'Great Expectations' Sunday School initiative viewed by 10,000-plus

RIDGECREST, N.C. (BP) — Great Expectations – an online Sunday School training event broadcast during Sunday School Week at LifeWay Ridgecrest Conference Center – drew an estimated viewership of 10,000-12,000 people around the world, according to Bruce Raley, LifeWay’s director of leadership and evangelism training and events, who co-hosted the event sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.

“We think it’s the largest group ever gathered for Sunday School training,” Raley said.

The training is now archived, along with speaker PowerPoints, at LifeWay.com/GreatExpectations. There is no charge for downloading or viewing.

David Francis, LifeWay’s director of Sunday School, discipleship, church, and network partnerships, served as co-host with Raley.

Joining Raley and Francis in the webcast were Allan Taylor, minister of education at First Baptist Church in Woodstock; Jeff Young, minister of spiritual development at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas; and P.K. Spratt, minister of education at Jersey Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio.

Three past LifeWay online training events are available as free downloads: “The Summit: A Convergence of Small Group Experts” with Rick Howerton; “Sunday School vs. Small Groups” with Rick Howerton and David Francis; and “Worship: Reverence vs. Relevance” with Ed Stetzer and Mike Harland.