video/ media for state work & events. He has such a great heart for ministry to go along with his amazing techy skills. Autumn is Steve’s administrative assistant, and has already organized his office and ministry. You can imagine what a huge help they are and how delighted Steve is to have them. They’re a darling newlywed couple, involved in their church, have a great apartment ministry where they live, an American Eskimo pup named Toughy, and even find time to visit their in-laws! 




They decorated a birthday chair (wheelchair) for Steve, and he used it all day–even conducted staff meeting from it! 
It was a fun day, and at the end of it, he’s one day older. 

