Dumb Things #2

This week I’ll be covering some of the more dumb things I’ve ever done as a Children’s Pastor.  Be sure to visit www.jonathancliff.com/tags/dumbthings to keep up with all the dumb-ness happening here this week!

Again while in Dallas I pulled one of the most stupid stunts ever.  As a not-lover of puppets (is that a phrase?), I decided instead that it would be cool to have a costumed character visit the kids each week.  Great idea so far, right?  It all started when I saw this super great, and super cheap gorilla costume at Party City.  I lost you with the word gorilla, didn’t I?  All the costume consisted of was a pair of gorilla feet, gorilla hands, and a scary gorilla mask.  So easy to pull off, and makes for a super quick costume change.

So our friendly Kidmin gorilla makes his first apperance on Sunday morning.  I had some accompanying music that was light and cheery; and I prepared the kids beforehand that we had a gorilla friend making a visit.  Here is how it goes down:

• The gorilla appears on stage.
• Children scream hysterically.
• Girl on the front row goes into a horror stage of shock.
• That same girl pees on herself.
• The volunteers in the room freeze and don’t know what to do.
• I’m stuck with my friendly gorilla on stage, trying to carry on a conversation while children begin to cry and run from the room.
• I finally tell the gorilla to leave stage, and have to yell at some volunteers to please help our peed-on girl up front.

Is this less scary?

I’m still so ashamed.  Can’t believe how stupid I was to think this was a good idea.  However, this gorilla costume did make a great scare toy for me to freak out my kids at home.  Score!