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Social Justice Scavenger Hunt

Video CameraLooking for an activity for the fall or to kick off a season of planning as your group prepares for a mission trip? Why not put together a Social Justice Scavenger Hunt?

We can’t claim credit for this idea (that goes to the guys at Rethinking Youth Ministry). The premise is simple. Take several Bible verses that discusses the poor or help for those in need. Then split up your group into teams, giving each of them a few verses, and task the groups with the responsibility of heading out and snapping shots or shooting video of images that illuminate the passages. Go ahead, let them shoot the pieces on their own phones (means you won’t have to do the editing and uploading!).

Approached as an open-ended activity, this scavenger hunt can provide a way for your group to wrestle with what social justice means to your church and how you are called to respond to the challenging ideas in scripture about the poor, about war, about sharing what we have with others.  At its best, this activity could create space for those of different political ideologies in your group to listen to one another (e.g. can advocacy relate both to those who favor reproductive choice and those who oppose abortion?) and to at least ponder the complexity of issues facing the Church today when it comes to bringing systemic change.

Activities like these illustrate in an easy, profound, and fun way the Gospel’s focus on feeding the hungry, carrying for the poor, and providing for widows:

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'” (Matthew 25:37-40)

If you decide to try out the Social Justice Scavenger Hunt, be sure to tell us (and them) what you think.

(Image via Flickr: jsawkins)