Training of Trainers for Sunday School Teachers

A Training of Trainers for Sunday School Teachers was organized at CNI CHPD, Nagpur from 13th to 23rd July, 2009 in aegis of Ministry with Children Concerns, Church of North India. The Church of North India conducted this training with an aim to test the curriculum draft ‘Journeying with Jesus’ produced. A group of 34 Sunday School Teachers from different Dioceses of CNI attended this training program. Delivering a keynote address at the Inaugural Service Rev. Dr. Ipe Joseph, General Secretary of All India Sunday School Association reflected on the purpose of parents bringing their children to Jesus for blessings. Likewise, today the Sunday Schools of our churches must also rear up the children in such a way that they are blessed by Jesus while they are attending the classes. Then Mr. Sudipta Singh, Director Programmes of CNI welcomed the delegates and expressed his concern and expected outcome of the programme. Then Rev. Dr. Ipe Joseph introduced and outlined the flow of the programme. The objective of the training was also to make necessary amendments in the draft to make it more interactive and lively while teaching the children through this curriculum. The other resource persons included Mrs. Beela Mary Ipe, Mrs. Neerja Prasad and Mr. George Vergheese.

Mrs. Beela helped the participants to understand children psychology and took participants through the journey of life from fetus to 6 years and mentioned about the various factors affecting child psychology. In continuation Mr. George Verghese facilitated sessions on the role of Sunday School Teacher and explained the delegates with graphic illustrations and role-play to cite how a Sunday School teacher is able to impress on the minds of children. Through this exercise he helped to understand each ones own personality through a psychological game on self-assessment.

Mrs. Neerja Prasad conducted a session on Methodology, Impression and Expression along with creativity. She enabled the participants to prepare different role-plays, mime and taught the Lord’s Prayer in action. A Lesson Plan format of 11 points including, Title, Aim, Introduction, Methodology, Contextual Story, Biblical Story, Activity, Memory Verse, Teaching Aids with Action Song, Life Application, Closing Prayer was prepared by the participants.

Another major work done during the training was to translate the un-graded curriculum in to different largely spoken regional languages. The delegates were divided into language groups and thus the curriculum is now prepared in eight major languages such as English, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil and Nepali. Dr. Ipe along with Sulakshana Ohol added another four chapters based on the CNI Journey of Unity, the CNI Mission, the Seven Priorities of CNI, and CNI and Child Rights.

The programme ended with a valedictory service led by Mr. Sudipta Singh. In his sending-off message Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan, General Secretary of Church of North India challenged the delegates to make the Sunday Schools agents of change and holistic salvation for the children. Certificate of competency was given away to the delegates who made it possible to have the curriculum translated in various languages.