The Sprouts ministry at Westminster United Methodist Church has grown from 6-9 children the first year to 17 in the fifth year. It doesn’t take a large budget to begin training the children of your church to become accountable disciples of Christ. It only takes the desire to do as Christ commanded.

When the Sprouts ministry was begun in our church, there was no designated budget for resources, paper, crayons, or other supplies. We borrowed from the Sunday school and people donated without being asked. Bertie says that a few church members now support the Sprouts on a regular basis. Last year was the first year that Sprouts was a budgeted item. It is difficult for people to believe that it doesn’t take a big budget to start a ministry. It only takes the desire to be a disciple of Christ, and the Holy Spirit will help us with our faith.

The Sprouts ministry teaches many spiritual formation objectives that the average Sunday school curriculum does not. The Sprouts at Westminster are in grades 3-5. They begin their meetings by sharing prayer concerns. They review their faithfulness through “covenant time.” A lesson is taught on the subject of worship, devotion, justice, or kindness (compassion). Each week, Sprouts participate in a craft project that relates to the lesson or they play a game. Snacks are an important time during the evening—a time to share as well as eat.

The children interviewed find the “covenant time” very meaningful. Nathan Potee commented, “It sounded hard, but making the covenant is a breeze!” Rebekuh MacLean-Blevins said, “The covenant gives us all something to look up to in order to keep focused on God.” She added, “I used to pray once in a while, but now I pray every day. Prayer has become a part of my life. It is something that I look forward to each day!”

Tommy Pleasant elaborated on his spiritual growth regarding the quality of his prayers, “I know that prayer is very important! I pray more often and for other people besides my family.”

Tommy’s older sister Amanda wanted me to mention how important the use of the Children’s Prayer Calendar is to her. “I pray for the child of one of our United Methodist Church missionaries who has the same birthday as mine! I also pray for another child pictured in the calendar.”

Sprouts ministry makes Christian discipleship a “do-it thing”! “Ms. Winner lets us do things what we don’t usually do! We played Bingo with clients at a nursing home. It was fun! The older people were very happy to see us,” Amanda exclaimed.

Abby MacLean-Blevins and Tess McCourt talked about the importance of reading Bible stories and acting them out during lesson time. Tess said, “I read my Pockets magazine every day! It has a calendar with Bible verses on it, so I know just what to read!”

The Sprouts’ favorite activity was working at our local food bank sorting cans of food and helping the clients with their bags of food. Judi and Bertie helped organize twelve Sprouts to collect over two tons of food for the food bank the past few Thanksgivings!

Rebekuh MacLean-Blevins exclaimed, “Helping others makes you feel a lot better about yourself!”

Abby MacLean-Blevins added, “During our visit to the Carroll County Food Sunday, I learned how people live who don’t have much money. They have many limits in their diet. If they have spinach for dinner they have to eat it, because spinach might be their only vegetable.” All of the children expressed a desire to do more to help families in need.

These children have been involved in many other ministries of compassion and have learned to make mission a way of life. They have collected supplies for our homeless shelter, made “blessing bags” for children in the hospital, worked in the soup kitchen, and read to clients in nursing homes, to mention a few.

Bertie and Judi shared their secret for making it happen— bringing kids and the community together. They said, “Look at the resources available in your community and make it work!”

As one of their acts of worship, the Sprouts have learned the art of Christian clowning under the direction of Bertie Pond. All of the Sprouts interviewed are excited to continue this aspect of their ministry. They wanted me to affirm in this article how much fun they have. It was the consensus of the group that people should know how important it is for churches to have a Sprouts ministry of their own. Rebekuh MacLean-Bleavins is adamant that this ministry should begin at a younger age, suggesting that a ministry could be called “Seeds”!

The Sprouts ministry at Westminster United Methodist Church has grown from 6-9 children the first year to 17 in the fifth year. It doesn’t take a large budget to begin training the children of your church to become accountable disciples of Christ. It only takes the desire to do as Christ commanded.

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Shari McCourt, a member of Westminster United Methodist Church, is a Candidate for Ordained Ministry as an Elder, a student at Wesley Theological Seminary, a Sprouts resource person, and a member of the Council for Accountable Discipleship. Her three children, including Tess McCourt, have been Sprouts.

Shari McCourt, a member of Westminster United Methodist Church, is a Candidate for Ordained Ministry as an Elder, a student at Wesley Theological Seminary, a Sprouts resource person, and a member of the Council for Accountable Discipleship. Her three children, including Tess McCourt, have been Sprouts.