Beyond the Classroom

INTRODUCTION Have you ever wondered why some Christians may be so confused? Why are some Christians always fuzzy in faith, church doctrine, and biblical facts? Why do many learners despise attending church activities, including the church school? Why do some church teachers desire to give up or quit, because they are tired of teaching? All questions focus on the need for educating teachers in all churches, including the African American church. Beyond the Classroom presents old, new, and future considerations to help manage, plan, and implement learning experiences for those who thirst and hunger for God or perhaps appear to be at an attained spiritual level. One oversight in the African American church has been the neglect of education for all those who teach in the church. Educating those who teach in the African American church is unique because African Americans seek the church for Christian education that helps build the “whole” person. Education that helps the “whole” person may include how to live a better physical life, resources for self-help, and to learn more about African American culture. This uniqueness requires teachers who not only have knowledge in Christian education, but also are knowledgeable about what is taking place in African American life and her African roots. Many times the church, even with trained leaders, forgets that ministers, deacons, trustees, deaconesses, the minister of music, as well as leaders of ministry teams (including the church school team) need training. Many learners comment that their church teacher does not know how to pronounce words, cannot recall what was taught last week, and does not show any interest in teaching. Anyone who teaches in the church needs to be trained prior to teaching others. The question might be raised, “How did our foreparents survive?” They survived from what they knew. They did the best they could. Some past leaders misinterpreted many of the Scriptures; the church can no longer afford such a misinterpretation. Educating teachers in the African American church is still a new topic for some churches. The good report is that more churches envision the need to have various ministries, even a Sunday church school or another form of school or institute for church members. Some churches have Christian schools. Church teachers need a specialized teacher-training program for Christian education. This book addresses all teachers (pastors, ministers, deacons, deaconesses, trustees, the minister of music, ministry leaders, and church school teachers) in the African American church. The book seeks to assist the pastor, church leaders, the director of Christian education, the superintendent of schools, ministry leaders, Bible college and seminary professors who teach Christian education, and those who desire to learn more about teaching in the African American church. Beyond the Classroom addresses teachers who teach African Americans, but also includes teachers who teach non-African Americans. The African American church must keep an open-door policy for mixed congregations, even though the enrollment population is predominately African American. Teachers need to learn to teach African Americans, but not limit their teaching to African Americans. My book Teacher Training in the African American Church presents basics for teachers. This book provides thorough training for all who teach in the church. This training includes the pastor. The pastor serves as a facilitator, assuming that the pastor is educated and understands the need for teacher training. A pastor should endorse Christian education. Many churches neglect to encourage the pastor to update his or her skills: take GED classes and continuing education classes if he or she has less than a high school diploma; and, if a high school graduate, to enroll in a Bible college. A college graduate may enroll in a seminary to learn more about guiding the congregation. The terms learners and learners will be used interchangeably. The term African American will refer to the population of Americans who are “black” and perhaps acknowledge African descent. Chapter one addresses the question, “What is Christian Teaching?” Chapter Two discusses the pastor’s responsibilities for teacher training. Chapter Three examines motivating teachers and learners. Chapter Four discusses training the prospective teacher. Chapter Five elaborates on training the current teacher. Chapter Six presents the creative teacher, and Chapter Seven provides words about the new millennium and African American Christian education. Scriptural references are taken from The New King James Version of the Bible. Author(s) is not responsible for content found in resources. All resources are suggested resources according to available information per a given topic. The writing style for many religious books is MLA. This book incorporates APA writing style.