Search for:
  • Home/
  • /
  • Sidewalk Sunday School

Sidewalk Sunday School

Since I’ve been here for awhile — and made a few friends — I guess it is safe to REALLY introduce myself. I am a teacher, a writer and a children’s evangelist. Supported by a team of truly awesome people I teach Sunday School every Saturday in one of Vegas’s poorest, most transient inner city neighborhoods.

This is our church. It is on wheels. October through May we take it to a local elementary school on Saturdays for worship. Each week we have a few new kids. Each week a few kids move away — the neighborhood is highly transient — however, some kids have been attending Sidewalk services for our entire five years.

These are our “pews” — two squares of carpet rolled out onto the asphalt. The children sit here for the lessons.

Where we roll out the carpet is always dictated by the weather — in the sun when its cold, in the shade when its hot, and not at all when it rains. The school has an outdoor lunch shelter we use when it rains, but unfortunately it is quite small and sometimes the kids really have to cuddle to fit eveyone in.

During the summer months when it is too hot to gather the children together and sit them on the ground, we have “splash” events where we all get together once every few weeks and try to drown each other in fun.

“The camera isn’t wategublpt!”

If you have now been inspired to start a Sidewalk Sunday School [patented] program in your church, please contact our Director, Billie Fidlin. Her email is: billie@desertsw.org

Be sure to put Sidewalk Sunday School (SSS) in the header, and tell her Charlene sent you.

Quilly is the pseudonym of Charlene L. Amsden, who lives on The Big Island in Hawaii. When she is not hanging out with Amoeba, she is likely teaching or sewing. Or she could be cooking, taking photographs, or even writing. But if she's not doing any of that, she's probably on Facebook or tinkering with her blog.

11 Comments

  1. Quite remarkable what you are doing. Doing the work of Jesus and teaching the way he did by going out into the crowds. And nice that the children are being taught and you are always getting new arrivals. Now I know why the other blog is called Matthew 28:19.

    I remember attending Sunday School for awhile when I was little. It felt like regular school. Not at all that fun. I am sure this way the teachings are more interesting and the children don’t feel like they are in regular classes.

    Wonderful work.

  3. Wow, what a wonderful blog. You are so inspirational, both in your writing and your life works. God bless you for making the world a better place. ‘Fluffy’ is adorable!

    And I love your Pixie design. 🙂

  4. Wow Charlene, pleased to meet you. What you are doing is very cool. I am sure the children look forward to your classes.

  5. You are awesome!!! Your grandmother would be proud of you. And we both know that in saying that I have spoken volumes. God has always had special plans for you, it is wonderful to see you realizing them. (I can’t help but be proud) xoxoxo C

  9. Pingback: Crashing, Burning & a Little Leprosy « Quilly’s Quips
  10. Pingback: Heart & Hands of Jesus « Quilly’s Quips

  11. I live now in Altamonte Springs, Florida. When I lived in Roswell,
    Georgia something similar happened in the apartment complexes
    as to your SATURDAY BIBLE CLASSES.

    Always had to sleep in on Saturday morning as I than worked
    third or midnight shift.

    May God bless the ministry to the children by many faithful
    workers using various methods.

    Have enjoyed using in the past MAIL BOX BIBLE LESSONS
    from Valdosta, Georgia. One little unknown tool I like is THE PRESCHOOL
    LESSONS from Gospel Folio Press on basics of the Bible. It was written
    in Ontario, Canada years ago.

Comments are closed.