Substantial changes are underway in regards to the children's Sabbath School divisions. The curriculum has changed / is changing from GraceLink to "Alive In Jesus" (AIJ).

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Timelines  for launch:

• 2025: Baby Steps (0-12mo) and Beginner (1-3)

• 2026: Kindergarten (4-6) and Primary (7-9)

• *2029: Junior (10-12) and Earliteen (13-14)

*An updated launch date has been announced for Juniors/ETs to match all 3 cycle years across divisions.

The NAD has started a BRAND NEW program called Baby Steps for infants up to age 1. This program is designed to help new parents worship with their little ones and can be set up as a special Sabbath School group, it can meet at a different time during the week, or simply worship at home. While the program is meant to be led by parents, there can also be a separate leader if desired. The ABC will fill the orders for the Baby Steps program as each church orders. It is only a 1-year cycle, so there will not be “new” material each year; new parents will start the material as each group or church decides. The materials are great gift ideas for baby showers and baby dedications!

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What is different about the AIJ Beginner curriculum? It replaces a 20-year old curriculum and has been updated to equip parents, caregivers, and SS teachers to model and foster a thriving relationship with Jesus, taking into account the different developmental stages of children in the current times we are living in. Supplemental Beginner program items are available in a kit for about $100.00 (includes the backdrop, Scripture cards, and posters) at AdventSource.org, and the specifics of those items change based on each quarter's lesson. Those are not available as part of the traditional standing order, but the ABC also manages specific orders and sends them to participating churches.

 

The Beginner curriculum operates on a 3-year cycle and offers 3 new components:

1. Sensory Activity: parents are encouraged to engage with their child in the sensory activity, which is loosely focused on the theme of the quarter.

2. Nature Box: the teacher creates a sense of "wonder and awe" with a beautifully decorated box. When it is opened, the teacher shows the children nature items and talks about our wonderful God who created each item in the box.

3. Story Time Bag: the whole Sabbath School program points to a Bible story. When it’s time for the Bible story, the teacher has a fun bag of items that will be pulled out as the story is being told. 

We are sharing with you how some of this will work so you can direct your leaders and teachers to the proper outlets in order to manage the materials you are receiving. There are several elements of the new program that will be confusing because it is different from what has happened in the past. But we are here to help guide throughout the transition (Click Here for contact information).

Thankfully, the Upper Columbia ABC store has offered insightful guidance and will be readily available to handle all the orders, answer questions, and facilitate changes to standing orders. Alternatively, you can contact 800-765-6955 and the system will automatically connect you with the nearest ABC store to get the help you need. And, as always, you can also update your church's standing order online by visiting: SS Online Renewal System. Note: if nothing is done, the system will automatically update your order to the AIJ curriculum.

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Other key elements of change:

• When a new program of Alive in Jesus is launched, all standing orders are updated to the new curriculum and the GraceLink curriculum will no longer be available. However, the ABC can adjust quantities as needed, just like they have always done.

• There will be additional resources that will adjust each quarter: free downloads, teacher training, parent inspiration, music, and much more.  Those will be available once the website goes live and will require no subscription.

• Visit the website for more information, resources, and training videos: AliveInJesus.

We recognize that smaller churches may not have the kids or manpower to have separate classes. If this is the case for your church, you can order sets from different age groups and incorporate into a combined class (a hybrid of sorts). Or do both side by side. The Alive In Jesus curriculum is designed to be flexible and adjustable to all churches' needs.