Matt. 13:4-8, NRSV
Anyone working in children's ministries knows that we scatter many seeds in our efforts to grow disciples. Sometimes we know the results of our sowing and sometimes the seeds take many years to sprout. But the Rev. Gayle Quay, Pastor of Children's Ministries, Buncombe St. UMC, Greenville, SC, has had the joy of seeing a harvest beyond her wildest dreams.
As Robyn Whitten, one of the Sprouts leaders said, "Sprouts has been the most successful program at the church this year, but more importantly, it has changed lives. The commitment to Covenant Discipleship will continue at Buncombe St. UMC as we bring new people into the fold and send our 'graduates' on to new levels."
Sprouts began at Buncombe in the fall of 1999 with over 40 children grades 4-6 and 10 adult leaders. "Homelessness" was their first justice issue. They learned about the homeless people in Greenville from a local organization that addresses this problem. The children donated 50 pairs of socks and named the socks so that their prayers for homeless people would be more personal to them. They created a calendar, Bridges of Peace, in which they drew pictures of ways to bring peace to the world, then donated the proceeds from sales of the calendar $1000 to their local organization.
In smaller groups, the Sprouts worked at several different ministries around the city. They provided dinner for a Boys' Home, donated birthday boxes for an after-school program for children in need, and cleaned toys at a facility for recovering addicts and their children. They also visited the Greenville Rescue Mission; they donated socks and underwear, sang Christmas carols for the guests, and played basketball with them.
In the second half of the year the Sprouts concentrated on hunger. Each child asked a church adult to write a Lenten "message of hope" devotion. Half of the nearly $3000 they raised went to a local food pantry and the other half was sent to Heifer Project International (HPI), 1015 Louisiana St., Little Rock, AR 72202, 800-422-0474, www.heifer.org. The Sprouts then decided they wanted to buy an Ark for HPI. They organized an Animal Fair with craft booths, games, a silent auction with items donated by church members, a petting zoo with live animals, and a Cow Ker-Plop with the winner receiving a year's supply of Mayfield Dairy products. (I leave it to your imagination to figure out what a Cow Ker-Plop is!) Altogether, the Animal Fair raised $7500. As part of the celebration of success, the senior pastor even kissed a pig!
What is impressive about all these wonderful activities is not just the amount of money raised or the number of acts of kindness and justice, but the incorporation of elements of worship and devotion into the activities. The children prayed over the socks and encouraged the devotional life of the church through the Lenten devotionals. They have used My Prayer Journal by Karen Hill (Thomas Nelson Publishing) to enrich their prayer life. They have truly sent down strong roots of faith and produced much fruit.
Next fall they will be participating in Franklin Graham's "Operation Christmas Child" project. Gayle is planning to give each child a Bible carrier that holds not only a Bible but also other Sprouts material. She sends a Sprouts newsletter to the parents periodically to keep them informed of what's going on.
Her biggest "problem" is getting enough adults to help. She is also anticipating the beginning of a youth CD Group as the children graduate from Sprouts. As the Senior Pastor has said (and he's talking about more than "pig-kissing"), "The Sprouts ministry has changed the life of Buncombe Street United Methodist Church."
"Sprouts" are popping up all over!
Let's create a Sprouts network. If you have a Sprouts group at your church, let us know. Contact Steve Manskar: smanskar@gbod.org, tollfree (877) 899-2780 Ext. 1765, or P.O. Box 340003, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Give us your good news or questions about Sprouts ...or just let us know that you're a Sprouts gardener. Let's get in touch!
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