JIVE Youth presents: PVZ Ps. 23:4 (JIVE Youth's Plants vs. Zombies Costume Party)

After several meetings, we, the leaders and members of JIVE Youth decided to have a 'BIG' event every month. We started last June with JIVE Youth's Back-to-School Party 2010: I CAN: My Future Decided.

For the month of July, we thought of doing a showcase of talents, an acquaintance party, and a comedy bar type of program. When the idea of doing a costume party arose, the question of what theme we will be using arose. After throwing some themes around during a brainstorming session, JIVE Youth's PVZ (Plants Vs. Zombies Costume Party) was born.

During the conception and the development of the event, controversies and issues were raised. First, the title and theme itself. JIVE Youth is a Christian Youth organization and we do not associate and relate ourselves with anything evil. The thing is, the theme is about the game itself and not the zombies. Another, we are just jumping on the game's popularity so we can attract young people and to bring them closer to Christ. The event is in no way a ruse or a bait to get them to a religion. This is not about religion. Religion cannot and will not save you. We are doing events like these to fulfill JIVE Youth's Purpose Statement which is aligned to a Christian's Five Purposes in Life. It reads:

JIVE Youth exists:
TO REACH (Evangelism) the youth of Makati;
TO ENLIST (Fellowship) them in God's family;
TO EQUIP (Discipleship) them in Christ-likeness;
TO EMPLOY (Ministry) their gifts in serving one another; and
TO EXALT (Worship) HIS name.

Next, "a costume party in July? Isn't it for October?" Costume parties can be conducted all-year round although Costume Parties are more popular during the month of October and November because of Halloween.

JIVE Youth does not celebrate Halloween because the holiday has pagan roots. It is of note though that Christian groups in the US and Europe use Halloween to again, attract young people and use it as an opportunity to share God's word.

"So, because the theme is Plants vs. Zombies, majority of you will be dressed like zombies."
Yes, technically that is true. Zombies are fictional characters. they do not exist. We believe in Hebrews 9:27 which reads "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment."

(The dead do not rise from their graves to spread terror or meet their living relatives. When a person dies, his or her body decomposes and what's left are the bones.)

We will all make sure that the right message goes to all the young people who will attend the event.

Again, we are not glorifying nor justifying zombies or anything evil in this event. We are using the game's popularity to attract young people to our Youth Center and share to them the gospel in a variety of ways.

What we will be talking about during the event is the contrast between life and death. Biology and Thanatology if you must. What life is, what life should be. What death is, why not to be afraid and preparing for it. This is an important message to young people because it is uncertain whether a person will pass away young or old.

The event is on Saturday, the 31st of July, 3:30 PM. We've prepared a special program filled with fun and enjoyment. See you there! :)