Sidewalk Sunday School  

Sidewalk Sunday School is an outreach youth ministry.  The Vegas 3 site, now of Heritage UMC, has been operating on the Fay Herron ES campus for two years.  Fay Herron ES is located on the corner of Kenneth and Carey, approximately 1.3 miles from Heritage UMC. 

With the aid of a dry van truck whose side drops down to form a sound stage, a handful of Christ-centered volunteers have presented the gospel to over 800 children.  Although weekly attendance usually averages from 30 to 40 children, 101 youths participated in our first Christmas service.  We sing, dance, play, pray and worship for approximately an hour and a half, once per week, from October through May.  Every week the children receive a Bible lesson, a gift, a snack and a beverage.

The Sidewalk ministry provides many avenues of service.  Please read the task descriptions below and prayerfully consider God's call to serve.  Sidewalk volunteers are separated into seven teams, the Platform Team, the Shepherd Team, the Prayer Team, the Truck team, the Promotions Team, the Curriculum Team and the Visitation Team:

The Platform Team
The primary platform teacher is the Sidewalk Director, however, this team also includes relief and/or team teachers.  We have had great success with team teaching in the past.  The lessons are interactive.  If you're flexible, enjoy working in a fluid situation and have no fear addressing crowds, we want you on the platform.  This team also includes a sound technician. We also have a serious need for someone with music leadership skills.

The Shepherd Team
The shepherd leader coordinates registration, the attendance roster, the name tags, gift and snack distribution and the volunteer Shepherds.  The Shepherds themselves help with registration; gift and snack distribution; and in general work as Hands for the body of Christ.  The Shepherd's most critical call is to love the flock.  If you have a natural affection for children and are willing to be a mentor, you'll make an excellent Shepherd.

Prayer Team
Team members promise to pray daily for all prayer requests, Sidewalk volunteers, and every aspect of Sidewalk ministry.  Each week prayer requests are gathered from the children. The Prayer Team leader types and distributes these requests to all members of the Prayer Team.  In the past this has been done through email and the church bulletin.  Prayer Team members are not required to attend Sidewalk, but at least one representative from the Prayer Team should be on site each week.

The Truck Team
The team leader is responsible for scheduling drivers.  The truck is the children's church.  It needs to be on-site and ready for operation because the worship service cannot start without it.  About a half hour before registration, the truck driver sets up the sound system and drives through the ministry neighborhood playing Christian music and reminding the children to come to Sidewalk.  The sight and sound of the truck on their street calls the children to worship.  The driver then returns the truck to the site.  It takes approximately 10 minutes for the volunteers and children to convert it for worship.

The Promotions Team
Team members solicit and coordinate gifts, food and beverages.  The team leader actively contacts local area businesses and solicits sponsorship.  Ideally, we would like all promotional items to be donated, but Sidewalk does have a modest budget, and we do purchase discounted items.  The Promotions Team leader works in partnership with the Shepherd Team leader to coordinate the weekly distribution of food and gifts.

The Curriculum Team
Team members make eye catching posters.  They come together as a group once or twice a quarter to fellowship, draw and color.  The Curriculum Team leader schedules the dates, coordinates the supplies, and distributes the verses, songs or signs which need designing. 

The Visitation Team
This aspect of the Sidewalk Ministry is critical.  The Visitation Team leader coordinates pairs of volunteers who contact Sidewalk children and their families outside of the weekly worship service.  Visitation is conducted on the porch or in the yard, not in the home.  Visitation Team members may represent the only contact some of these families have had with Christ.  It is personal interaction with Visitation Team members that eventually leads Sidewalk families into a personal relationship with Christ.

Please prayerfully consider your place in Heritage UMCs Sidewalk ministry.  Although one of our current Sidewalk volunteers has never missed a Sidewalk service, most of us can't meet that call.  Experience has proven that it is best to have six or seven volunteers on site each week.  The more of us who enlist in this ministry, the lighter the work load will be.   We are looking forward to hearing from you!