Vision and structure
Biblical education has always been one of God’s primary expectations of the members and families of His people (Deut. 11:21; 2 Tim. 3:15-17). The Baptist denomination, in particular, has made biblical education one of its top priorities. It is therefore not at all surprising to find the same emphasis in the life of Bethel Church. Many of the church’s activities and ministries contain a significant educational component. A central place, in this sense, undoubtedly belongs to the preaching of the Word of God within the church’s worship services. However, being a relatively large church in terms of the number of members and participants in church services, we have come to understand that a real need of the members and church members is to meet in smaller formats, which would give them the opportunity to get to know each other and serve each other. Thus, a system of Sunday school classes (or groups) was developed, coordinated through the church’s education department. Currently, there are 12 such groups operating within Bethel Church, which meet every Sunday between 10:00-11:00: four groups for children (preschoolers; grades I-III; grades IV-V; grades VI-VIII), one for high school students, one for unmarried young people (over 18 years old), four for families, one for the choir and one (larger) in the large church hall. With a somewhat distinct character, but also within the Bethel Church, there is also a group for people with hearing impairments (“Bethesda Church”).
Children’s education
Regarding Sunday school classes for children, both the topics covered and the teaching methods used in these classes are adapted to various age groups, and the teachers who teach these classes are specially trained for working with children. To stimulate the active involvement of children both in classes and in other ministries, a scoring system was created (based on criteria of attendance, punctuality, attitude, homework, involvement in church activities), based on which, at the end of each semester, certain prizes and rewards are awarded. In addition to Sunday school classes, the children’s department organizes annual camps, holiday clubs, a “Bible Olympiad” (for various age categories), a children’s choir, as well as music lessons for children learning to play various instruments. In turn, the church’s children’s teachers meet weekly for training, prayer, and fellowship, and periodically participate in conferences and regional training meetings, along with other children’s teachers from around the country.
Also with the aim of biblical education of children, but with a more pronounced evangelistic and personal development emphasis, the “AWANA club” has been operating within Bethel Church since October 2012. This club is specifically designed to give church children the opportunity to meet every Saturday between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM and to invite friends and colleagues who do not normally attend church services. AWANA is a special program for children and youth, through which they can develop physical skills (through sports competitions), social skills (such as giving or relating to others) and acquire Christian moral values and principles, based on the Holy Scripture. The club has three main sections: game time, joy time (the Bible lesson, a song and a verse) and team time (the children, divided into age groups, substantiate the biblical truths learned and say the memory verse).
Adult classes
Regarding Sunday school groups for adults and high school students, they pursue five major objectives:
- worship (especially through prayer but also through singing);
- Bible study (according to the church’s Bible study calendar);
- social-humanitarian care (towards group members, but also towards people outside the group and even outside the church);
- spiritual counseling and supervision;
- evangelization and mission.
Each group has individuals specifically designated as responsible for accomplishing these objectives, as well as a group coordinator, all of whom work in direct connection with the church pastors. In particular, those who lead the Bible study within the groups meet weekly to prepare together the following Sunday’s lesson.
Christian education outside the church
The biblical education work of Bethel Church is not limited to the current activities carried out within the church premises (preaching, Sunday school classes, AWANA club). Biblical education is promoted and cultivated in many other ways, such as conferences, camps, discipleship or fellowship groups, occasional meetings of certain groups of people in the church, etc. Moreover, the entire biblical education work of the church is organized and supported in such a way as to encourage the serious study and assimilation of the Word of God in the personal lives of church members and their families.
Alexandru Neagoe