Overview

For over 20 years, Echoes curriculum has been one of the most widely used resources for African American churches. Every lesson is easy-to-use, teacher friendly, strengthens the entire church body with a Unified Lesson Theme, and is certain to keep your classes engaged with relevant Scriptural content that applies to their everyday lives.

Here's what churches love about Echoes. It:

Provides a culturally-relevant Gospel presentation
Is Bible-based and Christ-centered
Follow the International Sunday School Lesson outlines at the adult level
Is easy to prepare and teach
Recognizes life needs of students and reveals life-impacting biblical application

Unified Theme Approach

Through the Unified Theme Approach your entire congregation will be learning the same biblical principles-every student at every age-at their own level of development. The Unified Themes integrates and strengthens your congregation by extending the valuable lessons learned in Sunday school into the home-providing a greater understanding of God's Word, and beginning a discipleship process that continues for a lifetime.

Echoes Summary

Welcome	Predominantly African-American curriculum, providing quality Christian education that meets both age-level and ethnically diverse needs of students. Preserves Black biblical and contemporary heritage.
Home Link	African-American family is strongly affirmed. Common theme for entire Sunday school encourages unity between church and home.
Christian Education Scope	Toddler through High School: Sequential Bible coverage alternating between New and Old Testaments (September-May); Topical studies (June-August). Adult: Sequential Bible coverage alternating between New and Old Testaments and Topical studies each quarter. Full Bible coverage: In 12 school years, toddler through high school, students go through the Bible 4 times at age-appropriate levels; adults cover the Bible in 6 to 8-years (varies by study). Age Levels available: toddler (18-36 months) through adult.
Lesson Plan	Follows 4-step natural learning cycle: Why is this important to me? What does the Bible say? How does this Bible passage work today? What am I willing to do with what I learned?
Lesson Methods	Teaching methods match life experiences of ethnically diverse students. Educationally excellent mix of teaching tools match developmental abilities and reach every student's learning style: visual, active, and auditory learners, and developmental abilities.
Theology	Emphasis on salvation and lifelong discipleship. Echoes affirms the Bible as the infallible Word of God. Guidance on how teachers can present basic Bible truths without focusing on specific doctrines over which Bible-believing Christians may disagree.
Translation	NIV for Toddler through High School and a dual translation NIV & KJV for Adult.
Product Appearance	Authentic Bible art with Black presence. Contemporary art shows diverse, Black experience.
Social Perspective	Pastors viewed as head of the local church. Strong emphasis on male role as God's head within traditional family; acknowledges female leaders.
Product Pieces	Teacher's commentary and teaching aids, student books, craft books, take-home papers, and Superintendent's handbook (free online).

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Our Heritage: The Black Church and Echoes

Millions of us in black denominations, independent churches, and multicultural Christian fellowships have a shared heritage that God tells us to remember, not to forget (Deuteronomy 6-9).

Echoes curriculum has been faithful to the work of remembering all that we have inherited through its central focus of teaching by doing God's Holy Word. You will find that Echoes acknowledges and celebrates the cultural and biblical heritage of African Americans.

Our heritage in the Bible, including our ancestry in the Garden of Eden, on the ark, in the twelve tribes of Israel, and throughout Bible people of the Old and the New Testaments.
Our heritage in church history: Simon of Cyrene, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Tertullian, and Augustine; all North Africans are among our scholars, theologians, writers, and teachers.
Our heritage of community leaders who have taught us through resounding sermons delivered from pulpits, through books and poetry, through songs of sorrow and joy, and through tireless training in our church schools are featured in the Echoes curriculum.

We have tasted God's deliverance and must not forget that heritage. Across our diverse denominations and churches we can sing Albert A. Goodson's lyric: "We've come this far by faith, leaning on the Lord, trusting in His Holy Word, and He's never failed [us] yet. Oh, can't turn around, we've come this far by faith."