BLANTYRE SYNOD

Rev. Bessie Liwonde Sunday School Director

CCAP SUNDAY SCHOOL.

What is Sunday school? This refers to an institution which is designed to teach people, usually children, about Christianity. It is named Sunday school because most Christian churches meet on Sunday. The Sunday School has been the foremost vehicle churches have used for teaching the principles of Christian religion and the Bible.

At Sunday school, we are committed to teaching the children the word of God, importance of obedience both to their parents and to God, importance of righteousness and holiness as well as teaching them about sin and its consequences.
Children’s ministry may be the only time a kid truly gets to experience Gods unconditional love. It is so important to raise a generation of children that know their worth in Christ and know that they are loved. We don’t know the background of each child we meet, but we make an impact on them by just loving them.

SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Why There Must Be Sunday School. a) There must be Sunday school because children ministry was a priority for Jesus. In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, “Let the children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such, belongs the kingdom of heaven. It is made so evident that children are important to Jesus which means they should be important to us too. This is the reason why the CCAP Blantyre Synod had set up Sunday school.
b) Sunday School need to be there because children need a firm foundation in God. Proverbs 22:6 says, direct your children into the right path, and when they are older, they will not depart. The time we spend with children at a younger age, impacts the rest of their lives because the things that we instil in them as children, won’t be forgotten when they are older. Sunday school ministry allows us to pour these core values of Christianity while they are still growing so that when they grow older they will know these values. As we teach them bible verses to remember, they are able to recall them later.
c) There must be Sunday school because children are the future leaders. Psalms 78:4 says, we will not hide these truths from our children, we tell them about the glorious deeds of the Lord, his power and mighty wonders. We often call children the next generation. Sunday school ministry equip children to see the calling in their lives and make a difference. At Sunday school, we see such bravery and light in the children and they go on to share that with other children and their parents. The ministry is so important because it gives children the tools to make a difference now and in the future.
d) Sunday school children are the future leaders of the church and the world at large. These children could be the next moderators, next session clerks, next church elders and deacons, even Sunday school leaders. It is therefore important to give them a good foundation.
e) There must be Sunday school because children need to feel Gods unconditional love. Children’s ministry may be the only time a kid truly gets to experience Gods unconditional love. It is so important to raise a generation of children that know their worth in Christ and know that they are loved. We don’t know the background of each child we meet, but we make an impact on them by just loving them.
f) Sunday school gears Bible teachings to specific age group (Deuteronomy 31:12) the bible teaches different age groups according to their need. Both Adults and Children benefits from the Sunday School.

SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES

CCAP Blantyre synod recommends the following age group: i. 0 -5years [Tisewere 1]
This class takes all the children who are less than 5 years. Parents who have children who are just months old and cannot attend classes are encouraged to make sure that once a child is born, they should register him/her with the Church Sunday School.

ii. 6 -8 years [Tisewere 2]
These are children who are aged 6 years to 8 years.

iii. 9 -11 years [Tisewere 3]
These are children who are aged 9 years to 11 years.

iv. Hearers Class
These are children who are aged 12 – 13 years

v. Catechumen Class
These are children who are aged 13years and above.

vi. Special Class
This class accommodates adults who have special cases like:
 Joining CCAP
 Following Spouse

Mode of Teaching To effectively teach the children, it is believed that children learn well when they have been grouped into their different age groups. This is because children of same age group have many things in common like; their understanding, their hearing, their behaviour and their wisdom.

CLASS	BOOK	AGE GROUP
TISEWERE 1	TISEWERE BOOK 1	0-5 YEARS
TISEWERE 2	TISEWERE BOOK 2	6-8 YEARS
TISEWERE 3	TISEWERE BOOK 3	9-11 YEARS
HEARERS CLASS	CATECHISM	12-13 YEARS
CATECHUMEN CLASS	CATECHISM	13 YEARS
SPECIAL CLASS	CATECHISM	ADULTS

PLEASE NOTE

The Catechism Book, comprises of Topics which are covered in three classes as such teachers are advised to make sure that they teach the right topic in the right class!!.

SUNDAY SCHOOL BOOKS.

WHERE TO BUY THESE BOOKS. We can buy all these books at our synod offices at the following prices:
 Tisewere Books (Chichewa) Set of 3(Book 1, 2 and 3) K3900
 Tisewere Books (English) Set of 3 (Book 1, 2 and 3) K3000
 Catechism MK5, 000.00

OTHER BOOKS:  Bible ( Sunday School teachers and children’s are required to have their own Bibles)
 Sunday School Register (Main Register containing names of all Sunday School learners)
 Teachers register (To record names of children per class)
 Hymn (The teacher and children should have hymns and make sure that they sing all the hymns that are given in each lesson)
 Offering Book (This is used to record the offering each Sunday)
 Teachers attendance Register (This is used to record all the teachers that have teach at particular Sunday.
 Syllabus (Every teacher MUST use the syllabus which recommended by the CCAP Blantyre Synod when teaching, we can get a copy from Presbytery Office or the Synod Office
 Exercise Book (Both the teacher and student should have an exercise book: "The teacher will use this for lesson plan while the student will use it for notes which he can read later his free time")