The Sunday School Dept, All Souls’ Chapel started in the early 1967 (around January) when the then University of Ife moved from her Ibadan campus to the Ile-Ife permanent site. At inception, children were grouped into age-appropriate classes. Also, members of the Evangelical Christian Union (ECU) and Students' Christian Movement (SCM) constituted the bulk of the teaching staff. At the time, some mothers brought their children and stayed to assist in caring for them, they include Mummy Aliu and Mummy Adebona. This has earned them the titles ‘Mummy” as against ‘Aunty’ like other women/ladies in the team of teachers till date. At the beginning of the Sunday School, there was no structured curriculum to be followed then. Every teacher was advised and allowed to develop his/her own curriculum and source for teaching materials/guides.
The location of the Chapel was at Agric foyer, Faculty of Agriculture area of the Campus. Some of the Faculty of Agriculture lecture rooms and especially the ‘agric theatres’ were used for many yearly festivities that were organized for the over 600 children on those wonderful occasions. The teachers often met on Sunday morning (9.00-10.00am) for prayers and preparation and more often, as the party periods approached, to prepare and organize Easter and especially Christmas which often marked the height of our yearly activities.
Many teachers were members of the University staff or students or even just committed individual child workers who worked outside the university. Many often gave not just their time, talent and energy but also personal or family financial support for God’s work in the School. The Children Sunday School has been the best experience for many teachers in their early involvement in Christian Ministry till date. It provides a platform to be involved, engaged and grow in the service of God.
The Sunday School is blessed with a building with several classrooms and the chaplaincy located at the church premises.
Evaluation: this is a quarterly examination of the children on the previous topics that have been taught to test their level of knowledge and understanding on those topics.
Bubble Sunday: this is a special Sunday programme that comes up every three month which brings together children from all classes and ages to fellowship together with several interesting and godly activities.
Teachers' Retreat: in a bid to equip teachers with and train them on the necessary skills and knowledge in the children ministry, the teachers retreat comes at the beginning of every year.
Easter Picnic: scheduled for every easter Monday, the children and the teachers come together to celebrate the remembrance of the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. This also features activities such as bible study, praise and worship, games, etc.
Christmas Party: every year, the Sunday school celebrates Christmas in a special way on special days. It brings children together to celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ in grand-style.
Anniversary
The Sunday School holds annual camping and celebration which brings together children from several churches and denominations with invited children’s ministers to learn and train children the Christian virtues and lifestyles centred on righteousness, holiness and service.
Happiness Club
The Happiness Club, founded over four decades ago as an outreach programme of the All Souls’ Chapel Sunday School, is an avenue aimed at saved and unsaved children in the community and helping them grow up in the ways of the Lord thus setting them on the right path in fulfilling their divine purpose in life. The club has been and still is a viable platform where children discover, nurture and develop their God given talents and potentials. The energy and creativity of the children are channelled into Godly and productive activities such as singing, acting, dancing, sharing of God’s word, Happiness Club welcomes children and teenagers within the ages of 3 years and 16 years.
