Reaching the Younger Generation with the Word of God
Sunday School Network International (SSNI), is a non-profit Christian organization with a mission to equip local churches in building a strong Christian generation.
Understanding the need for biblically sound and culturally adaptable Sunday School teaching methods, SSNI focuses on the development of Sunday school curriculum and text books. The project to develop Sunday School text books was undertaken by SSNI (previously named SSNAK) in July 2001. A thirty member Curriculum Development Team consisting of theologians, ministers of the gospel, Sunday School directors/ teachers, and laymen worked together under the direction of Dr. Thomas Idiculla, in producing these books. This group of committed Sunday school teachers has worked tirelessly for the past five years in ensuring that the vision was kept alive through these textbooks. Dr. Thomson K. Mathew, Dr. Ezhamkulam Samkutty, Dr. K V. Simon, and Dr. Kunjappen Varghese served as consultants. Sushil Mathew, Leslie Verghese, Shibu Thomas, Leema Thomas-Joseph, and Albert Mathew have served as members of the editorial team. SSNI has published 4 Text books for Young teens, Teens and Young adults and Seniors, and Teachers' guide for young teens. SSNI also has provided Sunday school text books to over 100 churches in the USA and abroad, and trained over 500 Sunday School Teachers in 15 places including overseas cities such as Toronto (Canada), and Southall (London). These training programs are mainly facilitated by Sushil Mathew, Dallas, TX.
SSNI acknowledges the financial support of the following churches towards the publication of the Sunday School Text Books. India Pentecostal Assembly, New York; India Christian Assembly, New York; and Kerala Christian Assembly, Canada; IPC Hebron, Dallas, Texas, & Dr. Joy Joseph, Chattanooga, TN.
Hear what the churches have to say about the SSNI Text Books:“We have been using SSNI Sunday School curriculum for the past three years. We have found it to be of excellent standard, explaining the fundamental truths and doctrines of the church in simple language and providing insights into practical Christian living. This enables the students to fashion their lives according to the Word of God. In the first year after a few weeks of lessons, one-seventh grader said, “finally we have a book with serious lessons like we had in India”. We highly recommend the use of this curriculum in all the Sunday Schools in North America.” P A Samuel, Sunday School Director, India Christian Assembly, New York.
“As the Sunday School Director of IPC Eastern Region, I am exceedingly happy to let you know that most of our Sunday schools in this region are using the SSNI textbooks to teach our children. The responses from our teachers using these books during the past three years are outstanding. By using these biblically sound and culturally adaptable SSNAK textbooks, I am sure we can teach our younger generation in a better way in the days to come.” Michael Johnson, MDiv. Sunday School Director, IPC Eastern Region.
“It has been my privilege to be affiliated with this organization, being active in the training of teachers through their regional and national conferences. I have also been an advisor to the Board of SSNI on curriculum matters. I trust that the leaders of our community will do all they can to promote this effort. The list of curriculum writers involved in this project is impressive. The Keralite community is blessed to have such an outstanding group of men and women to contribute to this work. One can easily see that they have taken the time to develop the lessons in an age-appropriate way and user-friendly way. I am impressed with the quality of this first volume. The word of God is the focus of the Word Series…….” Dr. Thomson K. Mathew, Dean, School of Theology and Missions, Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
“I had the privilege of contributing to the first volume, and I consider it a great honor to serve as a consultant to the project... Each lesson features questions and life issues and relevant Bible passages that will encourage the participants to interact with one another and the teacher. Another notable quality of the volume is that each writer is fully committed to a strictly fundamental interpretation of the Bible. Each lesson is written as part of the whole, which attests to the competency of the authors in arranging various subjects on a common thread. This new volume will serve as a valuable weekend companion to all who want to learn more about Jesus and His church. I am confident that this new Christian education tool will be received with great enthusiasm.” Professor Ezhamkulam. C. Samkutty, Ph.D., Southern University, Louisiana.
Visit us online at:
WWW.SUNDAYSCHOOLNETWORK.ORG or write to us at P.O. Box 850544, Mesquite, TX 75185-0544
Shaping the Values of Teens in the 21st Century through Sunday School Ministry
SSNI (previously SSNAK) was started with no available funds and no planned fundraising activity. The financial needs so far have been met by the membership contribution and other voluntary donations of churches and well-wishers. Financial contributions by the board members to meet the expenses of the organization during its early stages. Rev. Dr. Joy Joseph, Rev. George Mathew, Mathai Mathew, Dr. Sushil Mathew, Dr. Thomas Idiculla, and Rev. Leslie Verghese currently serve as the Board members.
The New York Initiative
New York has always served as the breeding ground for new ideas and efforts. Sunday School Network has been no exception. Under the leadership of Bro. Mathai Mathew Alummoottil, New York has hosted several seminars, training sessions, and promotional events to increase the awareness and promote the Sunday School Network in the New York region. Mathai Mathew has been working closely with Assemblies of God, Church of God, IPC, and other Independent churches in the tri-state region. Leslie Verghese, Michael Johnson, Rev Samuel John, Thomas Kidangalil, Finny Joshua, VJ Mathewkutty, Joy Cherian, George P Chacko, and Ramani Titus and others were actively involved with Sunday School ministry in New York region.
Curriculum Development Project: The bible says, train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22: 6). Understanding the need for a biblically sound and culturally adaptable Sunday school curriculum, SSNAK focused on the development of Sunday school curriculum and text books. A project to develop Sunday School text books was undertaken by SSNI in July 2001. The first book for young teens (13 - 14 years) was released in July 2002 at the 20th Pentecostal Conference held at Atlanta, Georgia. The second book for teens (15 -16 years) was released at the IPC Family Conference held at Paramus, NJ. SSNAK will be publishing its third book for young adults (17-18 years) at the 22nd PCNAK at Virginia Beach, VA. A thirty member Curriculum Development Team consisting of theologians, ministers of the gospel, Sunday school directors/ teachers, and Pentecostal believers worked together under the direction of Dr. Thomas Idiculla, General Editor, for producing the Sunday school text books. This group of committed Sunday school teachers has worked tirelessly for the past three years in ensuring that the vision was kept alive through these textbooks. Dr. Thomson K. Mathew, and Dr. Ezhamkulam Samkutty, Dr. K V. Simon, and Dr. Kunjappen Varghese served as consultants. Sushil Mathew, Shibu Thomas, Leslie Varghese, Leema Thomas, and Albert Mathew were members of the editorial team.
Teachers Training
A nationwide survey of Sunday School directors/teachers from the Keralite Pentecostal Churches in the US was conducted in 1997. As a result of the survey, a Sunday School teachers training program was developed. Some of the training topics include: Christian education, effective communication, handling difficult student, motivating students, and evaluating students. During the past, SSNI has trained over 500 teachers in major cities/states in North America including New York, New Jersey, Dallas, Atlanta, Oklahoma, Florida, California, Chicago, . In addition, two international training/workshops were conducted in Toronto (Canada) and London (UK).