Starting a skate ministry (the basics)...
1. You need to pray and have an intercessory team on board.
2. You WILL need insurance. The best we have found is from:
Louis Blosch Insurance Agency
ask for Carla
9726 East 42nd
Tulsa, OK
918.664.7100
3. You will want a waiver (attached is a SAMPLE - please remove our name and substitute with your information) for a few reasons. 1. Liability 2. Tracking the skaters weekly 3. A good form of follow up with visitors and/or regulars. (We recommend getting a portable filing system so that kids do not have to re-sign every week).
4. Wristbands - we love the cheap paper wristbands because this allows us to identify who has completed the waiver or not - no wristband means kids need to go check in.
We use www.pchopper.com
5. Ramps - this would be helpful.....'Kidding', but seriously, most 'average Joe's' do not build ramps everyday so that is why we suggest using the pros. But...you may have those who are very skilled with tools and are able to build for you. We have plans that you can obtain from us by emailing Larry for a copy.
Here is a company that has been building quality ramps at affordable prices all over the world:
Amercian Ramp Company
Mr. Mark Janetta
601 McKinley Ave.
Joplin, MO 64801
sales@americanrampcompany.com
phone 800.949.2024
International 417.206.6816
fax 417.206.6888
6. A portable PA system is great for random (not scheduled) messages from the skate park (7-10 min. long) and for playing music. Remember-this ministry is for planting seeds. Do not scare visitors away (by over-ministering). When the youth are finally ready and willing to grow he/she will plug into your regular services.
7. Bibles - anyone working in the park should have a pocket Bible. In the event that a youth has a question after a short message is presented, you and/or your staff can be there to talk and minister through Gods Word. You may also want to have on hand a box of New Testaments and/or cheap gospel tracks to pass out to kids that have come to Christ as most likely they will not have a bible and wouldn't even think to get one. Every church receives in the mail tons of catalog's that can sell you bibles and little gospel tracks at very low prices.
8. Prizes/give-aways: this is a great incentive to having teens memorize verses or get friends to the 'new' skate church, etc... We have been told ALL churches can receive distributor pricing from Glory skateboards for give-aways. Contact them directly for more information at 1-888-36-glory.
9. Space: Allow for 100' x 100' and use caution tape to mark it off. You can easily find caution tape at stores like Home Depot.
10. Registration staff: Have people there to greet the kids, get waivers signed, put on the wrist bands, tell them how to win 'free' stuff or 'cool prizes', etc.. (clip boards, tables, chairs, pens, a portable filing system for waiver's, etc..).
11. Handbook: There is now a booklet for this and if you would like a copy then follow this link to download your very own PDF file that Larry Buxton has written... "How To Start A Skate Ministry"
SK8FUSION Demo's...
We try to schedule skate demo's for Saturday. Once we arrive and we are set up, we like to start skating with the kids that are there for about an hour before we actually starT. The format will be just like SK8FUSION in Tulsa.
I will provide ramps, sound system, music, and etc. for the day of the event. I will need you as youth leaders to help me by passing out flyers for the event in and around your city. You will want your youth involved in this as much as possible. I have learned the involvement of students and teachers from the youth department will make it easier for skaters to transition into regular church services. Some ideas are the making of the “WWJD” bracelets and students passing them out to any and all with a salvation tract and an explanation of the “WWJD” concept. Anything else that will involve your youth works; I have seen the most popular kids in a youth group actually try their hand (or feet) at skating to help break the ice.
Scheduling a Demo...
If you would like more information about SK8FUSION coming to you for a demo and starting a ministry like this in your town click here to email Larry Buxton
The Mission...
of SK8FUSION is to Share the
Good News of Jesus Christ with youth out of the main stream living in the extreme.
The Vision...
of SK8FUSION is to maintain a ministry that can expand and be sucessfully replicated to reach youth throughout Oklahoma and the United States while continuing to serve and minister locally.
