By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

NORTH SHELBY—The Asbury United Methodist youth are helping to bring spring to Shelby County with their Spring Flower Sale, ending Easter Sunday, April 5.

Every year, members of the Asbury UMC Student Ministry sell a variety of plants, from hanging baskets of flowers to herbs and vegetables.

“Our students are responsible for selling the flowers,” Student Ministry Program Coordinator Monica Williams said, noting youth group members also volunteer to staff the flower pickup weekend every year.

Proceeds from the Spring Flower Sale benefit the Asbury UMC Student Ministry’s mission trips and summer camp programs.

“It gives students the opportunity to help fund our mission trips and field trips,” Williams said. “My goal is that each student (who wants to go on a mission trip or to camp) has the opportunity to fully fund those trips.”

The Student Ministry already has big plans for this summer. Members of the high school youth group are traveling to Houston, Texas, to do mission work with the Center for Student Ministries, which offers numerous opportunities, such as serving the homeless to facilitating a meals-on-wheels program feeding hungry children.

The middle school youth group has planned a mission trip to Louisville, Ky., to work with YouthWorks from July 5 through July 10.

This year, for the Asbury UMC Student Ministry’s camp, members will travel to Orlando, Fla., to participate in Youth 2015.

The event, which lasts from June 24 to June 28, is an annual gathering of Methodist youth from across the country, and features concerts, group worship time, prayer and workshops.

For more information about the Asbury UMC Youth Ministry, visit Asburyreset.org.