In 1783 Robert Raikes, the owner of the Gloucester Journal, wrote a letter to a Colonel Townley of Bolton, England, addressing his role in what would come to be known as the Sunday School Movement. Motivated by concern for the poor, working class children of Gloucester, Raikes wrote, “the children are born and bred in abject poverty and sometimes unhappy victims of child labor situation. They tend to roam the streets, ragged, quarreling, undisciplined….I then inquired of the woman if there were any decent, well-disposed women in the neighborhood who kept schools for teaching. I then made agreement with four to receive as many children as I should send upon Sunday to instruct in reading and the church catechism.” As a result, the first Sunday Schools appeared in 1780, and by 1787 more than 250,000 children were attending Sunday School. It took just one person who cared to make a difference.
While Sunday School began as a great response to a social ill, today it represents a great opportunity. By coming alongside parents in the spiritual instruction of their children, Sunday School teachers have the opportunity to make an eternal difference in the lives of little ones.
If you’re wondering how you can serve the body of Christ and make a difference in the lives of children at Grace Church, Children’s Ministries is always looking for Sunday School teachers and assistants. Both our first- and second-service Sunday School classes would love to have your help in shepherding the more than 600 children (ages 3–12) who attend each week.
As one servant on our staff so aptly put it, “As a sheep of His pasture who has enjoyed feeding on the Word of God at Grace Church through the years, would you consider taking one year to help us feed the littlest of the lambs?”
Ray Mehringer
Sunday School Superintendent
For more information about serving in children’s Sunday School, click here or call (818) 909-5631 to contact Children’s Ministries.