The idea of family has evolved over the years.  The Biblical ideal of the “nuclear family” that includes only the husband, the wife, and unmarried child(ren) has been fractured.  Today stepparents, stepchildren, half siblings, single-parent homes as well as the traditional nuclear family exist…and all of them need Jesus.  The Sunday School is a great tool to enrich the lives of families through Christian fellowship and learning.  The unchurched members of the families in your church are important prospects for your Sunday School. 

• Have a special children’s program during the Sunday School hour, and have the children invite their families – including their unchurched family members – to attend.  Invite people from your adult classes to be present to greet them.  Have a fellowship time with refreshments.  Encourage adult class leaders and greeters to invite the unchurched family members to their adult classes.  Circulate a sign up sheet to get the names addresses, phone numbers, and emails for follow up.

• Encourage people who have no family living in the area to invite another family for Sunday School and worship and to then have them over for a meal after the services.

• Have the Sunday School children invite their grandparents to come to Sunday School and attend their Sunday School class.  If they do not have grandparents in the area ask them to “adopt” grandparents for the day and come to the class.

• Honor special family groups, such as the family with the most present in Sunday School, the most children present, the most grandchildren present, or the family with the most generations present.  Do this during the morning worship service, and possibly have a token gift available for them.

• Recognize the single adults in the Sunday School/church.  Let them know they are valued, and recognize their involvement as a vital part of the Sunday School/church family.  Single Adult Ministries includes those who are divorced, never-married and widowed.  Single Adult Ministries website is:  http://www.nazarene.org/ministries/ssm/adult/single/display.aspx