Sabbath School Ministries Report

Mission and Key Functions

As the church’s primary religious education program, Sabbath School has a sacred mission to nurture its members’ faith, strengthen interpersonal relationships, share God’s love in the community, and support world missions.

With a mere 20% of our members attending Sabbath School prior to the Covid19 Pandemic, we knew Sabbath School needed a mega-reset. That led us to launch the Quadrennium with the motto: “Sabbath School: Reimagined and Rebuilt.” Our overarching goal is to have each congregation be home to an all-age Sabbath School that prioritizes the ministry’s four purposes: Study of the Word, Fellowship, Community Outreach, and World Mission Emphasis.

To achieve that goal, we undertook a robust Officer Retraining Program. Superintendents were challenged to initiate a paradigm shift focused on the purposes of Sabbath School, as opposed to merely presenting good programs. Class Facilitators’ Workshops were conducted to expedite the transition from the Panel Discussion format, which was necessitated by the Pandemic, to Classes focused on Study of the Word as well as the other purposes of Sabbath School.

“A Sabbath School of Prayer” was launched to reteach the primacy of prayer, and its relationship to the purposes of Sabbath School.

Sabbath School Rally Days were held in local churches to appeal to members to reinvest in Sabbath School, by engaging in its purposes, especially the two that are least executed, viz., Fellowship and Outreach. Churches were also urged to staff the “Orphan Divisions” viz., Children’s, Teen’s and Youth.

Major Accomplishments and Milestones

• In-person Officers and Class Facilitators Workshops were held in each geographic region of the conference.
• An Annual Virtual Workshop for Superintendents and Secretaries was hosted.
• Sabbath School Rally Days led by the Director were held in congregations.
• Virtual Training for Local Sabbath School Councils was offered.
• The Director’s Morning Visits and participation in local Sabbath Schools was appreciated.  

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The Department hosted previews of the Adult Sabbath School Study for Class Facilitators when the subject was deemed technical. Among those addressed are:

• The Message of Hebrews: Dr. Tarsee Lee, Genesis: Dr. Lael Caesar, Psalms, Dr. Gilbert Ojwang, The Three Cosmic Messages, Dr. Leslie Pollard, and How to Study Bible Prophecy: Dr. Keith Burton.
• We also hosted a Special Black History Study, “The Curse of Ham and Black Servitude” featuring Drs. Dedrick Blue, Stephen Williams and Sednak Yankson
• “World Mission Emphasis Front & Center” a locally produced ten-minute video was launched to enhance the Mission Offering appeal of local Sabbath Schools.
• Sabbath School Evangelism was accentu with Family and Friends Days, Guest Days, Vacation Bible School and Outreach Sabbaths.
• The Department hosted Bus Tours to the General Conference Headquarters, Ellen G. White Estate and the Historic William Miller Farm, respectively.
  
  

Notable Statistical Highlight

Sabbath School Attendance Report from our Secretaries indicates we had a 10% improvement over the Pre-Pandemic Period.

Notable Challenges and How They Were Addressed

Among the most notable challenges Sabbath School faces are garnering adequate support for Community Outreach Days, receiving the Quarterly Attendance Reports from the local churches, and repopulating and staffing the Children’s, Teens and Youth Divisions. These were addressed at our workshops/rally days. We need greater pastoral and church board engagement on these issues.

Strategic Goals and Recommendations for the Next Term

A Comprehensive Sabbath School focused Survey should be conducted. Greater effort to create a Sabbath School Culture of Evangelism and OutreachSpecial Thanks: I am grateful to the Constituency and Administration for the opportunity to serve as Director of the ministry that led my family into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I offer special thanks to my family, the Assistant Directors, Franz D’Haiti, Pablo Huerfano and Rafael Solana, the Administrative Assistants, Suesianna Cadrot, Yancy Nurse, and Rachel Jean-Pierre, and my twelve volunteer assistants. Drs. Dedrick Blue and Ainsworth Morris were reliable sources of wisdom to whom I am grateful. Together we all bow before the Lord.