The five children from Pickwick and Pisgah United Methodist Churches near Counce, Tenn., made their presentation to Bishop Kenneth Carder June 6, during the conference's opening worship service.

Bailie Johnson, 8, Anna Jenkins, 8, Megan Jenkins, 6, Grant Johnson, 6, and Rebecca Byrd, 2, asked the bishop if they could give him the money they had saved all year "so other kids can be as blessed as we have been."

The children, the smallest one scooting carefully down the Civic Center stairs on her bottom, hurried to the bishop with the money clutched in their hands. It was tooth fairy money, piggy bank money, and money given on their birthdays.

Every Sunday for a year, Bailie, Anna, Megan, Grant, Rebecca and six more children had brought their money to church, hoping to show other kids through their donations that God is love. They had learned about the Bishops’ Initiative for Children during a children’s sermon by their pastor, the Rev. Bill Franklin.

"It all started when Bailie asked me during that children’s sermon if the bishop is like Jesus," Franklin said. "I told her he was a man, but that he certainly tries to be like Jesus... and then I asked if she would like to meet him." All responded affirmatively and started to save their money to help other children.

Carder hugged each child as he accepted their offering, a delighted smile on his face.