Online Courses

The Changing 21st Century Sunday School Online Course
Cost: $45
This course is eligible for 1.0 CEU.
Leader: Debbie Kolacki
To register to be notified of future offerings of this course, click here.

If you’re involved with Sunday school, either as a superintendent, CE director, teacher, or another capacity, then you’ve no doubt heard the lament that things have changed. Crowded classrooms and regular attendance are no longer the norm. Instead you’re struggling with things like whether to go to a one room Sunday school or how to reach biblically illiterate kids who only attend your program every few weeks.

Join us for this three week BeADisciple.com course as we explore ways to handle the challenges of the 21^st century Sunday school such as declining enrollment, erratic attendance, competition with other activities, lack of volunteers, and budget cuts. We’ll also talk about the possibility of doing Sunday school a different way or at a different time.

We’ll look at intergenerational ministry and worship along with ways to introduce them in your church, using the experiences of churches who are doing them successfully. Partnering with families will be discussed with specific steps you can take to help families become the primary faith formation leaders for their children.

We’ll also look at the movement to get rid of Sunday school and what this means for you and your ministry. Together we’ll come up with an action plan and innovations to your Sunday school program that will fit your unique situation.

You will be able to access this course at your own convenience; a minimum of four to five hours per week is necessary to benefit from the course content.

Debbie Kolacki is a Certified Christian Educator and Certified Lay Servant in the United Methodist Church. Her blogs include FaithGeeks and Practical Resources for Churches. She is also an online instructor for BeADisciple.com. Debbie is the senior consultant for PRC - Practical Resources for Churches where she works with people in all areas of ministry and leads webinars, workshops, and retreats.

 

Called to Teach Online Course
Leader: Debbie Kolacki
Cost: $45
This course is eligible for 1.0 CEU.
Leader: Debbie Kolacki
To register to be notified of future offerings of this course, click here.

If you are a new Sunday school teacher or an experienced teacher who wants to grow, this three-week course on BeADisciple.com is for you. Sunday school superintendents and CE directors may also find the course useful for teacher training. We will be looking at teaching children from preschool through 6th grade as a calling and ministry. You will be able to access this course at your own convenience; a minimum of four to five hours per week is necessary to benefit from the course content.

Week one will cover faith development as well as children’s physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual age level characteristics. We’ll also explore ways of using prayer and spiritual practices with children. An overview of the Bible and Church History will be covered during week two. We will also look at the different types of curriculum available and the advantages and disadvantages of the different types. During the third week, we will cover lesson planning and the teaching environment including physical, spiritual, and social space. Finally, we’ll look at ways to partner with our students’ families and the rest of the congregation in their faith formation.

Take this opportunity to grow as a teacher, as you meet and interact with others sharing the blessings and challenges of children’s ministry!

Debbie Kolacki is a Certified Christian Educator and Certified Lay Servant in the United Methodist Church. Her blogs include FaithGeeks and Practical Resources for Churches. She is also an online instructor for BeADisciple.com. Debbie is the senior consultant for PRC - Practical Resources for Churches where she works with people in all areas of ministry and leads webinars, workshops, and retreats.