February 24, 1999
LifeWay plans new curriculum
___NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--A new "flagship" Bible study curriculum will be launched by LifeWay Christian Resources in September 2000.
___Trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention publishing house gave final approval to the plan Feb. 9.
___The key component of the change will be introduction of "Family Bible Study," a new series containing a core curriculum for all age groups based on a common Bible study theme. As often as possible, lessons for different age groups will use the same Scripture passage.
___Most of LifeWay's existing curriculum lines will continue to be offered, although a few prominent ones will be discontinued to make way for the new line. The long-running "Life & Work Series" will be replaced by the new line, as will "Youth Explore the Bible" and the "Family Bible Series."
___LifeWay administrators said one of the goals of the new series is affirming the home as the center of biblical guidance. That is evidenced, they said, in the subtitle for the new series: "Building the Family of Faith to Live by God's Truth."
___"If we're going to make any real difference in our culture, we have to get parents more involved in teaching their children biblical truth," said Bill Taylor, director of LifeWay's Sunday school group. "We've got to help families study God's word and apply it to their everyday lives."
___"Family Bible Study" will champion the Bible as "the inerrant and infallible word of God and as absolute truth and authority," said Louis Hanks, associate director of LifeWay's Sunday school group.
___The series, he said, will offer:
___A more intentional focus on evangelism, including support for the FAITH Sunday school evangelism strategy.
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___"While we're eliminating two series, we'll actually be providing more Bible study options for churches to choose from," Hanks said. He added the new line "incorporates into one plan some of the best features from 'Life and Work' and the 'Family Bible Series,' such as contemporary application and common Bible study passages for all age groups."
___According to Taylor, the "sweeping changes" in curriculum are being made in response to cultural trends, the expressed needs of churches garnered from four years of market research and a sense of the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
___"We're not talking about reclaiming Sunday school. We're not talking about reinventing Sunday school. We are talking about revitalizing Sunday school," Taylor said. "I truly believe the future of the Sunday school movement as a relevant strategy in the churches is at stake."
___The curriculum changes, Taylor said, are part of a larger strategy called "Sunday School for a New Century." One of the goals of the plan is changing people's view of Sunday school as a Sunday morning Bible study class to a ministry that impacts lives seven days a week and leads to the spiritual transformation of believers.
___LifeWay, formerly called the Sunday School Board, has experienced a 20-year trend of declining sales in dated curriculum.
___In other action, LifeWay trustees adopted a new vision statement for the agency.
___The statement reads: "As God works through us ... We will help people and churches know Jesus Christ and seek his kingdom by providing biblical solutions that spiritually transform individuals and cultures."
___The previous Sunday School Board vision statement stated: "We will assist local churches and believers to evangelize the world to Christ, develop believers and grow churches by being the best worldwide provider of relevant, high-quality, high-value Christian products and services."
___Trustees also adopted a facilities master plan designed to meet the agency's needs through 2015.
___The $24.7 million project will provide additional offices, parking, warehouse/distribution space, a cafeteria/kitchen and conference space.
___Funding for the project will come from LifeWay's reserve fund earnings, supplemented as needed by reserve funds, budgeted fixed assets or external funding sources.Frontpage / Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!