The pressure’s on. Our Sunday School area at church is being renovated, and a new name is required. The ‘Green Shed’ was its name, but now the exterior is more in the cream range. I had tentatively tendered ‘Sunday School’ and ‘Youth Ministry Centre’, but they are long odds of ever gracing the front door. Dynamic names like ‘Little Disciples’ and ‘The Rock’ and even the AI- generated ‘Praise & Play’, are well ahead of mine in the queue.

I don’t mind at all, and won’t be the least bit miffed, so long as what happens in that area is what happened to young Timothy in his preschool years. Said his senior and mentor Paul: “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Two things are mentioned in that good piece of counsel. One, that from the Bible, Timothy was taught the way to be saved through faith in Jesus Christ. And two, that those who taught him knew the Lord for themselves, and showed the pattern of authentic Christian living by their words and example. And if both things happen in the building, week by week, child by child, teacher by teacher, year by year, the label on the front of the building can be anything. (Except for ‘Little Ponies’!)