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Kick Flips or Shove It.

By Isaac Tuesday October 14, 2008

When I left the church tonight after our Bible study, I looked across the parking lot while I walked to my car. Across the lot was what has become a typical scene: 4 or 5 kids skateboarding on the church steps. Hanging just above the steps is a large (very visible) sign bolted to the church wall that reads:

“NO SKATEBOARDING ON CHURCH PROPERTY.”

It’s great to see our future leaders practicing the spiritual discipline of submission. It was at that moment that I realized some options were at hand. I could either:

  • …yell at them for disobeying our sign.
  • …ask them politely to leave.
  • …demonstrate how I used to skate too and I can ollie just as good as they can. (I really can do one. seriously!)
  • …call the police and try to get them arrested.
  • …make fun of their inability to do a proper kick flip until they feel insecure and leave.

    • - OR -

  • …do nothing, walk to my car and go home.

I walked to my car and left without saying a word to them.

Why? Well, to some degree I suppose it was because I used to be a skater myself, and I’ve always held a special place in my heart for ‘boards and ‘blades. But primarily it was because I found myself wondering what we were accomplishing as a church by banning the neighborhood kids from our property. Liability protection? Property maintenance? Stewardship? Vandalism avoidance? …I don’t buy it. Not only that, but it made me wonder what kid would ever want to come to a church or youth group where they had been chased off just a day or two earlier by an over-zealous ex-skater.

But here’s what I really started thinking…

[START SOAPBOX RANT]

We talk about wanting to get kids off the streets and out of negative and destructive environments, and I think we really mean it. But what are they (the kids) hearing us say? I don’t think it’s “Come on in! Jesus loves you and so do we!” I think it’s more like,

“Come to our church, but for goodness sakes don’t mess up the flowers and try not to screw anything else up while you’re here, and are you kidding me? No, you can’t bring your skateboard into the building with you…”

[END SOAPBOX RANT]

Whoa! This post went pretty negative very quickly. You better click here.

I’ve been hypothetically referring to “my church”, but this isn’t a CrossPoint problem. Actually, at CrossPoint, we have a great youth ministry with amazing volunteers. And it reaches a ton of unsaved kids each week.

I’m actually referring to just about any church. It seems like a lot of churches are this way. I don’t think they mean to be, or for that matter, I doubt that they’re even aware that they are this way. But it just happens when we hold so tightly to things like buildings and parking lots and landscaping. Not that it’s a bad thing to take care of the things we have – but it becomes a very bad thing when we cross the line, and the tools we use for ministry actually repel the people we’re trying to reach.

What’s so bad about having a safe place for kids to skate after school with their friends?

(at least, that’s my logic for not intervening in the Skateboarding Fiasco of 2008)


  • Send them to our church Isaac. We'll take them. We've got a great parking lot for skating...and I can still do an awesome kickflip! Seriously!
  • Doug Chamberlain
    First of all, let me state that I agree with you. But, there is a balance here that may need to be stated. In CP's case, it has been an unusually welcoming environment for kids who need Christ, and the history of our skateboard ministry is a pretty cool story, because it's a God thing, and certainly not something we were looking for (who is?). We've built skateboard ramps, and given them a place where they can be themselves, while still being governed by a set of rules that foster respect and safety for others. We've also taken a lot of heat from some church members, and some neighbors, who would just as soon see "those terrible kids" go away. Since we decided that listening to God was a little more important, kids lives have been impacted for the better, and some have turned to Christ. Even with the rules and disciplines (and signs) in place, you would think that the kids would stop coming. But they just keep coming. And, they keep on breaking the rules, which we deal with when those times come as well as we can. Ministry is messy sometimes. Especially when we're dealing with kids whose dad is drunk and they don't want to stay home, because he beats their mom, etc., etc.. and listening about God, and a couple of adults yell at them about skateboarding in the wrong area is much better than staying at home and getting beaten by my dad....So I would say that "holding so tightly to buildings and parking lots" is not the first concern, but a valid request to repect property. At least to the part of the property that has proven to be damaged as a result of skateboarders, and more widely used by older people who need a safe place to walk. (we've actually had older people fall down as a result of the concrete being worn down by skateboards). We try to encourage them to skate in a certain area where the wear and tear of the property is not so easily felt. So, is protecting what God has given you important? Sure. More important than a soul? Nope. But still something that needs to be taken care of. It's a balancing act, to be sure. Is putting up a sign the right thing? Not sure. But where's the balance between putting up a sign that says "No skateboarding allowed on church property", and "Go ahead and beat the heck out of this property"? NO sign? Maybe so. I agree it's a problem that the whole church owns, but hasn't done much about, and sometimes we're just not too gracious about it, much to our shame. I say all of that to simply say that we're (the church as a whole) still struggling and learning about what the right balance looks like. I know that I don't have many good answers. And, as you said, you were'nt singling out CP necessarily, but we still struggle with the issue ourselves. May God help us to find the answers to the tough questions. I appreciate your willingness to put it out there. Hey. Maybe I should jump on a skateboard myself........nah. At my age, those things are just too stinkin' far off the ground!......."balance, Daniel-san, balance".....
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