Class structure
For a regular new Christian class, my preference is the Sunday school format, and I will tell you why.

Consistency
More children attend church regularly on Sunday mornings. Some of them who come with a grandparent or neighbor never make it back to church for a class on another night. Having a regular class ensures that children who are saved during the holidays or in winter time receive the follow-up teaching that they need. It is also very helpful to the young parents of the church to have a place they can drop by and visit when they feel their child is nearing the time of salvation. The child simply enrolls in the New Christian Class for a few weeks and attends there instead of his or her regular Sunday school. The Sunday school teacher is given a note by the New Christian Class that he or she is present and attending there. The director of the New Christian Class can double as a secretary, if necessary, and take attendance each week. When children finish their books and graduate from New Christian Class, they simply rejoin the regular Sunday school. This time apart to focus on salvation is so key to helping kids understand this special time in their lives.

Church awareness
When a New Christian Class meets every week, church members become aware of it. Such a class is also helpful because it provides a person for parents to visit with about a child’s salvation during the process. Parents are allowed to enroll children who are asking questions about salvation, as well as those who have prayed to receive salvation but have not made their decision public. This is so important because salvation assurance and information need to be available to children at the crucial time of salvation, not six months later. The fact that the New Christian Class runs all the time keeps vacations from being a problem. In fact, one good model runs the New Christian Class during the school year, September through May, and gives the teachers a break during the summer. This way they are free to help in VBS or other summer ministries without becoming over-committed.

The room
New Christian Class is adaptable to just about any space. It is nice to have a regular room with bulletin boards, tables and chairs, and a place to sit in a circle for large group (story) time. Children can sit on the floor for large group time, but they generally pay attention better if they are sitting in chairs.

Class structure
Introductory activity (10 min.)
Work in Answers for New Christians books (30 min.)
Group time (20 min.)

How class works
When children first arrive, they should go directly to tables where a teacher is waiting with an introductory activity for them. This can be any small game or memory verse activity or even a craft that can be done in ten minutes. Just make sure the activity is something besides coloring. After doing this for ten minutes, children should begin working in the Answers for New Christians book.

How to guide through the book
When a child first gets his book, allow him a little time to admire it, and be sure to fill out the front pages. You should have something available for him to color the pictures with. Let the child be the boss on the coloring. Do not insist that he color pictures if he doesn’t like to color. Don’t make him stay in the lines or finish a picture completely before moving on in the book. Some children just color a bit of each picture and then finish them after they take their books home. Some older children don’t want to color at all. Please be sensitive to the child’s preference here.

Pre-K through early elementary
Answers was designed so that the pre-K through early elementary child can color while you read the story to him. Again, be sensitive to your student. The text is generally too difficult for early elementary readers, but if they want to read aloud a little bit, you may let them.

Upper elementary checkpoints
Upper elementary kids can guide themselves through the book as long as you stop them periodically and check for understanding. It is a good idea to ask them to bring their books to you when they finish each chapter. That way you can look at the Bible verse fill-ins and make sure they have done them correctly. You may wish to ask a question or two to see if they have understood the story, but try not to make this something stressful.

Large group time
After working in the book for thirty minutes, most children need a break. This is when we go to the circle for story time. You can play some soft music five minutes before the break to give your teachers the signal that it is time to wind down and move to the circle. If someone needs to use the restroom or get a drink, this is the time (not during the story).

Structure of the large group
It is nice to begin large group time with a warm welcome and a song. Then ask everyone to sit down. Lead the group in a short prayer and tell the story. After the story, lead a memory verse activity or review game. Then dismiss the group.