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History of
SANSSA |
What we Believe |
Charter
History of SANSSA
In the early days Sunday Schools in South
Africa generally 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 large number of different denominations all using different
programmes, the solution lay in interdenominational co-operation.
This was provided largely 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
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Improvement of existing schools in
harmony with their denominational policy
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Supply of informational literature,
conventions & correspondence courses
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Services to bring every child
irrespective of race, language or colour to a Sunday School
experience
What we Believe
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The Bible to be the inspired, the only
infallible authoritative Word of God.
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That there is one God, eternally
existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
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In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ,
in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His
vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily
resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and
in His personal return in power and glory.
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That for the salvation of lost and
sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
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In the present ministry of the Holy
Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly
life.
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In the resurrection of both the saved
and the lost; they that are saved into the resurrection of life and
they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
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In the spiritual unity of believers in
Christ.
Charter
Mission
To promote Christian education in the Church
in Southern Africa
Functions
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Facilitating Christian education by way
of courses, meetings, seminars and Scripture Knowledge Examinations
[SKE]
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Arranging conferences, camps and
meetings for inspiration and instruction.
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Networking with denominations,
organizations and individuals engaged in similar work.
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Distributing Christian education
resource materials.
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Promoting children's education through
the annual observance of Children's Ministry Day.
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Disseminating Christian education and
Christian education information through appropriate media.
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Continuous research on Christian
education.
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Promoting contests to encourage improved
Christian education effectiveness.
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Establishing, maintaining and financing
national and local organizations for the purposes of carrying out
the above functions.
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