For the most part our congregations have followed what I call the departmental concept of evangelism. We called it the Personal Evangelism Department. The same emphasis was not taught to Bible school personnel. Bible school was seen simply as a means to edify, but not edification that results in multiplication (Acts 9:31). The growing Bible schools applied the soul-winning/outreach principle to the Bible school and did most of its visitation and soul-winning through the Bible school.

We have observed that the departmental concept of evangelism was short-lived. It basically operated in an atmosphere that was unevangelistic. Through the years I have researched and evaluated in an effort to learn how to overcome this handicap. The book, "The Ten Largest Sunday Schools and What Makes Them Grow," by Elmer Townes, was published in 1969. It was an eye-opener. These people were making all programs evangelistic-all contributed in a direct way to teaching the lost. This will not replace a special group of trained soul winners. It will encourage their efforts.

I have researched publications by the Church Growth Center in Pasadena, California. Their book, "Growth: A New Vision For The Sunday School," helped confirm what I had already concluded: Means have become ends in Sunday Schools that are not growing. This is called institutionalism. We have examined some of their findings later in this issue.

In February 1982 the Southern Baptists began a drive to enroll one million people in Sunday school. It continued through 1985. I have researched much of their materials. So far as I am able to determine, these people are the most effective in growing Sunday schools. In fact I found nothing that came near the practical growth methods of these people. I have separated some of the usable from the unusable and shared some of this in this issue.

What about books and materials written by our brethren on outreach through the Bible school? THERE ARE NONE! Ray Fulenwider's "How To Grow a Church Through The Bible School" is no longer in print. Our concentration on an institutionalized Bible school program void of outreach has obviously blinded our people to the possibilities of growth through the Bible school, and no one provided the brotherhood with strong leadership in this field.

It will be extremely difficult to change our Bible schools. Many seem to barely survive with more teachers being "caught than taught." The standard must be raised.

This issue makes an attempt to call attention to the need and some ways that the Bible school can be made a major tool for growth of the church. If you are motivated in this direction, then begin your research and learn well all the essentials before you launch your efforts.

You will see your congregation go and grow and glow!