Next Saturday young people from a Presbyterian church will offer games, food and "a little shock value" to show newcomers that church isn't such a bad place to hang out.
By JEAN JOHNSON
Published August 30, 2003
SPRING HILL - Attracting new members is a full-time mission for members at Grace Presbyterian Church. Door-to-door visitation, distributing fliers, and newspaper and telephone directory ads are all part of the game plan.
But the congregation's major recruiting thrust is the annual Rally Day, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 6.
The key to a successful community outreach event is the enthusiasm of the youth groups, church leaders say.
"This is a tremendous group of kids," interim Christian education director Valerie Moore said. "They are the most awesome spiritual kids I've seen, and the way they interact with other kids is awesome. They're well-mannered and outgoing and willing to help out."
Grace Presbyterian's youth groups consist of about 30 middle and high school students. Moore, a 41-year-old mother of four sons, taught Sunday school and was the youth leader for three or four years before accepting her new position three months ago.
In her role, she oversees outreach activities such as the puppet ministry, which meets each Wednesday night. Youth and adults perform during church services and dinners and for charitable organizations. Moore said performing together allows the older generation and the younger generation to learn a lot from one another.
"It keeps them in touch. It's so easy for people to stereotype teens, and I think for the most part teens are wonderful people and they get a bad rap because of a few bad apples," Moore said. "Whenever something needs to be done, they get themselves up to the plate."
Kindergarteners through sixth-graders meet each Sunday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. A middle school group is waiting in the wings for a new leader, which will enable them to have a separate meeting period. Members of the older group are painting their room, a recent acquisition that includes a couch and several chairs.
This week the youth groups will participate in one of their outreach programs, "random acts of kindness."
They will gather at the entrances of the Wal-Mart Supercenter from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today and hand out to shoppers bottled water, sunglasses and invitations to Rally Day.
During a recent brainstorming session, members realized that people driving by can see the outside walls but don't necessarily see the inside and what goes on. The congregation needs to showcase the various church ministries for the community, they thought.
"There are so many ministries available," said Moore, referring to Bible study, a women's circle, a bicycle group that repairs and donates bikes to migrant workers in Dade City who have no transportation, a children's choir, a travel group and even a stretching exercise class.
So, Rally Day seeks to bring the inside of the church outdoors. Activities will include a dunk tank, games, sack races, pie-eating contests, clowns, prizes, two gospel singers and the church's Gracetones and a Christian rock band, "which will be a shock to some of the people," Moore said.
"We can use a little shock value," she said.
In addition, there will lots of food: hamburgers, hot dogs, cotton candy, snow cones and popcorn. A Coke trailer will be on hand, and Turner Funeral Home will provide a canopy so visitors can eat in comfort.
Moore has both a professional and personal interest in youth activities. Her son, Daniel, is a 15-year-old Springstead High School sophomore who has been a youth member for five years. He enjoys his many church friends, his involvement in the community and the mission trips to Tennessee last year and St. Petersburg this year.
In February the group attended "Acquire the Fire" in Tampa. Daniel described the event as a teen revival with thousands of Christians from throughout the country entertained by Christian bands and guest speakers.
"It kind of uplifts you and you're not scrutinized for being a Christian and lets you know there are others who feel just like you," he said.
Although Daniel has participated in two Rally Days, this year will be different.
"I don't remember anything being this extensive or extravagant," he said. "Rally Day is going to be an exciting way to receive new people into our church family."
Amelia Carlson, another 15-year-old Springstead sophomore and youth group member, views Rally Day as a sort of "Sunday school signup."
"We want to get more youth for church, and adults also," Amelia said. "We want the entire community to come out and see what we have to offer. Rally Day is the best thing in the world."
The Rev. Chet Okopski, pastor of Grace Presbyterian for five years, describes this year's event as "a new kind of Rally Day."
"In the past we would work to make people comfortable in Sunday school and show (some of) the classes," he said. "This year we're inviting people to church and Sunday school and letting the community know this is a wonderful Sunday school and those who don't have a church are invited.
"This year Rally Day will be a community outreach," the 54-year-old pastor said. "It's going to be an awesome spectacle."
Okopski said the goal has always been to make Sunday school more accessible to children in the community and make the parents aware that Sunday school is free.
"We do this for children because we believe it's important. We want people to know we're an upfront church and doing this for God, not to make money."
Okopski wants parents to know they are not expected to make a commitment. Children can come every week, every other week or once a month.
"We'll take their children in our Sunday school on any terms they make," he said. "We want to educate children about God."
If you go
WHAT: Rally Day
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 6
WHERE: Grace Presbyterian Church, 8375 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill
