You've Been Doing the Rotation Model for Awhile

So you’ve been doing the Workshop Rotation Model (WRM) for several years. Some of you might be wondering what happened to your vision of a vibrant Sunday School with a full list of potential teachers. Some of you never found the right connection between the curriculum and your members because you recruited instead of invited adults to participate. Some of you became a one-person show. You know this is the best model out there — you just can’t figure out what’s wrong or how to fix it.
Let’s explore your reality and brainstorm ways to renew the enthusiasm for your program. In the process, we will discover ways for you to delegate, inspire, empower and transform.

Use the Cornerstones Renew the Energy Planning Guide (print friendly document) to help as you answer the following questions:

• What were the three most significant goals you had for moving to the WRM?
• What has been great about your WRM program?
• What needs fixing?

Keep these answers in mind. They are your guide to figuring out how to renew your program. Chances are, you will find that the issues that impede your program’s success revolve around:

• Administration and Organization
• Awareness
• Casting a broader net
• Connections to the local and worldwide church

Every Conversation Becomes an Invitation

Your greatest asset for success is involving more people, whether they are leaders or participants.

• Conversation is the key
• Discover the talent
• Invite

We are looking for the talent of the church to come forward to pass the faith on to the next generation.

That is the refrain of every successful program in a church.

Create a Database of Talent

If you’re doing the story of Peter and the disciples fishing after the resurrection, it would be so enhanced if you knew you had a net fisherman to demonstrate what it’s like to fish in that manner. When you study Jesus’ lineage, it’s good to know who the genealogists are. When a lesson introduces the art of calligraphy in the art workshop, calligraphers will jump at the opportunity to share their passion.

Can you put together a handful of people from various demographics in your congregation who love to make conversation? Invite them to have conversations specifically focused on discovering what talent, hobby, business or unique story they can discover in a person. As you collect the names and the talents, think about how you can fit them into the year’s curriculum.

You are no longer recruiting. You are inviting people to use their talent as a way of passing the faith onto the next generation. It’s a privilege to be asked and to say “yes”. As you proceed through the next section, ponder who has the talent to best accomplish that portion of your renewal. This becomes the agenda for reviving your program.

Administration and Organization

Take a look at our How to Get Started article to see if there are some fundamental adjustments you can make to your program. Use the Cornerstones Renew the Energy Planning Guide to answer the following questions:

• Are there foundational issues that you need to address?
• What actions will I take?
• Who will I ask to be the primary worker?

The planning guide provides a step-by-step list to help you delegate responsibilities and promote your program.

Intergenerational Faith Formation

The Workshop Rotation Model works with all ages. Ponder opening a rotation to adults; there are plenty of subjects that lend themselves to spiritual growth for all. As well, there are plenty of adults would who enjoy participating in an interactive Bible Study rather than the typical discussion format. For example:

• Gospel Gourmet – A 12-week survey of the Bible using food as the lure.
• Recreate da Vinci’s Last Supper – An interesting and fun activity for all ages.
• How the Bible Came to Be series – Run an all-church event on a Sunday after church with lunch and a rotation of workshops.
• The Lord’s Prayer series – This precious prayer is waiting to be explored beyond what we have all learned by rote.
• Images of Jesus in the Arts event – A fascinating rotation that will stretch everyone’s image of Jesus.
• Handel's Messiah: Eat Your Way through the Bible workshop – Guaranteed to interest both child and adult.

Connections

Go the extra step and create an opportunity to connect with your local church and your worldwide church. For example:

• Study the Early Church with units on Paul on the Road,  Paul: Who Can be a Christian?  Early Church as the Body of Christ,  Acts of the Apostles and Pentecost.
• Learn the history of the local and church and videotape testimonials: Prince of Peace: Video Live.
• Create and plant a time capsule: :How the Bible Came to Be:Where in the World is?  or Church Year: Faith Today.

Create a Bible display by inviting everyone to bring a favorite Bible from home. Create a kind of scavenger hunt to see which is the oldest, which ones are non-English, which include a family tree, which include masterpieces of art, which were given as a baptismal or confirmation present.

We hope these ideas facilitate the renewal of your program. For more information or consultation, please contact us online or call toll free 866-851-7102.