JC Bodyshop Blockparty Day 1 (6:15-8:15)

For my practicum, I decided to help out with JC Bodyshop (which is the youth group of College Wesleyan Church.) One of their ministry opportunities is called the "Blockparty." Mike Hofer, the youth pastor in charge of JC Bodyshop described it as, "the most diverse youth program we have." He said that they got all kinds of kids to come to the Blockparty: goths, skaters, punks, white kids, black kids, hispanic kids, poor, rich, Christian, non-Christian, kids with good families, kids from broken families.

So I went there the first night not knowing what to expect by any means. I was somewhat nervous, walking on unfamiliar turf surrounded by unfamiliar faces. I was surprised to see that, for one of the few times in my life, I was in the racial minority. Most of the kids there were african-american and I couldn't help but feel like I stuck out like a white marble in a bowl of chocolate ice cream.

Now don't get me wrong. I love people of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, and skin tones, but I got a little chance to experience what most african-americans face everyday: being in the minority. And being in the minority always makes you feel self conscious.

Anyway, I was glad to have Anthony, Trent and Corey there. As soon as the doors opened and all the kids came rushing in, we found a few jr. high guys and challenged them to some basketball. I had always considered myself a decent basketball player. I started varsity for a Christian school and averaged 14 points and about 9 rebounds per game. As we played JC sponsers vs. JC students, I soon figured out that, most likely, I would have had a much different view of how "like-Mike" I was, if our Christian school had played teams with african-american players. Needless to say, we got our butts handed to us.

I think that playing, (or trying to play) basketball with them was a necessary step, however, in connecting with these kids where they were at. Obviously basketball is a large part of their lives. Even though we flailed around like fish out of water every time we went up for a rebound, we showed them that we cared about them enough to keep playing even though they were tanning our hides.

That was probably the #1 thing I learned Day one at JC Bodyshop: To connect with people, you have to meet them where they are, even if it means feeling inferior for a while.

Well that's it for day one.