Attracting Adult Learners

Adult Christian education can be one of the most beneficial ministries of the local church. In study groups adults can learn about God, discover ways to conduct personal affairs, and create interpersonal bonds through fellowship. Why is it then that so many adults fail to take advantage of this great resource? Many adults complain that Christian education classes are not relevant. Some are turned off by the lack of professionalism demonstrated in the administration of the Sunday school. Yet others simply blow off Christian education opportunities as something for kids. What can a teacher do to make a class attractive to today's adult and effective in fulfilling Jesus' commission to disciple? Keys to successful adult classes  Relevant topics. Malcolm Knowles, a noted authority in adult education, points out that adults need to be involved in the selection of topics they will study. They want to study topics that can help them in their daily living. If teachers are going to recapture the adult learner, they will have to determine the felt needs of the adult population in their churches and communities. It is not enough to simply serve up the spiritual food that people desire, though. You must also consider what people need, as well as the needs of the local church. Christian education has a twofold purpose: to help the learner develop his relationship with God and to equip the learner to minister to others. Adult Christian education offerings must equip individuals to minister as well as to satisfy their spiritual appetites. Proper training. It is vital that teachers have a desire to become more effective. To do this, ongoing training is necessary. Take advantage of Christian education workshops and conventions available in your geographical area. One inexpensive way to receive training is through reading publications and books designed to help you become a better teacher. An inexpensive, yet effective, way of training leaders is through instructional materials. Gospel Publishing House carries many fine materials for training yourself and others. Ongoing evaluation. Evaluation of your adult class must be ongoing if it is to be continually effective. One of the best ways to evaluate it is to ask questions. Ask yourself what features of the curriculum could be improved. Ask group members what they think of the sessions. What aspects of the sessions could be improved? What would they like to study in the future? Why did those who chose to leave the class do so? The list of questions could go on and on. Evaluation does not imply that you are limited to looking for the bad in the class. It is best to look for the positive points and to make them better. Concentrated prayer. No amount of planning and promotion can substitute for prayer. Pray for the success of your adult class. Pray as you determine the needs of your church and the selection of courses. Pray that God will send people with hungry hearts to participate in the learning process. Pray to defeat the powers of the enemy who will surely attempt to destroy your efforts. Pray for guidance in leadership as you carry on the ministry of discipleship. Christ endorsed the adult Christian education ministry as He instructed His disciples to "go and make disciples...teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19,20, NIV). Those words have echoed down through the ages. Take the time and invest the effort to develop a Christian education experience worthy of the King. Clancy Hayes is training coordinator and district liaison for the Sunday School Department, Springfield, Missouri. His book Give Them What They Want is available through Gospel Publishing House. For more information on this subject, you can purchase Josh Hunt's book You Can Double Your Class in Two Years or Less also through Gospel Publishing House.