Essential #3: Enrollment

ENROLLMENT REALLY WORKS!

One of my favorite commericial features legendary detective Bo Dietl.  He is on the case again trying to discover if Arby’s fish Sandwich really is made with fresh fish.  He constantly asks the skipper…Is this really where Arby’s gets its fish? REALLY.

I received an email this week from a new young pastor. He stated that he really questioned if Sunday School really works today.   After going to a few conferences and reading a few books, he wanted to know if I really believed that the timeless principles of Sunday School really worked.  He was particularly interested in Enrollment. I boldly replied: ENROLLMENT REALLY WORKS!

Do you agree or disagree with this statement?  Human beings have a built-in desire to belong to someplace where they feel loved and accepted as they are. If you really believe this statement, then you will really believe in enrollment, because enrollment is the action a group takes to initiate an offer to someone to “belong.”  In other words, if you really believe people have a built-in desire to belong, then why not invite them to enroll in a group that will love them and accept them as they are.

What happens when someone is enrolled:

• Intercession: The person can be prayed for regularly whether they attend weekly or are struggling spiritually.
• Invitation: The person can be regularly invited to participate in fellowship opportunities where meaningful relationships can be developed.
• Involvement: The person is encouraged to engage in Bible Study that strengthens their relationship to God, to family, and to Kingdom service.
• Inclination: The person is challenged and more likely to engage in evangelism and outreach than a person not enrolled in a small group.

Those enrolled are involved with a group of people that do life together: praying for one another, loving one another, encouraging one another, challenging one another, and bearing one another burdens. Those enrolled are a group of people that God has placed in the care of the Sunday School leader to minister to and to teach.

If we really believe that people have a built-in desire to belong, then we will obey the Great Commission in seeking to enroll anyone, anywhere, anytime as long as the person agrees.  Enrollment REALLY works!  REALLY!!!