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Week in, week out he preps for teaching Sunday School

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GLORIETA, N.M. (BP)–While collegiate ministry is “a passion” for David Crim, leading a successful collegiate Sunday School class doesn’t just happen. He plans for it all week.

Crim is editor of collegiate resources in student ministry publishing for LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. He led a series of classes for collegiate Sunday School leadership on “Preparing for Transformational Ministry” during National Collegiate Week Aug. 3-9 at LifeWay Glorieta Conference Center in New Mexico.

“My wife and I, along with another couple, teach a collegiate Sunday School class at First Baptist Church in Franklin, Tenn.,” he said. “My preparation for the next week starts on Sunday afternoon when my wife and I talk about what worked and what didn’t that morning.”

They talk about how the activities connected with the students and what type of responses they received during the discussion times.

“Then we pray for the students. After that, we will look at the Scripture passage for the next week and ask God to make it real to us during the week.”

Crim said that on Monday he reads the first section in the “Family Bible Study: Young Adult and Collegiate Leader Guide,” published by LifeWay, and reads the Scripture passage again to give him more insight.

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On Tuesday, he reads the second section of the leader’s guide and reads the Scripture passage again.

Then on Wednesday, he reads the third section from the leader’s guide and reads the Scripture passage again.

“These first four days of preparation are just for me,” he said. “When I read and study during this time, I’m not thinking about individual students or their issues. I’m just letting God prepare my heart and mind to teach them.”

By Thursday, Crim said, he is ready to change his focus to the college students. “By this time, I’ve gained understanding of the Scripture passage and am excited about sharing what I have learned with my class. God has changed my heart by the Scripture. Transformation has taken place.”

Crim said that on Thursday he begins asking God to show him how to communicate to his class the new truth he has learned.

“By Friday, my teaching plan is set, my outline is on my Palm Pilot and I am ready to walk into class on Sunday without having to carry any more stuff,” he said.

On Friday and Saturday, he said, he and his wife will gather any supplies or visuals they will need, “so there’s no running to Wal-Mart at 10 on Saturday night.”

This kind of lesson preparation, Crim said, could also reduce the stress on the teachers.

“It’s not a perfect plan, but it works for me. You may have a plan that works for you,” he said. “But the important part is to have a good plan that lets you be the best teacher you can be.”

More than 2,600 college students attended National Collegiate Week sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources. Next year’s event will be at Glorieta Aug. 2-8. It is the largest annual event hosted at the conference center.
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(BP) photo posted in the BP Photo Library at http://www.bpnews.net. Photo title: PREPARING FOR TRANSFORMATION.