UMCSC taps 12 churches to launch children’s initiative
By Dan O’Mara
The South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church has launched “Connecting Children in Worship and Prayer” by selecting 12 local churches to participate in the initiative’s first cohort of churches.
The initiative is funded by a $1.1 million grant from the Lilly Endowment’s Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative.
The transformative Connecting Children program will engage 60 churches across five years, impacting 500 children and reaching more than 7,000 church members through innovative worship practices.
The initiative employs a cohort model to foster leadership development among clergy and laity, aiming to create a cultural shift in how congregations experience worship. By promoting intergenerational worship practices, storytelling and creative arts, the program seeks to nurture children’s faith while strengthening connections across all generations.
The Connecting Children Leadership Team convened in March to select the first cohort of 12 churches from a pool of 33 applicants.
Two leadership team members whose churches applied to be in the cohort recused themselves from the voting process.
The first cohort of churches represents diverse communities across South Carolina, including urban, rural and suburban areas. Cohort 2025 includes seven African-American churches, two diverse congregations and three predominantly White churches from seven districts: Florence (3), Marion (2), Columbia (2), Walterboro (2), Spartanburg (1), Greenville (1) and Charleston (1).
Churches selected for Cohort 2025 are as follows:
Highland Park UMC, Florence
Cumberland UMC, Florence
Bethel UMC, Kingstree
Dacusville UMC, Easley
Wesley UMC, Johns Island
Dunton UMC, Gaffney
Wesley UMC, Columbia
Ecumenical Partnership (Grace UMC, Columbia; Virginia Wingard UMC, Columbia; and Christus Victor Lutheran Church)
Waters Edge UMC, Beaufort
New Grace UMC, St. George
The Brook UMC, Myrtle Beach
Carolina Forest UMC, Myrtle Beach
The initiative aligns with UMCSC’s priorities by empowering local churches to nurture children’s spiritual growth through vibrant worship experiences that involve all generations. It also leverages partnerships with organizations like Messy Church USA and Narrative 4 to develop creative resources for congregations.
Connectional Ministries Director the Rev. Millie Nelson Smith emphasized the significance of this effort, noting it “allows us to work alongside churches in meaningful ways that deepen relationships with God and one another while equipping children to carry our faith into the future.”
For more information about this initiative or upcoming updates on Cohort 2025 activities, go to https://www.umcsc.org/children or contact the Connecting Children Leadership Team directly: Team Leader Toni Taylor at [email protected] or Congregational Specialist the Rev. Nona Woodle at [email protected].