THE PURPOSE

Super Sunday is a day totally devoted to developing student leaders. We believe our ministry is only as strong as our teens are, so we are dedicated to making them as strong as they can be. This event is held one Sunday per month from 10:00am – 5:00 pm. The day is broken down into classes and activities, which are designed to stretch their thinking and abilities in order to position them for greater use in God’s Kingdom. The main focus of this program is to train our CORE group of students. Of course everyone is invited but this is not designed as an outreach, this is designed as a discipleship plan. Below is an overview of the nuts and bolts of our Super Sunday discipleship plan:

THE SUBJECTS 

The classes and activities we have provided have ranged from Prayer Journeys, Drama, Leadership, Goal Setting, Spanish, Discipleship, Outreach, Balloon Twisting, Sign Language, Choir Practice, Culture Newsflash, Puppets, Super Church, Media Training and much more. We had students involved in every area of the church throughout the week so we worked to be intentional of training them to be capable leaders of THIS generation.

THE TEACHERS

We used teachers from our congregation. One strength that God has given my wife and I is recruiting leaders. One thing I have learned is that parents and leaders in the church are more than willing to help, they just don’t want to be over committed. It’s a lot easier when you are clear on the terms of agreement. For instance, when I approach our assistant pastor who is a gifted Bible Study teacher and ask him if he would be willing to teach basic doctrine to our students for 30 minutes once a month, it is a very easy sell. Notice, I have asked him specifically to teach in his strength zone, next I presented a clear commitment of once a month and finally I clearly communicated that his time limit is 30 minutes. The clearer you are, the easier it is to solicit help. Here is a sample of some of the teachers we used for Super Sunday.

• Prayer Journeys – Diane Davis – Youth Team Member and Parent 
• Leadership & Goal Setting – Rev. David Morehead – Youth Pastor
• Spanish – Amy Bullens – Parent
• Discipleship – Rev. John Kuzma – Assistent Pastor and Parent
• Outreach – Ed Hall – Youth Team Member and Parent 
• Balloon Twisting – Andy McDonald – Award winning balloon professional and Parent
• Sign Language – Mike and Diane Davis – Youth Team Members and Parents
• Choir Practice – Angie McDonald – Youth Choir Director and Parent
• Culture Newsflash – Dr. Bobbi Morehead – Youth Pastor
• Puppets & Super Church – Rev. Mark & Julie Hopper – Senior Pastors and Nationally Acclaimed Children Evangelists

THE JOURNAL

Each student was given a three-ring binder that had all of their schedules and handouts. We also provided a journal sheet for each class so that students could take notes. We also gave reflection time so they could write down specific thoughts and ideas about what they had learned. Here are just a few of the journal entries from actual students:

• CHOIR PRACTICE – We went over a new song that we will sing tonight. We did good and we went over my song. I always have loved choir – music – and always will. It was great! – Lindsay Rivera-Smith
• PRAYER JOURNEY – Today in the prayer journey we interceded for many people. We talked about when something affects one of the youth members it affects all of us. I prayed for my dad for strength, Sister Deb for healing, Sister Aggie for her and her family to have strength, Lindsay’s uncle Adam for salvation and my aunt and her baby for healing and salvation. – Kayla Kampbell
• This session was powerful. I like it because it was a focused prayer time in which you could pray for special requests. Britani Cape
• OUTREACH – Brother Ed talked to us about reaching others from John 14:12-14 he taught that we need to use CPR on others, C.ultivate, P.lant, and R.eap. I love this class 100% because outreach = more saved. – Bobby Barnett 
• SUPER CHURCH – I think super church is a perfect class because when I see the kids I see them always wanting to be around the youth and when we do puppets and stuff like this they want to learn. If they want to learn and think it is cool they will want to invite their friends. – Sam Bowers
• BALLOON TWISTING – Balloon twisting with Brother Andy was a lot of fun. We learned that in a balloon hat you can add anything to it. This is a powerful tool, not just for us youth but for the children as well. If we witness to a child with a balloon they will want to come to church and eventually invite their parents and once their parents start coming, their parents will invite their friends. – Sam Bowers
• DRAMA – Drama is very important because you are touching people’s lives without them knowing. – Josh Davis
• SIGN LANGUAGE – I learned a lot more signs. They are not really hard after you get to do it for a while. My favorite part was when I got to sign my name the right way. – Bobbi Barnett
• SPANISH – Today we were able to learn John 3:16 in Spanish. We also got to hear about Amy and her being a missionary kid. – Kayla Campbell 
• LEADERSHIP – Brother David told us about words for life. That we must have resilience, people skills, followership ability, responsibility and personal warmth. – Laura Rhoads

THE SCHEDULE

Below are two sample schedules that we actually used in our program. You will notice that we simplified the layout considerably. The most important thing is to find a rhythm that works for YOU! This is simply a launch pad to get you thinking. Adapt it to fit your church culture.

FEBRUARY 17, 2002

• 10:00-10:20 – PRAYER JOURNEY – Diane Davis
• 10:20-11:20 – DRAMA – Sherri Proctor
• 11:30-12:30 – FOOD/GAMES
• 12:30-1:30 – OUTREACH/BALLOON TWISTING – Ed Hall/Andy Mcdonald
• 1:30-1:40 – BREAK
• 1:40-2:25 – CULTURE NEWSFLASH – Bobbi Morehead
• 2:25-2:30 – BREAK
• 2:30-3:10 – SPANISH – Amy Bullens
• 3:10-3:20 – BREAK
• 3:20-4:20 – LEADERSHIP – David Morehead
• 4:20-4:30 – BREAK
• 4:30-5:00 – SIGN LANGUAGE – Mike Davis

MARCH 24^th

• 11:30-12:50 – LUNCH@FAZOLLIS
• 1:00-1:45 – LEADERSHIP – Rev. Simion Young Jr.
• 1:45-2:45 – DRAMA – Sheri Proctor
• 2:45-3:00 – BREAK
• 3:00-3:45 – SIGN LANGUAGE – Mike Davis
• 3:40-4:00 – BREAK
•  4:00-5:00 – YOUTH CHOIR – Angie Mcdonald

THE FEEDBACK

In the Super Sunday Journals, we had feedback forms for the students and the teachers. These were designed to challenge us to have the greatest training program possible. Here’s a look at the simple questions asked:

SUPER SUNDAY – TEACHER REVIEW

• What were some of the things that you liked about this event?
• What were some things that you think could have been better?
• How can we help you be more effective for our next SUPER SUNDAY?
• Ideas or helpful suggestions?

SUPER SUNDAY – TEEN REVIEW

• What were three things you liked about Super Sunday?
• What are two ways that we could improve Super Sunday?
• What are some subjects that you would like to see covered in the future?

CONCLUSION

It is hard to imagine that Our first Super Sunday was held in 2002. Since that time God has rose up many anointed leaders. Last year I was preaching at The Potter’s House Church, where I was the youth Pastor, and on the platform and the sound/media room there were only two people that did not go through the youth program! Through the years TPH church has produced a youth President, a Grammy Nominated Artist, at least 6 Youth Pastors, Singers, Musicians, Greater, Sunday School Teachers, Sign Language and Drama Directors, Faithful Saints, Loving Spouses and Parents. The Potter’s House Sunday School department currently has 7 High School interns on their staff. Great fruit does not happen by accident. You must be intentional to create a process to help you empower leaders to have an impact on their world!