By Kathy Heath
If someone could show you how to double your Sunday school class size, would you be interested?
Josh Hunt believes your class can double in size in the next two years. On July 25 the Baptist General Association of Virginia, along with the Portsmouth, Peninsula and Norfolk Baptist associations, hosted Josh Hunt for a seminar on “Doubling Your Class.” The seminar was held at Ocean View Baptist Church in Norfolk, with over 100 church leaders attending.
In his research, Hunt has discovered that there is an “epidemic of loneliness” in our society. He challenges church members to reach out to their neighbors by inviting them into their homes for friendship and fellowship. At the core of his approach is something called “Friday Night for Jesus.” It began in his own home. Hunt and his wife, Sharon, invited an unchurched
couple over to have dessert and play cards with some other friends. Through the entire evening, no one talked about church. Yet within a few weeks, the couple had begun attending. That worked so well, they tried it again with the same results.
Hunt began to develop a strategy to help other Christians give their Friday nights for Jesus. He says, “This ministry is based on sound church growth thinking. People are not interested in a friendly church; they are looking for friends.” He believes the time spent building relationships through small groups is vital in reaching our society for Jesus Christ.
A 1983 graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Hunt served for 11 years as minster of education of Calvary Baptist Church in Las Cruces, N.M. During his tenure, the church nearly tripled in size.
He has developed what he calls “2020 Vision.” His dream is to see the church double in size by the year 2020.
Jim Albert, who attended the conference in Norfolk, is Sunday school director at Faith Baptist Church in Hampton. Of the conference, he said, “It is an excellent program and I am looking forward to implementing it in our church.”
Faye Wimmer, adult Sunday school superintendent at Emmaus Baptist Church in Poquoson, is also excited about Hunt's approach. “This program is a simple and easy way to reach out to people. I have been blessed to hear this message.”
John Robertson, director of missions for the Portsmouth association and pastor of River Shore Baptist Church, and his wife, Pam, hosted a “Friday Night for Jesus” in their home after being inspired by the seminar. After one meeting they have a success story: one family came to their church because of this outreach. The Robertsons are excited to share this concept with other church leaders, empowering them to duplicate the process.
Hunt's ministry provides lessons, videos and other resources to help groups and churches double in size. For information, contact Josh Hunt Ministries, 1964 Sedona Hills Parkway, Las Cruces, NM 88011; (505) 532-9693 (505) 650-4564 or www.joshhunt.com.
Special to the Herald
Kathy Heath is a freelance writer in Newport News.