February 2017
By Ann Ciaccio
A blacklight dodgeball tournament on January 29 was held in a warehouse owned by St. Paul Lutheran Church of Aurora, Illinois. Invitations went out. But the main target was not on the youth of St. Paul, nor was it the youth of nearby LCMS congregations, or any congregations. The focus was on the local youth of Aurora, from middle school through high school.
Because of the focus on area youth in general, invitations not only went out to congregations in the Northern Illinois District, but it was advertised through the local Aurora schools, and invitations were handed out to sports teams in the Aurora school district.
The event was not promoted as a church event, but as a sporting event with an important message for youth. Paramount to the overall planning, this was not going to be just an event with activities and games. Its overriding purpose was delivering an important message to the local area youth. Over 120 youth attended, almost half not affiliated with the LCMS.
Weeks of planning and preparation led up to this event. Volunteers transformed an empty Cubs Food warehouse into three dodgeball courts. A food area and game area were set up. There was a stage for a DJ with music. Teams of up to eight kids participated in a blacklight dodgeball tournament with prizes to the winning teams.
The event included games, food and music. And, it incorporated a message that impacts youth across the country—depression and teen suicide.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among teenagers. Included in the message was that we must continue to speak out about the topic and refuse to remain silent. St. Paul’s director of Christian education, Andrew Tutwiler, summed it up this way: “Since we are all made by God and forgiven by God, we must not look at ourselves as evil but as forgiven. We are all worthy of love.”
It was not the availability of a huge warehouse space to use for his ministry, or even just the opportunity to lead a congregation’s youth that drew Tutwiler to this, his newest call. His passion is the opportunity to reach the youth outside of the church in the Aurora area.
Tutwiler’s commitment to youth revolves around a life plan for youth. He recognizes that God has gifted and blessed each and every individual with a unique set of talents and abilities. “It is our job to come alongside each other to encourage, support and value those talents and abilities,” he says. “While each individual may have a unique goal and path, we all should have an opportunity to dream big and pursue that dream.”
His plans are to further support area youth in dreaming big and pursuing that dream. Tutwiler says he will be planning similar events on a quarterly basis to invite both church and community students.