How to Launch a Sunday School: Planning, Volunteers & Child Safety (2026)
September 10, 2026
Whether you're launching your first class, growing from two volunteers to twenty, or reviving a program that lost momentum, a strong Sunday school comes down to planning, people, and protection. This video walks church and nonprofit leaders through it from zero.
In this video
- Setting the foundation: choosing your age groups, writing a mission statement, and setting enrollment goals
- Budget and funding for a children's ministry program
- Recruiting and keeping volunteers: start personal asks early, rotate teachers, and recruit extra to cover absences and burnout
- Volunteer screening and child safety: background checks before anyone works with kids, a written screening policy, consent forms, and renewals on a regular cycle
- The two-adult rule: no teacher alone with a child, including in hallways and bathrooms
- Sunday morning is game day: setup 15 minutes early, check-in, a 30–45 minute lesson, and a safe dismissal
- Measuring impact and thanking your volunteers
Resources from this video
Most VolunteerBadge checks come back in minutes. If a possible record comes up, it goes to human FCRA review, which can take up to about 72 hours.
VolunteerBadge offers FCRA-compliant volunteer screening with identity verification built in, for $5 per check with no monthly fee. Many churches let volunteers cover their own $5.
This video is for general information only, not legal advice. Screening requirements vary by state and denomination, so check with your attorney, your denomination's safe-ministry office, and your insurer.
