October is a month of bright leaves and stunning colors, especially the pumpkins.

I came upon Asbury Methodist Church’s Pumpkin Patch on a cloudy afternoon.

We’ve had weeks of rain, and I felt drawn to the blanket of sunny orange pumpkins covering a half acre or more.

These aren’t ordinary pumpkins, I thought, as I came closer and saw a few in shades of mauve, white, beige, variegated, pumpkin gourds, even pumpkins with warts. There were giant pumpkins, baby ones, middle sized, all picturesque.

Kelly Carlton’s smiling face greeted me as I sidled up the path between rows.

“This is our sixth year of having a pumpkin patch,” she said.

I watched as parents and grandparents followed toddlers among the pumpkins, sneaking a photo or two.

During the week, local daycare children frequent the Pumpkin Patch, where delighted children pick out a pumpkin, hear a story, and get stickers. A class photo is made.

Asbury Youth receive proceeds from pumpkin sales to use for mission projects. They hold Mission Week at the inner city of Birmingham.

Last year the youth went to twelve-day mission trips in both Costa Rica and Montana.

Next year’s schedule includes the same destinations, plus a trip to Kenya and Uganda.

I was about to ask specifics of the ministry when young Paige Langston walked up with a Bible, and read aloud the ministry motto: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth,” Acts 1:8 NKJV.

“We are to be the hands and feet of God,” Langston said.

And a little child shall lead them, I thought.

Carlton adds, “When I see pumpkins, I think of a tiny seed [of truth] that grows, becomes big, full, beautiful, and bright.”

Something to watch for coming soon to Asbury: fresh Christmas trees from North Carolina. “These will be only two days from being cut, so very lively,” said Carlton. “And we’ll deliver the trees.”

The Pumpkin Patch is open through October 30. If you wish more information on Asbury Youth Ministries, call Youth Director Suzanne Owens at 401-8968.

Gladys Sherrer can be reached by e–mail at gsherrer@hotmail.com.