Ralph Burrage, presently manager of the deacon and pastoral ministry section at the LifeWay Christian Resources, has led three churches to significant Sunday School growth. In the early 1980’s, he led Spencer Memorial in Tampa, Florida in several years of growth. He then helped Calvary Baptist Church in Beaumont, Texas go from 580 average attendance to 1480 over a period of five years. Over the next five years, he guided First Baptist Church of Springdale, Arkansas from 2100 to 3984 average attendance.

 

When asked to explain the dynamic growth that these churches experienced, he cited several factors.  Each church made creating new classes a priority. Each church did a superb job of reaching and assimilating new members. The primary reason he gave was leadership. Great emphasis was placed on identifying, enlisting and training new Sunday School leaders. The ratio Ralph recommends is 1 to 6—one leader for every 6 persons enrolled. The nearer to this ratio you come, the greater the potential of growth.

 

 

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