Sunday School Classes

Jeff Miller, Christian Education Coordinator

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Jesus said: "Let the little children come to me…"

"The main importance of Sunday School for our children (and actually for adults!) is that biblical questions can be discussed and answered. Sunday School is more of an open learning atmosphere with many options that differs from the more 'lecture' format of a church sermon." - Jeff Miller, Christian Education Coordinator and Adult Superintendent

"Our children are precious blessings from God, entrusted to us to train up in His way. Sunday School is the children's opportunity for relaxed, hands-on learning about God and His Word. We would love to have your children join us." - Jayne Kanagy, Primary Superintendent

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 3:16, 17

History of Sunday School

Probably the first Mennonite Sunday school in North America was established in Waterloo County, Ontario, in 1840 in the Wanner and Bechtel (Hagey) Mennonite meetinghouses. The second Sunday school seems to have been the one held in 1841 by the Kitchener (then Berlin), ON, congregation. The third Sunday school apparently was the one established by Bishop Nicholas Johnson in 1842 at Masontown in southwestern Pennsylvania. Another early Sunday school was established by Bishop Jacob Gross and Dilman Moyer in 1848 at Moyers (First Mennonite) church near Vineland, ON. In eastern Pennsylvania in 1847 or earlier, apparently before the General Conference Mennonite schism, which he led, John H. Oberholtzer introduced a Sunday school into the Swamp congregation, near Quakertown, PA, under the name "Meetings for Instruction of Children," in German "Kinderlehre." The meetings were held on alternate Sunday afternoons and were fairly well attended for a number of years, although a formal Sunday school at West Swamp was not established until 1858. Sunday school was conducted among the Amish of Mifflin County, PA, before 1850. Most of these Sunday schools were later discontinued.

Wherein lay the great significance of the Sunday school for the church? A careful study suggests nine major contributions of the Sunday school. This summary is not to imply that the Sunday school was the only source of these improvements, but rather that the Sunday school was in general the initial and most important single factor. (1) The Sunday school was an important factor in holding the young people for the church. (2) It has greatly increased Bible knowledge. (3) It elevated the level of spiritual life. (4) It raised the level of moral life in the church, especially through the teaching of temperance. (5) It provided activity and expression and thus contributed to new life in the church. (6) It created lay leadership. (7) It was largely responsible for the missionary movement. (8) It was a factor in the great awakening of the Mennonite Church, which occurred in 1890-1910. (9) It helped to give the Mennonite Church a new vision.

Wherever the North American Mennonites have gone in mission work, at home or abroad, they have taken the Sunday school with them with some adaptations.

(From the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online.)

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