The purpose of this study was to describe what Christian education programs were like in Black congregations of the Church of God (Anderson, IN) which were served by graduates of Bay Ridge Christian College or were located in Texas, Louisiana, or Mississippi. The researcher, a Christian education professor at Bay Ridge Christian College which is located in Kendleton, Texas, used the description to assist in curriculum development at the College. A nine page research instrument was designed and distributed to sixty-three pastors in the constituentgroups. The data were provided from twenty-eight respondents, all pastors. The data were analyzed in four major categories: Demographics and Pastoral Role, Congregational Data, Status of Christian Education Ministries, and General Concerns. The data were used to test eighteen hypotheses. The study indicated the majority of the pastors were bi-vocational in urban settings. They considered preaching, teaching, and administration as their (Anderson, IN), the Sunday School in Churches, and Bay Ridge Christian College the thesis. Southern Black were included in primary pastoral responsibilities. In the churches, volunteers were responsible for the Christian education programs. The programs did not have written goals and objectives but provided a variety of programs for all age groups in addition to the Sunday School classes. The congregations represented by the respondents provided and encouraged leadership development. They used Sunday School curriculum published by Warner Press, the Church of God Publishing Company in Anderson, Indiana; but did not find the materials distributed by the Board of Christian Education in Anderson to be useful to their local programs. The respondents indicated Bay Ridge Christian College could serve them by providing workshops in the following areas: children's ministries, administration of Christian Education, use of audio-visual aids, youth ministry, and Sunday School growth and development. They also expressed a desire to know more of the content of The Bible and for help in Bible study skills. The study concluded with recommendations to the Christian Education Department at Bay Ridge Christian College, the Administration of Bay Ridge Christian College, and the Board of Christian Education of the Church of God located in Anderson, Indiana and the Board of Christian Education of the National Association of the Church of God located in West Middlesex, Pennsylvania. Brief histories of the Black constituency of the Church of God (Anderson, IN), the Sunday School in Southern Black Churches, and Bay Ridge Christian College were included in this thesis. / Department of Educational Administration and Supervision

Thesis (D. Min.)--Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, 2006. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-128).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of California, Davis, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 215-230).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Capella University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 124-140).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D. in Religion)--Vanderbilt University, Dec. 2008. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 2006. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 236-246).

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1995. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 70-76).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Ashland Theological Seminary, 2008. / Abstract . Includes bibliographical references (leaves 124-127).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2000. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-117).