Many parents are facing difficult decisions in this time of COVID-19 about how best to school their children this fall. Schools may or may not reopen or may be available for in-person attendance on a limited basis. Households with working parents will be challenged to provide virtual classrooms at home while maintaining their work schedules either at home or away from home.

Some churches are considering ways to assist parents by offering places where children can attend school virtually while being supervised by church volunteers or staff. This is a great ministry outreach and can provide time for discipleship that many children are missing. In order to have a ministry that provides optimal learning environments for children, there are many considerations that your church must take.

Recently, Cheryl Markland and Mary Sweat, two consultants on the Disciple-Making Team with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, put together a resource titled, “Learning Center Options at Church,” that can help guide you through the questions and requirements that need to be addressed when considering this ministry.

Whether you are considering hosting a ministry of this kind, or being a part of the staff that provides this greatly needed service, providing learning options is a great opportunity to widen your church’s outreach into your surrounding neighborhoods.