Extreme Faith Adventure

From the Open Files of:

NW Synod of Wisconsin Resource Center (715) 833-1153

Contributed by:

Colfax Lutheran Church, Colfax, WI
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Extreme Faith Adventure
Colfax Lutheran Church
5th Commandment
Extreme Faith Adventure
An experience for Confirmation Class on the 5th Commandment.

Problem:

An extremely fractious, boisterous Confirmation Class of eleven 8th graders, who find it very difficult to pay attention and stay on task. The need to explore the 5th Commandment, "You shall not kill" (after I wanted to kill them!)

Solution:

An "Extreme Faith Adventure Game," an action packed adventure for kids, that involves teamwork, learning, and acting out the "helping your neighbor" part of Luther's explanation to the 5th Commandment. Planning includes mapping out 6 or 7 "Adventure Points" on a course around the church, or outside, where each team has to complete a simple study task, before moving on the next point.

This idea began to take shape and developed over the space of 5 or 6 days. Even after it was fully conceived of, it took 4-5 hours to prepare and gather materials and supplies. Working from this outline, it should take less preparation time. It grew out of an awareness of the popularity of contemporary reality shows and reality games on TV. More significantly, this approach takes advantage of teenagers' need to experience things physically to support the learning of ideas.

Frame Story:

"You are hunting on the bluffs of the Mississippi River, when a mountain lion attacks one of your party. That person is severely injured, their head split open by the attack. At the same time a rattle snake bites him/her in the leg. Both the attack by the mountain lion and the snake bite cause the hunter to jump back and fall over the cliff, so that when he/she hits the bottom more injuries are sustained, a broken leg and a broken arm. You need to work with your team to tend to your injured partner, and get him/her to safety. Some "first aid supplies" are available (hold them up and explain briefly), as well as a map, a Bible and a marker or pen. Each team should go through the course, completing the task at each "Adventure Point" and they should bring the completed instruction sheets along to show they have completed the course."

Set Up:

Before class, collect and set up all the supplies and "Adventure Points" listed below.

Divide the class into teams of 3 or 4, or whatever fits the situation. One should be designated as the injured player. I had different colored Crayola® markers and teams picked out ahead, with the team listed in the color of the marker they were given for use in the game (e.g. red team, blue team, etc.), and I made sure to split up the more disruptive class members.

At the beginning of class, I announced we'd be doing something different, an "Extreme Faith Adventure," and informed them of their teams.

Then we went to the "staging area," where the equipment listed below was all set out. The "injured partners" went to the bottom of the "Cliff of Destruction" to set up, while the rest of the team figured out their equipment. When everyone was ready, the teams were sent off on their adventure.

Props for each team:
  • Bible
  • pen or marker
  • dish towel to use as a sling for the broken arm
  • red crepe paper to indicate injuries (strips 12 - 18 inches long can be easily tied around the player's head, arm or leg)
  • a roll of toilet paper to simulate bandages
  • a stretcher, to be constructed boy-scout fashion out of a blanket or sheet and two five foot poles or two-by-fours. The blanket or sheet is laid out flat, or doubled over for added strength, and the poles rolled up in the blanket or sheet from two ends, until about 12-18 inches apart. The person then is carried on the blanket or sheet between the two poles. (One team succeeded with this, the others, I finally permitted to abandon the stretcher and simply carry or assist the player to walk the course.)
  • a map of the course to be covered
  • signs for each area
  • an instruction sheet with the study task at each adventure point, can be taped on the wall
  • the 5th Commandment and Luther's explanation on written large on newsprint and displayed in the room where the closing discussion will be
  • some sort of simple snack at the end in the "Haven of Healing and Refreshment."

Adventure Points:

The study tasks for each spot are illustrated on the accompanying sheets. "Cliff of Destruction" where the "accident" has happened,(I located this at the bottom of a stairway)

"Valley of the Shadow of Death "a basement hallway,"Ridge of Revelation "an upper level hallway or balcony,"Cavern of Awe "chancel steps in the Sanctuary, "Christ of the Colorful Cliff" bottom of stairway, (this is the site most specific to our church; it is an entry stairway with a mural of Christ on the wall, above the stairway, and it's missed by most church goers.) "Haven of Healing and Refreshment" area where paper props can be disposed of, blankets or sheets folded, and a snack served. We have a "Fireside Room" right nearby, where the discussion took place.

These "Adventure Points" can be adapted to differing circumstances, or even to the outdoors.

Discussion:

The 5th Commandment, written out large on newsprint, should be displayed;Opening question, "What did this experience have to do with the 5th Commandment?" Let students notice the 5th Commandment and its explanation. No doubt at least one will notice the words, "help our neighbor." Note that the commandment is not only a prohibition of physical harm, but also a command to help. Ask, "Can you give other examples of 'helping your neighbor'?"

A closing illustration: "On a PBS documentary recently ("Six Degrees of Separation," on the PBS Series, "Life 360 "http://www.pbs.org/opb/life360/six_degrees/storyline/storyline.htm), the story of Bill Pitsenbarger, from Piqua, Ohio, was told, a medic in Vietnam. About 5 or 6 vets, who are now in their fifties remembered how Bill, or "Pitt" as they called him, had helped them. Pitt was a fun loving guy, who like to pull pranks on his family and his military buddies. He was a para-rescue jumper, and their motto is, "That others may live." During one especially bad battle, Operation Abilene, at Cam My, on April 11, 1966, he was in the med-evac helicopter, hovering over the American soldiers engaged in the battle. The soldiers on the ground were having trouble using the equipment to hoist wounded soldiers up into the helicopter. It took 45 minutes to hoist just one soldier, when they should have had about 8 or 9 up by that time. Pitt volunteered to go down to the ground, and help get the wounded soldiers up, since he knew how to use the equipment. Immediately, he helped rescue many soldiers. Those on the ground in the battle reported that he also went around offering his help. One soldier yelled he was out of ammo; before he knew it, Pitt ran up, dropped several magazines of ammunition in his lap, and scampered off. Others reported that he asked how things were going, and cheered them on. This all took place over the span of 4 hours.

Pitt never made it out alive. But in the midst of all that killing and destruction, Pitt was helping on the side of life. Soldiers on the scene estimated that Pitt had helped or rescued 50 - 60 of them. Telling about it 35 years later still brought tears to their eyes. One of them estimated that Pitt has probably had a positive effect on 200-300 different people, and he gave the example of his own son and grandson, with whom he was able to have a meaningful relationship, because he had been rescued by Pitt.
Pitt was eventually awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest medal the country awards, for his sacrificial bravery that day.
Possibly without even realizing it, Pitt was keeping the 5th Commandment.

Afterthoughts:

I thought it was quite successful. Kids had plenty to do, and hopefully learned without even realizing it. It took about 40 minutes from start to finish, with 9 of the 11 kids present, and with the course laid out in our church. It certainly didn't cover everything a full-blown classroom session on the 5th Commandment could have covered. But with this group, I believe it was more effective. Just in case some were still disruptive during the discussion period, I had prepared a brief Bible Study for them to do by themselves while the rest continued the discussion. This is attached at the end. However, after all that activity, all participated well.

 

This sign is the starting point.
To the

Cliff of Destruction

 

 
This sign is located at the Cliff of Destruction.
Cliff of Destruction

Tend to your injured partner.

When your partner is cared for, carry him in the "stretcher" to the

"Valley of the Shadow of Death"

This sign is located at the entrance to the Valley of the Shadow of Death.
You are entering the

Valley of the Shadow of Death

Sign is located in the Valley of the Shadow of Death
Valley of the Shadow of Death

Do:

1. Read Psalm 23:4

2. Why can you have NO FEAR?

Go: Proceed with Care upwards to the Ridge of Revelation

 
Sign is located at the Ridge of Revelation
You are now on the Ridge of Revelation

 

Do:

Find the Greatest Commandment in Matthew 22:36-39

What is the Greatest Commandment?

What is the Second Greatest Commandment?

Go:
Stealth and Quietness are required.

Go to the Cavern of Awe.
Don't touch or damage any of the fine, ancient surroundings.

This sign is located in the Cavern of Awe.
Be Quiet in the Cavern of Awe

 

Do:

Luther offers explanations to each of the commandments.
For example, the 5th Commandments is:


"You Shall Not Kill"

 

And its Meaning:


"We are to fear and love God
so that we do not hurt our neighbor in any way,
but help him/her in all his/her physical needs."

Luther always begins his explanations with
"We are to fear and love God..."

What does "to fear" mean?
Look for the meaning of the Hebrew word for "fear" in the accompanying reading.


Learning wisdom's way"
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom"

Ps 117:10

 

My father, who was a lawyer, could be stern when I was foolish or disobedient, but he was just. The twinkle never left his hazel eyes for long. Because I adored him, I yearned to please him. I was blessed. But many have obeyed parents or caretakers out of fear.
The fear of the Lord is different. In Hebrew, the word for fear means "reverent awe and a caution born of deep respect and love." Our God shows us consistent mercy and justice. As we learn to trust, we yearn to obey. Thus wisdom grows. We are blessed to love the Lord and grow in wisdom as we listen to God's words in our own secret heart. The fear with which we love the Lord isn't the fear of being harshly punished. It is a fear born of awe and respect. It is when we recognize this fear that we can begin to understand God's immense love.
Reverence begins in the heart; overflows, over time, into wisdom's ways.
Then we can pray with David (Psalm 51:6).
You desire truth in the inward being; therefore
teach me wisdom in my secret heart. Amen.

 

Go:
Quietly make your way to the
Christ of the Colorful Cliff


Christ of the Colorful Cliff
Through these doors, you will be in the
Presence of
Christ of the Colorful Cliff

To pass safely past this cliff,

Do the following:
1. Find Hebrews 12:1-2 and answer the following questions.
2. Who are you surrounded by?

3. Fill in the blanks: "looking to ______________, the _________________ and ________________ of our ______________.

4. Look Up. Where do you find Jesus in this room?

Go:
Have courage, you are almost there.

Go to the
Haven of Healing and Refreshment.



Sign in the Haven of Healing and Refreshment.
Enter the
Haven of Healing and Refreshment.


1. Discard paper bandages.
2. Fold blankets, sheets and towels and stack neatly on a table.
3. Help yourself to a snack and proceed to the Fireside Room for a brief discussion of this experience.

This handout is given out in the Fireside Room.
To Kill Or Not to Kill

 

Name___________________

The 5th Commandment:

"You Shall Not Kill"

And its Meaning:


"We are to fear and love God
so that we do not hurt our neighbor in any way,
but help him/her in all his/her physical needs."


1.Read the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:29-37

2.What 3 people (or groups of people) broke the 5th Commandment? _________________________ How?

Who? How?

i.

ii.

iii.

3.Which Character in the story kept the 5th Commandment? ______________________________ How?

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