The Nucleus of Elim
Sunday School is the nucleus of any church and is an avenue through which individuals, children through to adulthood, are systematically taught the scriptures in an appealing way to capture the imagination and stir the conscience to a response.
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Through the constant teachings of God’s Word, we embrace the name of our Association, “Open Bible”. The importance of the ministry of children was emphasized by Jesus several times throughout scripture in the New Testament. This same emphasis can also be seen in the Old Testament with the giving of children to the work of the Lord. Samuel, whose mother, Hannah, prayed earnestly to bear a child (1 Samuel 1:9-28); and Isaac, with the promised son of Abraham in Genesis 18. We also see children preserved and protected like Moses (Exodus 2:1-6).
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The Elim Open Bible Church has covenanted with God to, “Let the children come unto me and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14 NIV). Therefore the overall mandate of the ministry of the Sunday School is seen in Psalm 127: 3 - 5, “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord…” and as such, it is our duty to seek them out, to instruct them in the way of the Lord, so that when they are old, they will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).
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The Sunday School classes meet every Sunday morning between the hours of 7:45 am - 8:45 am with classes for all ages. The ministry also facilitates outreach programmes which are led in the afternoons from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm within the communities of Naggo Head and Newlands, specifically in White Lane, Cassinor Drive, Foster Lane, West Bank and Newlands. These outreach classes operate under the arches of the general mandate of the church and is in collaboration with our Missions and Evangelism ministry.
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The Sunday School has a cadre of nineteen in-house teachers and ten outreach teachers. All of these activities are under the portfolio of Sis. Deidre Virgo and her team.
Vacation Bible School & Choir
Every year, the Sunday School Department hosts a daily Vacation Bible School (VBS) from the last week of July to the first week in August, with an average attendance of 86 children from varying age groups. Children attend from the congregation as well as from the neighboring communities.
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A biblical theme is used each year in a systematic way to instruct the students. They are engaged daily in Bible lessons, through the arts, music, dance, speech, drama, games and other creative measures. This is provided to them at no cost to the parents.
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The Sunday school also boasts a choir which ministers every fifth Sunday under the directions of our Sunday School Choir Director, Sister Nateessia Braham.
Gratitude
God be praised for the people from the communities of Naggo Head and Newlands who have allowed us to share the gospel of salvation with their children every Sunday afternoon. Our gratitude is even more extended for giving their children permission to follow through the gift of salvation into baptism, thus “fulfilling all righteousness” according to Matthew 3:15. As these children are taught the ways of the Lord, may the seed of righteousness grow in them and bring forth fruits of salvation within their homes and by extension the communities.
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As the Elim Open Bible Church continues to support the ministry initiatives of the Sunday School Department, may we experience the increase God has promised as we plant and water each soul – both young and old.
