The Wild Game Dinner, sponsored annually by The Chapel, EFC, is an unusual event in many ways. As a member of the sponsoring church, Earl loves the whole idea: the camaraderie among men who are the majority of those in attendance, the food, the message, and the door prizes (although we’ve never won any). I’m not sure we’ve attended all eight annual events, but we’ve shown up to most.
What makes it unusual in my eyes?
First, the sanctuary is turned into a to a hunter’s delight with all kinds of deer heads (There’s probably a more technical term for a taxidermied deer, but I don’t know it.) covering the entire stage where Sunday services are held. There’s also a stuffed bear or two.
Second, the menu is definitely about wild game and its processed remains. We were offered kangaroo and ostrich snacks, as well as wild boar pulled meat and some kind of wild animal bratwurst. Although there were vegetarian options such as salad and mashed potatoes, I doubt vegetarians would have been comfortable at the table.
After the meal, there is an inspirational speaker who is a cross between a hunting/fishing icon and some kind of preacher. To be truthful, I’ve never researched the speaker’s credentials, but in the years that I’ve attended every speaker uses the outdoors as a pulpit for accepting Jesus into one’s life. This speaker, Jimmy Sites, was no different.
Sites was a most entertaining speaker and kept my attention throughout his longer-than-I’d-hoped presentation, He ended his comments with requests for those who just now, right now, in the moment, maybe because of the emotions involved, accepted Jesus into their lives. He even told the non-Christians in the audience to commit as well.
That’s when I checked out mentally. I understand most religions think theirs is the only true one. But I’ve always felt it was insulting to suggest from the “pulpit” that anyone who is a fervent believer of a different faith should abandon it. It is like telling vegetarians to get over it right now and have a wild game brat.
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