Church of the Nazarene

Who we are

Mission Statement

The mission of Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International (SDMI) is to carry out the Great Commission to children, youth, and adults in preparation for a lifetime of Christian holiness.

Purpose

The purpose of the Sunday School is threefold:

To teach the Word of God effectively until pupils are saved, sanctified wholly, and maturing in Christian experience.
To help Christians grow spiritually by involving them in a reaching, teaching, and soul-winning ministry.
To locate and visit unchurched people until they become enrolled and regular in attendance.

To achieve this mission and purpose, Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International is responsible for providing outreach, teaching, and equipping ministries to all age-groups.

The Sunday School is the foundation ministry for Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International. Every church should provide this ministry even if it can provide no others. However, Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International also includes additional Sunday, weekday, annual, and special ministries, and training.

Objectives

The objectives of Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International are:

To locate and reach the largest possible number of unchurched people for Christ and the church.
To bring the unchurched into the fellowship of the church.
To teach the Word of God effectively in order to lead people into salvation and the experience of entire sanctification.
To teach the doctrines of the Christian faith revealed in the Bible and interpreted by the Articles of Faith of the Church of the Nazarene; to develop the simplicity and spiritual power of Christlike character, attitudes, and habits; and to establish Christian homes.
To prepare believers for membership in the Church of the Nazarene.
To motivate and equip believers for involvement in appropriate Christian ministry.

Sunday School Ministries Expands Its Name

By action of the 2007 General Board of the Church of the Nazarene, the Sunday School Ministries (SSM) department of the General Church has expanded its name to Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International (SDMI). The new name coincides with the release of the denomination's new statement of mission "to make Christlike disciples in the nations."

The name expansion is also in response to a resolution brought to the 2005 General Assembly by the International Church Committee. That resolution encouraged the Sunday School Ministries department to consider changing the name to reflect its international scope and to provide a broader understanding of the wide range of ministries served by Sunday School Ministries, now Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International.

This action validates thousands of ministries occurring each day of the week around the world. Our ministries have moved beyond Sunday to everyday and beyond membership to discipleship.

The Sunday School Committee of the General Board consists of four representatives from the USA and seven from world areas. The committee expressed appreciation for the wonderful heritage received through the department ministries of the past. They encouraged the department to facilitate Sunday School, small groups, and disciple-making throughout the international cultures of the church.

Sunday School & Discipleship Ministries International (SDMI) will continue existing ministries and pursue expanding its services around the world.

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