Sprouts: Covenant Discipleship with Children

Sprouts is a Covenant Discipleship ministry for children grades 3-6. Sprouts children meet weekly to support one another in their efforts to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. In Sprouts groups, children work together to do acts that show love for God and for neighbor. Through participation, children develop habits of discipleship that will sustain them in their spiritual formation and growth for the rest of their lives.

In Sprouts you will find how to start a Sprouts group, plans for training leaders, helps for leading the weekly Sprouts meetings, and reproducible resources for publicizing your group and keeping parents, leaders, and children involved.

If you already have Sprouts in your congregation, you have used the original Sprouts manual (published in 1997). In the 2002 version you will find new suggestions for Covenant Time and Justice Time activities, more specific lesson outlines, an updated resource list, a new section on worship activities for children’s groups, and additional resource materials for leaders. If you have never had a Sprouts group in your congregation, you will find background information about the Sprouts program and how to start one and keep it going. For Christian educators, pastors, persons who work with children, and parents.

This 2002 revision was created by a consultation team that included the two writers of the original materials; Cay Barton, a Sprouts leader; Steven Manskar, Director of Accountable Discipleship at the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship; and Linda Whited, editor with the General Board of Discipleship. (2002)

Edie Genung Harris is a layperson in the Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. She has a Master's Degree in Education and has taught gifted education in public school. Edie is a passionate advocate for children and families. She is married to Brice, a United Methodist pastor, and has two grown children, two grandsons, and two dogs. With Shirley Ramsey, she co-authored Sprouts: Nurturing Children through Covenant Discipleship.

Shirley L. Ramsey, an ordained deacon in The United Methodist Church, serves as Minister of Spiritual Formation and works with Sprouts at Dayspring United Methodist Church, Tempe, AZ