Got a big ol' hooptie or an ugly little junker that still runs? This isnÕt really a game, but a great activity for your group.
This idea was submitted by Jake & Vicki Hookham:
My 1986 Olds Delta 88 was white and crying out for some ghetto (it looks like a grandma car, and that's exactly who died right before it was donated to me).
To pull in a couple of unchurched skaters, I invited them beforehand, got all the colors of house paint I could. We surprised the skaters and painted the car with it. I told them I needed their help to paint something big, had them all stand in the parking lot, told them to wait for me while I went to the car to get it, then brought the car.
Everyone had lots of fun, and “things about God” and our church's address and slogan are plastered all over my car. The kids feel unified whenever they see it around town.
Our variation: If you have more than one hooptie owner, you can break your group up in teams and have a contest for most original ÒrestorationÓ job.
Australian youth worker Chris Bowditch's variation:
Same as above, only turn it into a two-week competition with two teams – one for each side of the car.
Week One: Same “decorating” idea as above, even providing stencils for some of the students to decorate the car with.
Week Two: Take the windows out and give kids turns smashing the car. Again give each team a side of the car and let them lay into it with sledgehammers and/or block splitters.
This can last at least an hour! We then used this to talk about sacrifice (it was a weak link, but it was there).
The main idea was to launch the new year, and to 'smash' the students expectations about what people who are involved in a church do.
Smart youth worker tip: Just make sure you let the neighbors know what's going on (otherwise they may call the police)!
Also see Car Stuff on Outdoor Games page.
