This isn't about parenting, but I just don't know where else to go to get advice from other Christians. So, hopefully, some of you will be able to advise me.

Here's the situation. I have been the director of our Toddler Church program for about a year now. Last month, there was an opening for Toddler SS teacher, I prayed about it, and within a couple of hours, I was offered the position, talked to DH and accepted it. I love doing it, but I really miss my old SS class. Which is why I can't figure out if I'm thinking the thoughts I'm thinking out of selfishness or what.

For the past two months, I've been trying to recruit volunteers for Toddler Church. Haven't gotten a soul, so I'm teaching SS and Toddler Church most Sundays. I get to worship 2 Sundays a month, and I get to fill in for our lack of volunteers the other 3.

I'm seriously considering and praying about whether I should drop Sunday School, so that I'll have the opportunity to be fed spiritually. My former SS class is/was wonderful; I feel it really strengthened me as a Christian. But I feel like if I drop my toddler SS class, I'd be letting God down. I'm very confused. I don't know what God wants me to do, but I do know that it can't be just about what I want. If that makes sense.

I will gladly accept any and all advice!

I sympathize with your situation. Prior to my move to GA I worshipped at a very small church and I definitely was a victim of burn-out. I believe that my own spiritual growth was affected by my over commitment in too many areas. I am much more strategic now about how and when I commit myself, but that is not always easy either.
My advice would be to continue to pray about it- perhaps being so direct as to ask the Lord to lead you to a toddler church volunteer. Also ask for Him to lead you back towards your own SS experience if this is what you more urgently need. I think that he is better at knowing what we need than we usually are! I hope this helps. PTL for such faithful servants as you sister!
Blessings,
Beth

I'm assuming you have both toddler sunday school AND toddler church? Can't all the moms or dads of the toddlers involved in the program take turns teaching a simple lesson? You could still be the main teacher or coordinator, but the parents who have their children involved would be expected to help. It would be more of a taking turns type or thing rather than asking for volunteers.

I agree about the turn taking with participating members! If you had two parents every week....depending on the number of kids, that is not much at all! You could just have the lesson waiting there for them and whatever else they needed, but you'ed be free to be in your own SS class for Sunday too! Say you have 10 kids, that means two parents would work in the toddler room one sunday every five weeks! That isn't bad at all! THey don't have to be nervous about handling all the kids alone either if you do it in a partner set-up, which in my opinion is best anyway! If they will be gone that Sunday it is up to THEM to switch with another parent on the list (make a contact list with all participating!) and they must inform you of the change by Friday before that Sunday so you know all is good with the switch.........
Also, go to the pastor and tell him your heart and dilema....you are a valuable helper for them and sometimes when others ask people say no, but if a pastor asks people to step up, sometimes they are more willing! Tell him this possible plan and see what he says too! Good luck!!
Bree

I agree about the turn taking with participating members! If you had two parents every week....depending on the number of kids, that is not much at all! You could just have the lesson waiting there for them and whatever else they needed, but you'ed be free to be in your own SS class for Sunday too! Say you have 10 kids, that means two parents would work in the toddler room one sunday every five weeks! That isn't bad at all! THey don't have to be nervous about handling all the kids alone either if you do it in a partner set-up, which in my opinion is best anyway! If they will be gone that Sunday it is up to THEM to switch with another parent on the list (make a contact list with all participating!) and they must inform you of the change by Friday before that Sunday so you know all is good with the switch.........
Also, go to the pastor and tell him your heart and dilema....you are a valuable helper for them and sometimes when others ask people say no, but if a pastor asks people to step up, sometimes they are more willing! Tell him this possible plan and see what he says too! Good luck!!
Bree

These are some great ideas! I definitely agree that you would need the agreement/support of your pastor.

I'm assuming you have both toddler sunday school AND toddler church? Can't all the moms or dads of the toddlers involved in the program take turns teaching a simple lesson? You could still be the main teacher or coordinator, but the parents who have their children involved would be expected to help. It would be more of a taking turns type or thing rather than asking for volunteers.

With SS, the problem is that, to remain consistent, the church just wants one teacher. For church, many of the parents of toddlers are serving in other areas of the church. And the church needs them to sing/play piano/work with Children's Church/etc. The pastor is calling on people to volunteer every Sunday, but nothing's happened thus far. I won't say that nobody's been called, but if they have, they must be ignoring it! :lol: