Note: Ardys Sabin's former church developed one of the more creative adaptations of the Rotation model in the country. Their puppet -marionette workshop and "Matters of Faith" science lab are particularly extraordinary. Their attendance also skyrocketed (something Ardys humbly left out of the article). In addition to embracing change, they have also begun to share their insights and teaching materials with other churches in Minnesota.
Under the auspices of her local conference, Ardys now works with several small United Methodist Church in the Minneapolis area helping them implement the Rotation Model. She can be reached at 612-522-2176.This article is a reprint from Church Educator magazine. About three pages to print.
"SPIRIT OF HOPE"How the Workshop Rotation Model transformed our Sunday School by Ardys Sabin
Reprinted from Church Educator MagazineChurch Educator Magazine Editor's Note:
In 1993 Church Educator published an article by Neil MacQueen about a new model for Sunday School called The Workshop Rotation Model. At the time the model was barely known outside the few Presbyterian Churches in the Chicago area that had been working with it. Little did we know how important that article would soon become to many of you around the country. Having watched the model grow by leaps and bounds over the years, Church Educator asked Neil to bring us an update. He suggested that we let one of those whose ministry was changed by that original article tell their story. Said Neil MacQueen, "Ardys and Spirit of Hope represent one of the best examples of the model's creative spirit in the country."
~~~~~ Spirit of Hope...Our Story: About eight years ago I began to have second thoughts about our approach to Sunday School here at the Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church. Our format, curriculum and teaching methods left much to be desired. As a Christian Educator I faced the same recruiting and erratic attendance problems that many of my colleagues faced. The most critical concern for me was the overall lack of Biblical literacy I was seeing in the children who had gone through the system. Sunday School as we were conceptualizing it was not engaging our children in a way that was stimulating them to learn at their best.
I began to dream of a new approach that would incorporate cutting edge media and technology. For several years visions of a media center with video, computers and a drama production studio danced in my head with no realistic way to actualize it. Then in March of 1996 a colleague shared with me an article from the June 1993 Church Educator written by Neil MacQueen about the Workshop Rotation Model. It was an epiphany!
The church where Neil worked as an Associate Minister had created a new model for Sunday School by converting their traditional class rooms into exciting multi-intelligence learning spaces. Teachers were recruited for a six week unit and taught the same lesson each week with simple adjustments depending on the age level. The children rotated through the different spaces spending a week in each workshop. [See the sidebar for more model details]
In May of 1996 I attended a conference on the Workshop Rotation Model and toured three churches in the Chicago area who had each designed this model to fit their unique situations and learning spaces. I returned to my church of 500 with a realistic and exciting vision for our program.
My enthusiasm was contagious and my church eagerly embraced the transformation of our conventional 1st through 6th grade Sunday School into six Discipleship Discovery Zones (our name for our Sunday School using the model). Without looking back we were off.
We had no money budgeted for such a dramatic change but our creativity, ingenuity and excitement more than compensated. Our first task was to turn our outdated classrooms into the fun learning spaces the model calls for. We ordered the largest dumpster available and began to dismantle our 1950 style classrooms. Our objective was to create learning spaces that attracted kids (and parents) while facilitating creative teaching methods.
Over the summer we borrowed other churches' rotation curriculum and used their ideas to stoke our own. The model lessens the dependence on purchased curriculum, instead sending you into the creative materials most churches already have and unleashing your own church's creative input.
By September we were up and running with; Abundant Life Theater, a fifteen seat theater with large screen TV, VCR, theater style popcorn machine and a chasing light theater marquee (one of our salvaged finds)!. Thou Art, an art studio with a full wall of cabinets, loads of counter space, and a deep stainless steel sink for cleanup. Mary and Martha's Kitchen incorporated our kitchen as a teaching medium. The Computer Mouse featured three new pentium computers and three donated older models. Parable Productions our puppet and drama center boast full wall scenic murals as well as a versatile puppet stage that can adapt for shadow or hand held puppets and marionettes. Video taping capabilities allow us to capture each classes interpretation of the story. Father Abraham's Arcade houses our Bible skills and game center. This year Matter of Faith Science Center was added where experiments and nature studies have enhanced our units on Creation and Miracles. The Rotation Model gave us a way to teach the same Bible stories we've always taught -- only now in a kid friendly, teacher friendly, and facility friendly way.
The results have been astounding. Our Sunday School registration doubled the first year and growth continues to exceed our expectations this year. Biblical literacy has dramatically increased as children retain the stories of faith and their implications for today. Our only "problem" has been parents having to literally drag their children from our Discovery Zones. I jokingly asked one little boy if I would have to lock him out of the Church Mouse and he shot back with "couldn't you just lock me in," what a wonderful problem to have.
We are blessed with a number of highly creative people whose ownership of specific Discipleship Discovery Zones has been instrumental in their success.. Many others have offered generous financial support. The level of support of our pastor and the members of Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church has truly been outstanding. Our success was also due in no small part to the wonderful guidance provided by Neil's manual for the Workshop Rotation Model and the Sunday School software ministry he has started. (See the sidebar for how to get these).
What a wonderful journey these past two years have been. It has taken a substantial investment in time, energy and financial resources but the blessings abound. Children and their families are really excited about Sunday School. New families are being attracted in record numbers. Most importantly the faith story is coming alive for another generation.
Ardys Sabin is the former Director of Children's Ministry (now retired) at the Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church in Golden Valley Minnesota.