Door prizes and candy
By Steven Polley
Director, Offices of Youth Ministry and Religious Education
If you want someone to respond to something, offer them candy/food and door prizes. Kind of sad, but in many cases very true. Quite often we will say that if we want people to come to an event, offer them food. And to really get their attention and make it even more enticing, give them the chance to win a door prize. Not a bad thing, but maybe not the best way to go about something. I don’t think that Jesus walked along the Sea of Galilee and said, "Come follow me, and you will have the chance to win these fabulous door prizes; and look, I have candy!"
But oh, to be more like Jesus! Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all we had to do was say, "Come follow me"? I must admit, there are days when I wish I could do something as simple as saying come, get involved in youth ministry; help our young people by becoming more involved in our diocesan events, serving a greater role in their lives. Yes, I know, I sound like a broken record.
I would like for you to ponder for a moment what I am saying. Just two weeks ago, Dan Stremel put together the second annual Stewardship Conference for the diocese. Part of this day offered the opportunity for the different diocesan offices to set up a booth allowing us to showcase our many ministries -- allowing us to show your stewardship dollar at work. Well, the Office of Youth Ministry went to great lengths to create and put together a dynamic and eye-catching booth. It was to be a magnet that would attract and draw people to it. Such a strong magnet that, visitors would have no choice but to respond, "yes," to what was being offered. And of course, this magnet was, door prizes and candy.
A beautiful setting was arranged for each of the youth programs. Information on TEC, the JOY retreat, youth rallies, summer camps, and our new program for the summer of 2006, "Summers Centered in Christ" was all provided. And who could forget the door prizes and baskets of candy? Oh, what a wonderful setting it was. The magnet was on and working at full capacity. People came, people ate candy, people registered for the door prizes, people won the door prizes. The brochures and information on each of the programs said, "Come, get involved, help out, and people...Well people…"
At this time, I cannot finish the last statement. Yes, people took some of our information, but did people really respond and say, "Yes, we want to help out, we want to get more involved in working with the youth"? I don’t think so. To this extent, I am disappointed. All I can do is wait and trust that the Holy Spirit has taken the information provided, placed it in the right hands, and in time, we will hear that beautiful phrase we long for: "Yes I will come, I will help out."
If I had to do it all over again, I am not sure that I would do anything differently, except for one thing. Maybe a little less candy, less emphasis on a door prize, and more time spent truly listening to God’s voice, trusting more fully in this voice. I invite you too, to continue listening to God’s voice in your own life. How are you being called? How is youth ministry part of your stewardship?