Quote:
Originally Posted by Praxeas
The problem I have with this, and all extended "new converts" classes is it's often taught in place of Sunday school with the rest of the church, which separates them from the larger body. To me that alienates them from the body which is why a lot of people become part of a church in part. It lasts a long long time
I believe "new converts" teaching should not last very long so as to integrate them into the body.
Second they SHOULD be learning necessary truths anyways in the regular Sunday school meeting.
I think part of New Converts training should be a long term relationship between the new convert and an elder or some seasoned saint after an initial 2 or 3 convert lessons. Maybe a once a week bible study and fellowship with a seasoned saint or couple
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I guess im conflicted on this point Prax. I know that way back in the 70s my dad and our pastor at the time, met because, while the church was having great revival, we were retaining barely 10% of the new people that came to into the church.
They put together a plan, dad started teaching new converts class on sunday morning (In our Fathers House) and the numbers shifted to well above 60% retention.
Those numbers were repeated in the 80s here in Dallas.
Now I can say that we have recently seen a large influx of new people here, but instead of Sunday morning classes the Pastor decided to hold a special class on Monday evenings.
SS was tried but for whatever reason, we just didnt have good participation at that time. I think times are very different.
However, his monday night class was very well attended and we have seen very strong retention from those that have progressed thru that class.
I teach the Adult SS class and those people have been part of my class to so they are getting what you suggest here.
either way, I think it is important to get new people well versed in the things that are important, and to get them plugged in to the church itself.
On that second point, we work hard to "plug people in". Whatever is happening in the church, we try to bring new people into the areas of service that will bring them a sense of fulfillment and belonging and ownership.
all of that has to work together. You may be right about not doing the new converts teaching during SS time, but I dont think it should be a quick short experience. I think it can be more extended. I think you just need to figure out what works within the culture of the church and the area you are in.
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