“Never Underestimate the Spirit” is the name of a FIRST Lego League robotics team in Frankenmuth, Mich.

Robotics team achieves

success with focus on God

“Never underestimate the spirit” (NUTS for short) is a favorite phrase at Frankenmuth (Mich.) United Methodist Church.

NUTS – adapted from a sermon by the Rev. Kenneth Christler – is also the name of the new church-sponsored FIRST Lego League robotics team.

The NUTS robotics team began in 2005 under the direction of church member Kelly Philp and Matt Karwat, a math teacher. The 10 members are from Frankenmuth Church and two other congregations.

FIRST Lego League International (www.firstlegoleague.org) is a competitive program in which children aged 9 to 14 use math, science and technology to solve problems. A grant from the Saginaw Bay District Council on Ministries funded the Frankenmuth Church team.

During competitions in the fall, NUTS team members researched problems relating to the ocean, developed solutions and completed missions with small robots.

NUTS qualified for the Michigan state tournament in December, where the team finished in the top five. But winning was not the top priority, Philp emphasized. Members set goals to have fun, learn something new and complete all components of the competition.

“They learned to work as a team. Everybody’s part was important,” she said.   

With an intentional focus on God, the team chose 1 Thessalonians 5:11 as its scripture: “Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing” (NRSV).

“One thing that was different from many other teams is that we could bring God’s word into it,” says Philp, whose son, Andrew, is on the team. “It was interesting to be able to bring up the everyday application of God in the world.”

Lynn Marie-Ittner Klammer, another team parent, said, “At every step of the way, we had the feeling that the Spirit guided the group.”

For more information, call the church at (989) 652-6858.