Apparently Slavery Doesn't Exist

We've received some encouragement from some outsiders to do some sort of Christmas production.  The idea has been thrown around before but as sometimes happens around here it ends up being put on the youth to really make it happen.  While that can be exhausting and quite frankly, annoying at times, I must admit it makes me personally proud of them.  When it really comes time to get things done oftentimes it takes our young people to do it... and they do it o' so well.

Because our ministry is inherently relational (big thanks to our strong partnership with Young Life) most of the events our church puts on must have a direct impact on outsiders.  That's what keeps us moving missionally.  If we think everyone's a missionary then that's how they'll be treated.  So when we (we meaning the youth and adults of our church) started planning a Christmas show we decided it would be a fundraiser.  We'd sell tickets, drinks, and snacks and put half of that money in the youth account and send half of it to a charity that our youth vote on.  That's where the fun began...

We showed them 3 different charities over the course of 3 weeks.  At the end they'd vote on the one they wanted to support.  Each of them were a little different but focused on children and teens like them.  Our sort of secondary teaching aim was for them to work through an understanding of how fortunate they are.  That's not always an easy thing since some of our youth are living in pretty difficult circumstances.  We also wanted to be sure, as always, that we are showing them quality videos and resources that could hold their attention, not just a bunch of poorly produced junk.  That's where the problem was...

First we showed them the following clip from Invisible Children who seek to end the use of child soldiers in Central Africa.  Invisible Children was one of the first charities to actually put together quality marketing to get across their message.  While lots of cynics have complained about some of their antics (at one time they got in trouble with the Better Business Bureau, they have since righted that ship) they have helped lead a charge in more artistic use of video, clothing, and more.  Maybe I'm wrong, but I think that helps.  It helps when almost once a month I see someone wearing a Kony2012 shirt, ask them if they know much about it, and they do.  Without that cool shirt they'd know nothing.



Second we found a great clip for children from World Vision.  While Invisible Children focused on a very specific situation, World Vision tries to tackle things on a larger scale.  They're use of a puzzle helped a lot of kids understand what they do.  They were even able to recreate it without review.

Lastly, we tried to bring attention to human trafficking since it is a major part of our church's denominational global missionary efforts.  Because it is apparently impossible to find a short video on Human Trafficking that is age-appropriate (we don't need 7 year olds having nightmares or anything) and our denomination... they're kind of... well... let's just say we've put more resources into people and practical work than technology, we used a cool interactive website... www.slaveryfootprint.org  We took one of them and they answered all the questions and we found out that it takes 38 slaves a year to produce all the things they use or eat in a week.

As we were discussing this last one we had the most interesting conversation.  We asked what it would be like to work 20 hours a day on a shrimp boat.  One of our middle schoolers responded, "Yea, but that's okay, they're still getting paid for it."  Needless to say the definition of slave might have been missed here.  I went back over what a slave is and the difficulties their lives entail.  Upon hearing that, a few of them (not all) start to say, "Well I don't really believe that."

Woa.  What?  Wait a minute.  You don't believe there are slaves in the world?  We just did this really cool interactive slavery footprint thing.  We just talked about the work of Mylinda Bates and how our church supports her and others.  And most of all, I'm the freaking youth pastor!  Aren't you supposed to be agree with what I say?

Clearly that last question is rhetorical.  We've pushed for honest and transparent dialogue with our students since I've been here.  They know we encourage them to be honest and state their skepticism if they have it.  We'll stop there, see if we can work through it, and finish up a curriculum another day.  Every question is honored.

However, on this day I knew there wasn't anything I could do.  There wasn't anything any of us could have done.  We didn't have any pictures.  Its something I already knew.  Its the reason I spent hours trying to find a video describing modern day slavery.  Our young people live in a world of increasing doubt and skepticism.  Our hearts have been broken by promises big and small from public figures and loved ones.  

guess we should have shown a bunch of these

From now on, if you say you rode that roller coaster we need a picture to prove it.  You say you had your first kiss?  We need an Instagram to prove it.  Facebook posts don't prove anything.  You seriously want us to believe you scored a touchdown?  Where's the Vine to back it up.  You're telling me that slavery is still real?  Where's the YouTube?  (Sadly there are plenty of YouTubes out there but they simply didn't pass our age-appropriate screenings.)

While our students are doing the right thing by asking questions, its not a necessarily healthy thing (IMHO) to question everything and everyone.  Granted, some think its a necessary defense mechanism.  But I have to stop and think about all the assistance and community people miss out on because they were too anxious to say, "Thank you."  And how many of us miss out on love and community because we're afraid every neighbor is an axe murderer?

Keep asking questions young people.  Continue to find ways to bring healing to the world.  And if part of that is bringing hope to the world, then start by being hopeful of each other.

Things I think about #5:  How many people just 
wad up fitted sheets?

Smacking Cheesecake #16:  Make a candy corn cheesecake,
then we'll talk.