Callahan's Second Key

I started last week running through Kennon Callahan's Twelve Keys to an Effective Church and will continue the list this week. (But I can't promise to do them order; who knows what other topics may intrude.)

Callahan's second key is Pastor and Lay Visitation. He includes here visits to the unchurched, newcomers, constituents, and members and proposes they be done weekly.

If we tranlate this key to the Sunday School level, we need to consider a few issues.

Is visitation a "lost art"? That's how Callahan describes it in his book (which, you will remember, was published in 1983). And what constitutes a "visit"? To be sure, there is a very different dynamic in a phone call or e-mail contact than a face-to-face contact, and I would suggest that face to face is always better, if it is possible. Yes, it requires time and effort, but when teachers and Sunday School leaders take time to connect with those who attend, or who could attend or used to attend, Sunday School, they can expect fruit. Every ounce of effort expended by your church will be noticed, and almost certainly appreciated, that the people you visit.

You're not ready yet to commit to personal visits. Then commit to phone calls, or personal e-mails (not group posts, please), and strive to make the consistently under some or all of the following circumstances:

• first-time visitors and attenders (those who have attended your Sunday School for the first time, whether they are visitors from the community or families who are considering church membership.


• new enrollees (those who have expressed a commitment to your Sunday School, filled out the registration form, signed on the dotted line, should be welcomed and a concerted effort made to get to know them better, figure out who they might be hooked up with for support, and determine what other resource they might benefit from in the congregation)


• absentees (Set a bench-mark here: absent one week, absent two weeks in a row, absent three weeks. Don't be shy! Say "We noticed you [your child] have [has] not been in Sunday School and wanted to see if there was anything amiss, anything we could do to get you back." You may get an excuse; you may get an earful; you may be able to provide significant support and assistance; you may just prod the lazy sinful nature to come again to God's house to hear about His grace and love.

These visits, whether in person or on the phone, can make a huge difference. They should be made by someone with a natural interest; the teacher is a logical candidate.

Commit to it. See if it makes a difference in your ability to teach God's children His Word.