When Dorothy Stutzman was 5, she began a habit that would carry her through most of her life: Sunday school at the West Olive United Methodist Church in Bloomington, Ill. "My parents said 'go,' and I went," recalled Ms. Stuzman. It was that simple. Ms. Stutzman went on to teach Sunday school at West Olive Methodist for more than 50 years. She loved telling Bible stories, putting on little skits and befriending kids who didn't have it so easy at home.

A few years ago, however, West Olive was forced to pull the plug on Sunday...