In 12 short years
THE NSSA STORY
I n the 12 short years since the National Sunday School Association was organized some rather amazing things have happened. It’s a story that makes top-priority read ing for every pastor, Sunday school teacher and active Christian. Revitalizing the American Sunday schools has been the great objective of NSSA. For over a quarter century the Sunday schools of America lost hundreds of thousands of pupils annually. During the past half decade the trend has turned and more than a million Sunday school pupils have been added each year. This is far from phenomenal but it is a significant change, doubly so when one discovers that greatest growth has come in two main areas: 1) in soundly evangelical churches with a biblical emphasis and 2) in churches that have taken ad vantage of Sunday school conventions. What does this show? Basically this. The best message in the world may fail unless we employ the best methods in the world to put it across, and that the best methods in the world will fail unless they have the message to put across. The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest message in all the world. It deserves, but so often fails to get, the best known methods of presentation. NSSA is dedicated to helping all Sunday schools that sincerely want to reach people for Christ do a bigger and better job. If our Sunday schools are to be better, they must have better teachers and if they are to have better teachers they must be trained teachers. Many a local church has spon sored a training program because someone received a vision of what Sunday school ought to be and could be at a Sunday school convention. A Sunday school convention is not basically a training school. But training that is given is often a by-product of the inspiration received. To date, NSSA has 40 state, city or area affiliated Sunday
School Associations holding annual conventions and spon soring other helps in the field of Christian education. NSSA is growing. Three commissions have recently been activated. The Youth Commission serves denominational and inter denominational youth leaders of the top level. Rev. Gunnar Hoglund, Chicago, is president. The Research Commission, made up of professors of Christian education in Christian colleges and seminaries, is another. They are seeking to formulate for educational leaders a clearly defined philosophy of Christian education. Dr. Rebecca Price, Fuller Seminary, is chairman. A Camping Commission is in the process of being or ganized. Rev. Carl Gunn, Allegon, Michigan, is acting chairman. Other phases of Christian education will be developed as time, money, and personnel are made available. The NSSA sponsors two special weeks annually. These are National Family Week each spring early in May, and National Sunday School Week each fall. Both are promoted to help the local church reach the family and the community for Christ. Another growing field of service is our literature, es pecially the monthly publication Link, (8 pages) planned to link the Sunday schools of America together. Its twofold emphasis is Sunday school news and practical helps for the Sunday school worker. Subscription price is $1.00 a year. The other literary item is the Sunday School Encyclopedia, published annually in connection with the annual convention. This year twin conventions are being planned in Los Angeles, October 9-10-11 and in Grand Rapids, October 30-31-November 1. An estimated 4,000 are expected to register at each of these Sunday school events. Seven speakers are participating in the eight major sessions and in the more than 100 workshop, institute and seminar sessions. Dr. Clate A. Risley, Chicago, is executive secretary of NSSA. END.
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