HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. — On a warm, sunny morning in farm country, a group of 40 preschoolers and their parents fanned out across several rows of crops to pluck strawberries from beneath crowns of green leaves. Later, the children sliced the berries they had gathered and added bananas, kale and yogurt to blend into smoothies before heading out to feed chickens and goats. They then strolled through a wooded trail and took turns at a pair of swings hanging from a tree.
The farm has no physical church building, and the service typically takes place outdoors, followed by a meal. Along with the regulars, there are a handful of divinity school students from Duke and Perkins who serve as interns. Despite the deep Christian commitments of its core members, Spring Forest sees itself as collaborating with people from other faith traditions or no faith tradition. Grow It, the Wednesday morning program for children and parents, has no faith component.