The doorknock is done and it's time to party!
We’ve often heard it said, ”It’s not over until the fat lady sings”. Well at The Salvation Army Menai Corps the Red Shield Appeal doorknock wasn’t over until the after-party got started. Riding on the back of the very successful RSA After-party of 2011, Menai Youth Worker Matt Godkin was keen to pump up the volume and party-on for a second year running.
Now you’d think that after a day of collecting, door knocking from house to house, that most young people would have had enough. Not so for the Menai youth that so willingly volunteered to help out with the Red Shield Appeal this year. They’d been hearing for weeks all the hype about the “After-party” and were excited to see what it was all about.
Last year the brain child of Matt Godkin, Youth worker extraordinaire, was a big hit. Along with his team of enthusiastic workers and supportive Corps Officers, the After-party was their way of saying thanks to all the kids that helped out during the Doorknock Appeal. Not only were they saying thanks for a job well done, but they were building relationships with the youth in their community, many of them not yet connected to the church in any other way.
Of course one of the aims of the After-party is to get the kids to sign up again next year for the doorknock. But the bonus is when they respond to an invitation to come along to Menai’s ‘Oneighty Youth’ that’s on every Friday night. “As a result of last year’s After-party we’ve had new kids coming along to youth group on a regular basis this year” said Cal Harmer, Menai Intern Youth Worker, “so we are hoping for the same response again this year.”
Of the 60-70 young people who partied on there were a good number of first-timers. Cal said “there was a good mix of regular youth groupers and new doorknock volunteers.” This provided a great blended atmosphere of everyone getting to know each other in a safe and fun environment. “Everyone was enjoying themselves” said Cal, “that was a real highlight of the night for me.”
Matt and his team went all out with entertainment for the kids. They had a chill-out room wired up with Playstations and good old fashioned ping-pong. There was a photo booth for everyone to capture the moment of a great night forever, and plenty of food to feast on. For two hours these kids could dance to a live DJ, feeling like they were in a real disco with great lighting and sound. If they weren’t game enough to get down on the dance floor themselves they were definitely wowed and entertained by the talented “Royalty Crew”, a local hip-hop dance group. “The highlight of the night, hands down, was seeing new faces walk through our doors and connecting with our young people and leaders” said Matt.
Here’s what some of the other kids had to say about the night.
Jared: “It was a great night of dancing, food and fun. The highlight would have to be the dance crew….they were cool.”
Dylan: “The lighting was really cool, and being able to jump around to the music.”
Brianna: “It was an awesome opportunity to share our faith…..it definitely wasn’t your average church party.”
So the jury has deliberated and the unanimous verdict is in….the Menai RSA After-party was the place to be. So claim the date now for 2013….it’s going to be bigger and better next year. C’mon!!!
Report by Major Carolyn Harmer
Photo courtesy of Menai Youth
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