Clearview Chess Club
By Wayne Williams --
I appreciated our good friend, Dick Middlebrooks’, heart-felt message from a couple of weeks ago about how each of us have a responsibility to tell others about Jesus. It’s a lifestyle, not a program. A couple of days after that message, another of our good friends, Joel Michaelson, sent me a story, actually a parable, about how an organization grows. I’m passing it on to you in the hopes that it will help prepare us all for the next chapter in the history of Greater Portland Bible Church.
The Clearview High School Chess Club had a dilemma, the once strong program found itself down to its last three members. The Club President called a meeting to discuss the crisis. “Clubbers, with just a senior, junior, and a freshman, there are now only three members left in our club. We need to solve this problem!”
The senior raised his hand and said “I know exactly our problem. It’s not cool to be in a Chess Club. We are hated by the entire school. If we can change their perspective, we will change our destiny! Also, ‘chess club’ sounds too much like chest club. It’s a bully magnet! We need to change our name also for sure.”
He continued, “Here’s what we do! We win over the people who are our actual problem. Let’s invite our bullies to actually visit our club! They are the ones who hate us and label us as losers. Once they see how much fun we are, they will be our biggest advocates.”
So the Clearview Chess Club prepared for the changes. They put up ‘free donuts’ posters, moved the club to the boxing room, changed their name to ‘Battle Club’, and committed to memorizing and avoiding words on their ‘Nerd List’, words that seem to trigger their bullies, mostly math jokes and larger scrabble words.
The big day arrived, and it seemed to start out well. Five bullies showed up, gobbled up the donuts, laughed, and punched on all the old punching bags in the room. After five minutes though, the bullies got bored and quickly turned their attention on their hosts with a barrage of headlocks, flying chess pieces, and creative wedgie maneuvers.
Later, during their official Battle Club Debriefing Meeting, the members were able to unanimously vote to track down much softer chairs.
Then the President spoke up. “Wait, I know how to fix our club! My grandpa ruled this school when he was a member here, and my dad still talks about his crazy Chess Club parties! Let’s find people who actually like us, or at least know how to play. There must be at least 100 people in this school that played a little as a kid or maybe probably still do, so let’s make it super easy for old players to find their way back home. First we immediately change our name back and second, move the club back to our old room so people can find us.”
So donuts were bought and flyers went out, calling on anybody who has ever played chess before to please show up. The turnout was amazing, but the mood soon shifted when half the students just ate their donuts and never looked up from their phones. When asked to start a game, they grunted and said, “Chess is boring.” The other half eagerly started up games, but all insisted on using their own personal house rules they grew up with as kids. One student only played chess by checkers rules and another student only liked to play chess with ‘Invincibility Queens’ that could never die. Another depressing night.
During their official Chess Club Debriefing Meeting, they saw now why these students don’t play chess anymore. The president did announce some good news, “You guys remember the senior, Blake, who left us to play football? He said he could maybe return on some of his non-football days if we meet in the mornings.”
The freshman then spoke up, “I have just read our club bylaws and it states that the Clearview High School Chess Club accepts anyone who has a desire to play the game of chess and is willing to follow the guidelines of the club. That suggests to me we are not to accept those who hate chess and who refuse to accept the guidelines that were set out.”
He continued “I propose we continue to meet together on club day, but as individuals, let’s dedicate ourselves on a daily basis to find people who are willing to just sit down and play a game of chess with us. Either at our houses or at the lunch tables. Those who get it and want more, those are the ones we should invite to our club, but in the meantime, let’s just find people who are open to maybe just learn the game”.
A lightbulb turned on for the boys as the junior said, “Yes! I can start meeting with Senior Blake for a morning game before school!”
The senior said “Yes! And I think I’m going to see if I could be a student volunteer during detention! These guys are stuck and bored half to death. I know these bullies are so different one on one.”
The freshman chimed in “Yes! And I will open my basement once a month for a game night. I don’t mind playing with chess with kids who only know their house rules. I’m pretty patient. So you guys can invite anyone who shows an interest during the month!”
With this insight the Clearview High School Chess Club slowly began to blossom as members dedicated themselves to the basics of their club’s founding; honing their skills, encouraging each other to become better chess players, and sharing a simple explanation of how this great game is played.
Our church is not in a crisis like that chess club, but I think we would all like to see it blossom with more people learning about Jesus, believing in him, and growing in the life he offers. The strategy that the chess club finally stumbled upon is simple but very effective: find people who are willing to have a conversation about spiritual things and then, if they are interested in learning more, share with them what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Are you ready and willing to dedicate yourself to that strategy?