Training for Sunday-School Teacher

in GKJ Sentolo

(Follow-Up Activity of Sustainable Development

Training Program)

  

"Educating kids in Sunday school is the beginning phase of personal character building and it will remain until they grow up", said Stenly, a member team of Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta in the opening ceremony of a training session for Sunday school teacher in Javanese Christian Church (GKJ) Sentolo, Kulonprogo, on January 26, 2014.

Nine participants delivered training for sunday school teacher in GKJ Sentolo. They are Stenly, Paulus, Resky, Ian, Eva, Deko, Dwi, Yohanes and Yanto. GKJ Sentolo consists of one central church, Sentolo and two small group churches as the branches, Pepanthan Jangkang and Pepanthan Tuksono. Last December, the follow up team delivered preaching services in Pepanthan Jangkang and Sunday school services in Sentolo. On January 26, 2014, they did a series of events and distributed teaching material for Sunday school teaching.

Paulus shared various techniques how to prepare Sunday school materials, activities, and some teaching media. First, material preparation with a specific purpose. Once a theme set, the Sunday school teachers shall reread and explore the material in guide book, because it sometimes was not ready to use. One of the Sunday school teacher tasks is modifying book-language into an understandable and familiar language for children.

Second, children activity is different with teaching aids. Children activity helps children to be able to find out the things to do, while teaching aids helps children to imagine a real example. The preparation of children activity and teaching aids can be provided from the surrounding. Fir and candles for Christmas celebration can be replaced by local trees or other decorative devices.

Rev. Gogod represent GKJ Sentolo assembly shared his experience to be a ‘cantrik’ (apprenticeship). It also means discipleship. He must do an apprentice in GKJ Kotagede first before serve GKJ Sentolo. A kind of coaching can be beneficial to all. For Stube-HEMAT activists, they learn ways to lead or organize events and distributed materials to be learned here. Rev. Gogot added that Sunday school teacher got new input, such as teaching materials and teaching methods. It’s expected that soon no more Sunday school teachers are awkward or reluctant to teach children. Sunday school teaching is a kind of calling and not a command that makes heart so nervous and trembling. With this coaching, Sunday school teachers are more motivated to convey the joy of Christ among children.

Responding this kind of coaching, the Sunday school teacher hoped that such training may be held regularly. Stube-HEMAT team appreciated it, and possibly organize a kind of coaching in another occasion. In order to maintain relationships and communication, the teachers exchanged contact numbers and email addresses with the trainer, so they can ask questions or share experiences in teaching Sunday school. Stube-HEMAT activists felt joyful for chance to share experiences in GKJ Sentolo and all of us hoped that this activity would be a blessing to all. ***