During a time of public testimony in a children's Sunday school program in Tamil Nadu, India, a girl came forward, weeping. She shared that she had given her heart to Jesus Christ, and that she was going to go home and tell her parents about Him.

Later some Bible school students told me her story. Her name was Maliga, she was in the sixth grade, and she lived in a village five kilometers away. The Bible school students had brought a van to pick Maliga and her friends up for the program, but local anti-Christians forced the team to leave. Maliga chose to walk the five kilometers rather than miss the Sunday school program.

What is a Sunday School?
“Sunday school” is the name commonly used within Gospel for Asia to define weekly ministry to children. In a local church, Sunday school takes place on Sundays. But this same ministry carried on by Bible school students or missionaries in slums and leper colonies takes place on any day that works for their community and schedule. Mostly it occurs on Saturdays.
The overall vision for Sunday schools is to help reach the thousands of villages in India with the Gospel. With over 9,000 programs already established, Sunday schools play a vital role in the local churches and often spearhead the ministry of reaching the unreached.

Sunday schools come into being in two ways. In each of the Believers Churches planted by native missionaries, Sunday schools have become part of the strategy for reaching the lost. And wherever Bible school students or slum workers begin a new ministry, Sunday schools are created as the need arises.

In a local church context, the pastor usually handles the entire Sunday school program himself. Bible school students always work in teams of two. Missionaries in slums work together in groups of two to four.

“We often hear children loudly singing their Sunday school songs during our regular church services. Sunday school is an exciting time of learning, fun, storytelling, memory verses and Bible stories. It is not just a school, but an evangelistic opportunity. Many non-believing children gather, and the seed of faith is planted in their hearts. Many a time we've found that due to the faith and trust of a child, the whole family is influenced.”  –GFA field leader, Nepal

The seminars include such subjects as Understanding Children, Leading a Singing Session, How to Teach a Memory Verse, How to Tell a Story, and How to Lead a Child to Christ.

“Lead Them to the Truth”
At a special program for more than 80 teenagers in Assam, India, we experienced the hand of the Lord moving mightily. During one session the group was led to a time of commitment and prayer, and many of them began to weep. For the next hour, I heard them crying out, “I'm sorry, Jesus,” “Lord, forgive me,” and “I love You, Jesus.” Many of them came to us with tears afterward and shared about the stand they had taken for Christ. Some were giving their lives to the Lord; for a number it was a time of recommitment; and still others were surrendering themselves for full-time ministry. It was the Lord's doing, and all glory and honor belong to Him alone.

As our team was ready to leave one town following a children's program, I waved goodbye to the children and gave a gentle hug to one little girl. At that very moment I saw tears flowing from her eyes and then she laid her head on my shoulder. God's love stirred in my heart as I tried to imagine what her home life must be like. Perhaps it was because she had no one to love her; maybe she had a drunkard father who beat her up every day; or it could be that she was living in poverty. I said a quiet prayer, “Lord, raise people up who will go out into these villages to show Your love to little ones like these and lead them to the Truth—to Jesus Christ.”

Personal Impact
During my years of ministry to children, the Lord has blessed me in many ways. A deep desire to live a holy life has grown in me. When I stand before children and young people to share God's Word, I long to strip away hypocrisy in all its forms that so subtly creeps in. I know my Lord's grace is sufficient for me.

In many places, as I watch children receiving Jesus as their Savior, I find myself in tears, thanking the Lord. It is an awesome sight.

Pray for GFA's Sunday Schools
*We are in need of workers who have a calling for this ministry. We need able people in each church, Bible school, slum and leper colony.

*Please pray that the Lord would give me wisdom as I serve in this ministry for the extension of His kingdom.

*Please uphold all the pastors, missionaries and Bible school students who are trained and involved in this ministry.

*Please pray for the two seminars taking place this summer.

The Big Picture
*More than 8,000 Sunday schools exist in local Believers Churches.

*More than 1,000 Sunday schools are run by Bible school students during their weekend ministry programs.

*More than 200 Sunday schools are run by missionaries in slums and leper colonies.