A Time the Police Were Called on My Youth Group
Some quotes from youth workers who had the fuzz called on their groups.
314 Indecent Exposure
We were at the Kalahari in Wisconsin and 3 of my students were mooning people out of the hotel window. Security and police were called. Fun night!
45 Simple kidnapping
We were playing a game of kidnapped with one group of kids outside the church. We were guarding the “hostage.” Another group had to sneak up and release the hostage. It was after midnight and a neighbor called the cops on us.
23 Traffic congestion
When the church bus full of high schoolers got stuck on the railroad tracks.
11-7 Prowler
Office worker saw me & 3 others attempting to climb the church with a grapling hook.
Code 8 Fire Alarm
We were putting on a labyrinth during a lock-in for the senior high. A candle fell over and set the pulpit on fire in the sanctuary. 20 foot flames– $200,000 in damage, 4 weeks before Easter. Police, 10 firetrucks.
10-107 Suspicious persons
Going home from summer camp we stopped at a mall. About 4 of our senior high guys had power ranger masks on and plastic ninja knives. They were running through the mall & stores harassing “customers” (our youth group).
Code 20 Notify News Media to respond
We spent the night in the church parking lot in cardboard boxes to simulate a homeless village. The Sr. Pastor called the cops.
September 19th, 2008 - Posted By: Adam McLane in Fun, Youth Ministry Highlight | |
on September 19th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Code 8 fire alarm - you were fired (sorry for the pun) I assume. Holy smoke (whoops did it again!), $200,000 damage?
Code 20 Notify Media - um, no one told the Sr Pastor?
on September 19th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Jay, I’m guessing the next time the church sang “Shine Jesus Shine” they skipped the verse “Blaze Spirit Blaze.”
on September 19th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Probably a little uncomfortable next time Pentecost rolled around too!
(I’ll stop now. I swear it)
on September 19th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
At my first church we played hide and seek in the dark. All the lights in the church were turned off and the teens were allowed to use flash lights. We also rigged up strobe lights throughout the church. All the flashing lights at 1:00 in the morning prompted the neighbor to call the cops. That was ackward.
on September 19th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
We had a lock-in and invited all the kids from the community center and one decided to call 911 and hang up.
Plus another time we arrived home late from a trip and the cops pulled in the parking lot because they thought we were stealing the van.
on September 20th, 2008 at 1:59 am
We kidnap youth with parents permission and take them to a Bible study to welcome them into the high school group. We go all out black ski masks, duct tape, and zip-ties. Went to one youth’s home parents left, she thought we were robbers, ran into the basement and called 911. 3 cop cars came, guns drawn, youth hands bound. They did not think it was very funny.
on September 22nd, 2008 at 9:26 am
Fantastic post - made me and my boss both laugh lots!
on September 23rd, 2008 at 9:10 am
We were on a trip to our youth campground and we always have to stop at least once for kids to use the bathroom. They also bring money so they can buy drinks or snacks at the gas station we stop at. Apparently one of the clerks was overheard to have told another, next time you have so many come in - call the police. Nice. They felt threatened by a group of 5 to 13 year olds.
on September 23rd, 2008 at 11:07 am
I used to run an after school program. One of the students tended to get in trouble a lot. One day he decided to prank call 911. The cops came. I talked to them. I had them sit all the kids down and talk to them about the gravity of the situation. It scared them pretty good. Never happened again.
on September 23rd, 2008 at 11:09 am
Hahaha! That’s Hilarious stuff. I like stealing the van and the Sr. Pastor calling the cops.
The cops were called at our church because we had a hard rock band playing. The neighbors thought it sounded like someone was in trouble. Another time a church I was at had always hosted groups to stay at the church before they went to Mexico or came back. A group came at 3 in the morning and a neighbor called the police thought a bunch of teens and adults from Arkansas were robbing the church. But they were unloading not loading. I was there till 7am dealing with police. I would love to hear/read more stories.
on September 23rd, 2008 at 11:09 am
Holy Smoke! That’s rich
on September 23rd, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Camping trip with youthgroup. The guys decided to prank the girls after dark (against the rules). My husband and the other male leader decided to catch them in the act. Husband got between the rock and the lake. Rock made contact with his head. 30 miles to the emergency room to hear, “Rock vs. Head - Rock won!”.
Another time we were doing a game with a smoke machine & strobe lights. No one thought to kill the smoke alarms. Guess what? Fire alarms contact alarm company who contacts local volunteer fire dept which includes former youth group members (and current church members!). What fun!
on September 29th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
We were having the youth over for a “Back to School” party. One of the kids hit the quick dial emergency number on the phone instead of redial. When 911 answered, they hung up. Then when 911 called back, they hung up again!!! When they called back again, my husband was given the phone to explain, only they didn’t belive him. They asked to speak to me to make sure he wasn’t hurting me.
Then, one time we were out on a statewide youth function. Our group decided they wanted to do a “chinese fire drill”. I reluctantly let them, because we were in a convoy with all the other youth groups. I figured it would be safe. As soon as they got out of the car, a police car turned left at the light we were stopped at and flipped on his lights. We were “pulled over” and I was asked by the police, “Aren’t you a little old to be doing this?”