Bro. Kevan Wood, minister of music-education at First Baptist Church, Livingston, Texas, has implemented the "Law of Seven Touches" program in their church.

The principle involves a schedule whereby every visitor receives a contact from several people for a total of seven times from Sunday afternoon through the following Saturday.

Here is how it works:

• First Touch:
  Sunday afternoon--phone call from pastor/pastor's wife and Sunday school teacher.
• Second Touch:
  Monday morning-- letter from the pastor.
• Third Touch:
  Monday evening--a visit from someone in the class or church (try to call in advance to make the appointment).
• Fourth Touch:
  Tuesday--call from Secretary to set up visit from the Pastor
• Fifth Touch:
  Wednesday, Thursday or Friday--visit from the pastor
• Sixth Touch:
  Friday--follow up letter or card from class outreach leader
• Seventh Touch:
  Saturday--phone call from someone in the class: (1) offer help of where to go, etc.; (2) offer to meet them somewhere and go to class with them, introduce them to class members, teachers, and pastor.

This "Seven Touch" program is being used with great results at First, Livingston. Their attendance has increased by almost 50% in two years.

There seems to be a few basic elements that must prevail in the Sunday School in order for people to respond.

• (1) Teacher preparation is it must. People have spiritual needs and want to know what God has to say about their daily walk. If the Sunday School teacher meets those spiritual needs through a thorough study of the Scriptures with practical application, the people will return.

• (2) People need to feel comfortable and accepted when they visit a Sunday School class. There is not a more uncomfortable feeling than to be amid strangers. Perhaps several in the church feel called to usher people to their class, help their children find their class, and introduce the visitors to people. Then, of course, the prescribed schedule in the "Seven Touch" program also helps people to feel that a genuine interest is expressed in them.

• (3) Adequate space is also important to a growing Sunday School. It has been observed that when facilities are 85% filled, it is time to begin plans to add floor space.

The Sunday School is the most important auxiliary of the church. Not only is it the main teaching organization, but it is also the most effective out-reach organization. Through the Sunday School classes, the basic "touch groups" can minister to one another; your teachers, outreach chairman, superintendents, secretaries, and other Sunday School officers are your "built-in" visitation committee.

Sunday School is vital to the church. That is why it thrills me to see a fresh new outreach program implemented in a church and to see the dramatic results it brought to First, Livingston.