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Ministry Monday: Sometimes it's Messy

Sure, it was my idea. But that didn't keep my gag reflex from kicking in. How exactly is it possible to love people and yet be disgusted by the sight of them?

An event I call Blo Chunx, that's how.

For over a decade now, which is how you make 11 sound bigger, my youth ministry has hosted an event we call Blo Chunx. What began as an idea to contain all the messy youth group games to one super-disgusting night has now become an annual event.

Why? It's simple, really. I'll do just about anything to have an opportunity to share Jesus with teenagers. And the first 10 worked well, so we keep doing it.

Armed with a dose of creativity, some help from youth ministry ideas sites and a whole lot of spam, we take disgusting games up a notch. When I mention the next one is coming, I get a mixed reaction of gag reflex and anticipation.


Here's what made this latest one fun for me. It was the first time I had one of my own children there. Knowing she has always been a bit of a picky eater, I kept warning her that I would have an event where her peanut butter might be touching her jelly. She'd been duly warned. 

This is her pictured, participating in an event less disgusting and more exfoliating. Let's keep the fact that I put it on the internet a secret between us, ok?

The best part came later, in another event. I had stuck chunks of spam in a rick or treat bucket. Surrounded by cooked spaghetti, my daughter (blindfolded) reached in and grabbed the chunks of spam and fed them to her teammate (also blindfolded). Her teammate apparently did not like the taste of spam. Or my daughters finger. It was definitely one of those. She started gagging, but did not spew. When the contest ended, both of them removed their blindfolds. Seeing her teammate still reacting to the taste of spam, my daughter lost her lunch...literally. 

Yeah, sometimes youth ministry is messy. But I wouldn't trade it for anything else. 

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