Children are hard-wired for imitation and learn most about life in their early years — for better or worse — by reflecting their (gulp!) daddy.

I don’t remember much about that day, but one thing I do remember: it was hot — really hot. The temperature in Newton was near 100 degrees Fahrenheit that day. But we had committed to walk our neighborhood and pray for divine appointments. This was the third time in three weeks we had been out in the community. During that unusually hot summer, we were finding it nearly impossible to meet people, much less engage them in gospel conversations.

There is a difference between using something and leveraging something. You can use money to buy things you may or may not need. But that does not equate to leveraging it. Leveraging money as an investment could double or triple the initial investment. Using takes something at face value. Leveraging seeks to maximize potential. The difference between using and leveraging is one of strategic vision.

I grew up in the Bible Belt. In those days, almost nobody worked on Sundays. We prayed before class, ball games and meals — even in the name of Jesus — whether we believed it or not. We proudly displayed the Ten Commandments in our courthouses — whether we obeyed them or not. These were the days when nearly 75 percent of the population went to church on Sunday morning. I’m eternally grateful for my upbringing. But the truth is, living in the Bible Belt didn’t make me a disciple of Jesus any more than standing in my garage makes me a Ford F-150.

As churches progress through the coronavirus pandemic, a major question currently surfacing is, “How do I make the decision about when to reopen children’s ministries, especially those for preschool worship care?” This can be a difficult and divisive decision, but above all other concerns, consideration should be made to provide care as safely as possible. Listed below are some questions that will help your church with its decision-making.

One of my greatest joys and sources of fun was ministry with preteens. Preteens know that youth ministry is just around the corner and, at times, I felt like I was leading the Israelites who were waiting to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land, and I wouldn’t say “Go!”