| Children flock to summer program BY LINDA WORTHINGTON UMCONNECTION STAFF  Many churches think about offering innovative summer programs for children but settle for traditional Vacation Bible School. The Rev. Susan A. Spears recommends congregations take the more creative path.
When 94 children, from pre-school to high school age, showed up July 1 for the first summer cultural enrichment program at St. John UMC in Pumphrey, it was a bit overwhelming for staff, Spears said. It was also the realization of a dream. Spears, a former teacher, first envisioned  the summer program as a ministry to meet the needs of dozens of youngsters who had little to do in the summer. Pumphrey sits between Glen Burnie and Baltimore City, but is normally forgotten because of our locale, she said. Giving kids a positive summer activity is the main goal of the program, Spears said. Her dream was to provide positive role models in a safe environment to empower the youth. Spears perseverance paid off, and after more than a year of planning, seeking funding and volunteers, organizing and advertising, the daily program began. It met in the basement of the church, which for six weeks was abuzz with activity. Daily attendance averaged 50-60. The organizers original expectation had been 25, Spears said. Funding to operate the program including the purchase of supplies, food for lunch each day and pay for six teen leaders and the director, Tina Oden came from the Baltimore-Washington Conference and other sources. There was no cost to the participants or their families. The children who flocked to the small church on Belle Grove Road and its nearby playground were offered classes in computers, arts and crafts, Bible study, Spanish and math, as well as fun activities and games, field trips and tutoring. Math was required of all participants, regardless of age. Noel Gayles, a 14-year-old hired as an assistant for the program, said the program beats doing nothing all summer. They make it fun, and its right here in the community, she said. Gayles will be a freshman at North County High School this fall. It was an opportunity for her to learn from adult teachers and make a little money during the summer, Spears said. For Latasha Cassidy, 12, of Glen Burnie, the program gave her a jump start on learning Spanish. The program ended with a closing ceremony Aug. 9. Spears is already planning for a repeat next summer, and would like to talk to others who might want to start a similar effort. She can be reached at (410) 636-2578 or (410) 543-9207. | 
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