Creativity Finds a Home in Del City

On Wednesday afternoons, the halls of Sunny Lane United Methodist Church fill with the sounds of brass and stringed instruments, pianos, singing, woodworking, jewelry-making, sewing, and laughter. This fall, those sounds will spill over into Thursdays, too.

The Del City Creative Arts Institute, a nonprofit after-school program founded by Sunny Lane UMC in cooperation with neighbors across the Del City and Midwest City communities, is entering its second semester, and it's growing. Following our soft launch, more than 60 students, whom we affectionately call "Creatives," participated last semester in music lessons, visual arts classes, and hands-on creative space activities, all for just $5 per week. This semester, the Institute hopes to welcome 75 or more.

The Creative Arts Institute was born out of deep listening. After the church's leaders learned that not a single student in the local middle and high school music programs was taking private lessons, largely due to cost, transportation, and access, Sunny Lane spent months in one-on-one conversations and focus groups with parents, teachers, and community leaders. What emerged was not a church program for the community, but a ministry built with the community. The mission of the Del City Creative Arts Institute is “to ignite creativity and build character by making arts education accessible to every child in our community.” While the Institute is not an official partnership with the Mid-Del School District, local band directors, artists, music educators, and organizations like the Del City Chamber of Commerce have come alongside as enthusiastic community partners.

None of it would have been possible without the generous support of the Woodworth Trust and the Petree Grant. This connectional generosity transformed underused Sunday school classrooms into vibrant lesson studios, purchased instruments and equipment, and turned a congregation's dream into a thriving ministry. It is a powerful testament to what our United Methodist connection makes possible.

New this semester is an Elementary String Program open to 3rd through 5th graders, giving young musicians a chance to begin their journey years earlier than they otherwise might. Thursday programming doubles the Institute's weekly capacity, with classes running from school dismissal until 6 p.m. Volunteers, known as "Creative Guides," include church members and neighbors alike, working side by side to help every child recognize their gifts and worth.

Arts opportunities have grown harder to find in Oklahoma schools in recent years, as budget pressures have cut deeply into fine arts programs statewide. The Institute aims to fill that gap locally by developing young talent early and removing the barriers that keep families from participating.

"We didn't start this program with the intent of growing our membership," said the Rev. Adam Young, pastor of Sunny Lane and president of the Institute's board. "Instead, we believe that God has called us to love our neighbors by cultivating transformation in our community, by seeing the creative assets within the community and providing the environment, resources, and relationships to support their growth."

There is one pressing need: wheels. The church's single aging bus can't reach every elementary school in the neighborhood, so the organization is raising funds for a second one. Reliable transportation, one of the most significant barriers families named, will ensure that no child misses the chance to unleash their creativity.

To learn more, support the bus fund, or explore volunteer opportunities, let us know!