Pastor Glen Sykes of the San Diego (CA) Grace Brethren Church explains his pie-in-the-face photo this way:
Like many Grace Brethren churches, San Diego operates an AWANA club for three-year olds through high school. Like many churches, we are constantly looking for new ways to encourage the students to “store up God’s Word” in their hearts.
One of the more successful avenues we have found is challenging the T & T (third through sixth graders) clubbers to complete three discoveries (21 sections which amounts to about 40 verses) in one nine week quarter. The first clubber each quarter who accomplishes this task is given the opportunity to “pie the pastor in the puss.” It is great fun as all the clubs come out and cheer on the victor.
Tonight, Allexis S. was the second quarter’s winner and she is enjoying making Pastor Glen a mess. Pastor Glen is enjoying the chocolate mint pudding and whipped cream too! More importantly, Allexis is great at memorizing Scripture for the long haul. She remembers many of the verses already learned since September!
Why does SDGBC encourage such ideas? Pastor Glen is committed to prompting Scripture memory! The benefits for the children and the church are simply amazing! Pie in the face is paying eternal dividends in San Diego!
Several other T & T club members were already heard saying “I want to pie pastor next quarter!” The challenge is on and the line-up has started.