With Youth and Young Adult Sabbath School languishing in many churches, leaders are formulating plans to restore Sabbath school for youth.
The Youth Department of the North American Division has officially adopted Youth Sabbath School and is partnering with unions and conferences to co-sponsor training for Youth Sabbath school leaders this fall.
In November, Wisconsin Conference and Lake Region conferences have partnered to launch a two-day training designed to be interactive, eye-opening and filled with tools to help improve the experience of youth when studying the lesson throughout the week, leading up to Sabbath morning.
Wisconsin Conference Youth director Eric Chavez says this training is long overdue. “As I travel the state, I see Sabbath school programs that have huge potential, great young people, and churches that want growth and life, but no real tools are being used to aid in fixing our problem. No matter what spiritual state your church is in, there is hope and there are individuals looking to make changes to help your grow your Sabbath school.”
Jason North, Lake Region Conference Youth director, also is eager to see change. “I am hoping that we really look at goals of Sabbath school and fulfill the mission versus trying to continue with methods that are not as effective as they used to be. Through this training, I’m hoping that we come up with viable methods to revitalize the mission and pillars of Sabbath school — fellowship, outreach, mission and Bible study.”
Training dates: Friday, Nov. 17–Sabbath, Nov. 18
Venue: Milwaukee Central Church, 2229 N. Terrace Ave., Milwaukee, Wis.
Friday
7:00 p.m. Leadership Training Intensive
Sabbath
9:30–10:00 a.m. Spark (Get Acquainted; Group-building)
10:00–11:00 a.m. Initiate (How to Start or Revive your Youth Sabbath School)
11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Give & Take (Ideas and Resources for Youth Sabbath School)
1:00–2:00 p.m. Need (Ways to Increase Participation in Youth Sabbath School)
2:15–3:15 p.m. Involve (How to Start Good Discussions)
3:30–4:30 p.m. Thrive (Equipping Young People to Grow Spiritually and lead)
4:30–5:00 p.m. Express (Summary, Commitment, Consecration)
For more info, contact: Eric Chavez, echavez@wi.adventsit.org, or Jason North, jnorth@lrcsda.com.
