Overview of SANSSA Christian Education Ministries
History of SANSSA
In the early days Sunday Schools in South Africa met for an hour on a Sunday afternoon though it later became more popular to start meeting in the morning.
South Africa was considered outside the major ocean routes and therefore visits from Sunday school leaders of other countries rarely took place.
Initially the responsibility of Sunday Schools fell under the auspices of specific denominations but due to large geographical regions in South Africa and the substantial number of different denominations all using different programmes, the solution lay in interdenominational co-operation. This was provided by SANSSA, a South African unit of the World Sunday School Association, which was started in 1915 and had its headquarters in Port Elizabeth
Membership was open to all denominations and Unions were established in twelve large towns, with volunteer officials except for a part time secretary in Johannesburg. The Influence of SANSSA’s work soon extended beyond the Union of South Africa’s border, which led to a merger with regions further north.
SANSSA was also formed to initiate and present a nationally endorsed invitation for the World Sunday School Convention to take place in South Africa. This proposal was accepted at the 1936 Convention held in Oslo, Norway. South Africa was to host the 1940 Convention in Durban but due to the sudden start of War World Two, this was postponed indefinitely.
OBJECTIVES
Improvement of existing Sunday schools in harmony with their denominational policy
Supply of informational literature, conventions & correspondence courses – Discover Teaching, Go Teach, & Scripture Knowledge Exam (SKE)
SERVICES
· To bring every child irrespective of race, language, or colour to a Sunday School experience.
· To assist teachers by offering training and support.
· To facilitate the coming together of different denominations though community activities.
This has been the aim of SANSSA ever since and to this end SANSSA registered with the Department of Social Services as a Non-Profit organisation (No. 012-420) as well as being registered as a Public Benefits Organisation (18/11/13/3400).
VISION OF SANSSA Christian Education Ministries:
To lead the Christian church of Southern Africa in developing and supporting world class educators who will establish in all generations the foundations of our Christian faith and in so doing drawing each one of them into a growing relationship with the living God.’