This column is usually aimed at improving Sprouts meetings by suggesting program ideas or, as in the last issue, providing information about children as it relates to Sprouts. All of that assumes that the adults who are leaders and facilitators are doing all that they should to grow as disciples and seek their own spiritual formation. Ahhh, we know about assumptions.

Some of you are professional and/or paid staff trained in Christian education. Some are lay volunteers with years of experience. Some are interested and dedicated parents who have never "done" Christian education. Some are old hands at Sunday school or Vacation Bible school. Some are church members who have a heart for children. And some of you are a combination of all of these. And my point is?

The point is: regardless of your level of knowledge and experience in Christian education, that may not be the most important reason for your success as a Sprouts leader. Because of the intimate, extended exposure that children in Sprouts groups have with their leaders, particularly the Covenant Time leader, a leader becomes more than just a leader or teacher; he or she is a mentor and role model, a key influence on a child's understanding of what it means to be Christian.

In the Baptismal Covenant (United Methodist Hymnal, page 40), the congregation promises, "With God's help we will proclaim the good news and live according to the example of Christ. We will surround this child with a community of love and forgiveness, that they may grow in their service to others. We will pray for them, that they may be true disciples who walk in the way that leads to life." That is an awesome promise. Children learn less from what we say than from who we are and how we behave.

What are you doing for your own spiritual formation? Ideally, we would like every Sprouts leader to be in an adult Covenant Discipleship group. That would help assure that you are doing those works of piety and mercy that lead to spiritual formation and growth. But I suspect that many of you are not involved in a Covenant Discipleship group. This means that you must hold yourself accountable — not an easy task. Generally, spiritual formation doesn't "just happen." It isn't easy to be a Christian disciple — if it were, there would be little need for Covenant Discipleship groups.

So beyond the basics of praying, reading the Bible, attending worship,and so on, here are some other means for spiritual formation:

• Attend a five-day — or even a two-year — Academy for Spiritual Formation.
• Attend a Walk to Emmaus weekend and participate in an Emmaus Reunion group.
• Read/study a book on spiritual disciplines, such as Wuellner's Feed My Shepherds: Spiritual Healing and Renewal for Those in Christian Leadership and Miller's Invitation to Presence: A Guide to Spiritual Disciplines (both Upper Room), or Foster's Celebration of Discipline (HarperCollins).
• Read devotional resources, such as The Upper Room, Alive Now, Weavings (all Upper Room publications) and Praying with John Wesley or Living Deeply Our New Life in Christ: A Wesleyan Spirituality for Today (both Discipleship Resources).
• Learn lectio divina as a method of praying the Bible. See, for example, Lectio Divina: Renewing the Ancient Practice of Praying the Scriptures by M. Basil Pennington or Too Deep for Words: Rediscovering Lectio Divina by Thelma Hall.
• Explore fasting/abstinence.
• Study the meaning of baptism and the Lord's Supper.
• Seek a spiritual director; join a spiritual direction group.
• Participate in a special study, such as Disciple Bible Study (Cokesbury), Companions in Christ (Upper Room), or Christian Believer (Cokesbury).
• Start or join a small group for mutual support and accountability for Christian discipleship. See, for example, from Discipleship Resources: Building and Growing Your Small-Group Ministry, The Heart's Journey, Accountable Discipleship, Living Our Beliefs, and Serving with Christ.

I know you are too busy to undertake more activities. We all complain that we don't have enough time to get everything done. After all, you already lead Sprouts. But, as a Sprouts leader you need to be sure that you are attending to your own formation as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Edie Harris is the Volunteer/Casework Coordinator for St. Laurence Chapel: Caring Center for Homeless People, Pompano Beach, FL, where she also serves on the Methodist Federation for Social Action Board of Directors. With Shirley Ramsey, she co-authored Sprouts: Nurturing Children through Covenant Discipleship.