Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Where did those crazy kids at the America's Center come from?

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Where did those crazy kids at the America's Center come from?

    I was going to post this in the MHC vs MLG thread, but that one seems to be going in different directions.

    There's been several comments about the crazy teenagers running around the America's Center in St. Louis trying to save you. They were there for their "convention", and we were there for ours. Were you wondering where all these kids came from? Well it's probably closer than you think.

    The group is a Christian youth ministry called Dare 2 Share, if you judge by the name, that's probably why some of you were approached more than you are used to. It's kinda the point of the ministry, empowering youth to share their faith. At the head of this organization is a man name Greg Stier, one of the most dynamic motivators and public speakers you will hear.

    So why do I know so much about this, well that's where it gets interesting.

    When I was 15 years old, one of my friends from high school, called me up and said, "hey you want to go scare some people tonight?" I was like, yeah sure. He told me his brother in law and sister owned a local haunted house, and if I wanted I could go with him and scare some people there.

    His brother in law was Brad, Brad had a couple of good friends that he met in high school a few years earlier, Greg and Rick, who helped him working at the haunted house. Rick was probably one of the best most energetic haunted house actors I have seen, and Greg was probably one of the best haunted house "guides" there has been, by many accounts.

    Shortly after I began working at the haunted house, Greg and Rick went on to form, in Brad's living room, a church called Grace Church. Greg was the pastor and Rick was the assistant pastor and music/worship leader. This church grew and became the "church" of many of my friends, Brad and his family, and eventually me and my wife. Rick, the same crazy haunted house actor who I met as a 15 year old, ended up being one of the pastors at my church, and provided me and my wife with our pre-marital counseling. Greg had also formed a youth ministry named "Warriors for Christ" which ultimately was renamed and became Dare 2 Share, which has become one of the largest youth ministries in America. Greg eventually left Grace Church to focus full time on Dare 2 Share. Now before anyone jumps to conclusions, no, this haunted house was not a "hell house" type of attraction.

    So coming full circle, it was wild to walk into the convention center during Transworld. Warren (who was also there as a 15 year old kid, working with Greg, Rick and Brad) turned to me and said "gosh this looks like Dare 2 Share", and sure enough it was. So there we were more than 20 years later, as haunted house owners walking into a convention center for our national trade show, while in the same building Greg was leading his youth ministry in one of their conferences.

    It was funny when one of the youth pastors attending the conference approached me and asked me what was going on in the exhibit hall. I explained what we were there for, told him a bit of the story I am telling here, and let him know to tell Greg that Chris says hi.

    Small world eh? So do these worlds intertwine? It appears as though they can, and do.

    Chris
    Last edited by stafford; 04-06-2009, 10:35 PM.
    Chris Stafford
    1331 Entertainment Group
    Denver Haunted Houses - The Asylum & 13th Floor Haunted House http://www.getscared.com
    13th Floor Haunted House - San Antonio, Texas http://www.13thfloorsanantonio.com
    13th Floor Haunted House - Phoenix, Arizona http://www.13thflooraz.com

  • #2
    Funny how God works. And I am thankful these worlds intertwine - harmoniously for me actually when I didn't expect it. Who knows what He has instore. :-D

    Although, I do wish I could have stopped and chatted with some of the kids.
    sigpic

    Comment


    • #3
      That is a cool story. It can be a small world. I appreciuate what Fear said about the two worlds intertwining, but always remember that there shouldn't be anything in your life that God isn't an intricate part of. The fact that God fits in with haunting isn't suprising. It's simply proof that he is a God much bigger than the four walls of our church buildings. You will find those Christians who wil try to tell you that haunts are evil or Halloween is sinful, but I just don't believe that. I'm glad to share this industry with so many other Christians who don't believe that either.
      Kip Polley
      www.palenight.com

      Pale Night Productions
      We Engineer Fear

      Comment


      • #4
        My very first professional Haunt was min 1976, for a Christian group. I learned so much about the business of Haunting from them, this guy traveled the country setting these events up. They didn't have any hang ups about gore or fright, funny how times of changed.

        I've posted this before in years past, but if you want to shut one of these super Christians up tell them this:

        " God created me in his own image, and gave me great talent to create entertaining monsters, I'm not wasting his work or his command. He is O.K. with waht I do, we have an understanding. "

        Finish them off with this gem:

        " Besides, aren't you being a little self righteous? Jesus hated the self righteous man, read your bible, it's in there.

        Bon Appetite!

        Matt
        Listen to them, Children of the night. Oh what music they make.

        Comment


        • #5
          Damn.....

          You know.....one thing I don't like doing is talking religion
          BUT guess what? It's Holy Week and it's all over TV so why not?????

          Ok.....I was raised Roman Catholic. Nuns and priests as teachers....Sunday church
          Uniforms and everything. I went to a Catholic coed college prep HS

          Now that the stage is set........


          It has been beaten into my brain for years and years as I grew up.
          Now as I just turned 40 (ouch) I often find myself asking questions about faith and religion.
          I was watching the Discovery channel.....it was about Jesus Christ, Ponious Pilot, and some other things.....now my question is......WHO MADE THE CALENDER WE FOLLOW?

          Now I see everyday that the fine folks here in the USA are so PC it sickens me sometimes.....
          Cant say the pledge because it mentions God....can't pray because it offends .....someone!!
          But yet we have to accept....wait redirect...

          No matter what the answer to my question....it raises more questions.....
          If you don't believe in religion, God, or Jesus Christ.......HOW CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE YEAR 2009?
          AD - means Anno Domini which means the year of our lord
          BC - means before Christ

          Now I am not a holy roller gone bad or anything.....I just question things
          I have seen holy rollers totally screw people over
          I have seen good God fearing families get destoyed....for no reason
          I have seen disasters that wipe hundreds of people out at onetime

          Ok enough of that...........
          I know one day I will die.......and you know.....knowing my luck?
          I will be all wrong with everything!!!
          Gee could it get any better than this?

          Comment


          • #6
            I obviously agree that Halloween is not sinful or evil but I find it interesting that this industry is perceived as such by those not involved it. I haven't had a Christian say something to me about it since I've gotten involved but my Christian middle school did not let us wear Halloween costumes because we weren't allowed to "celebrate the evil holiday". And I will admit, I was one of the ones who thought few Christians were involved in this stuff until I met some awesome people at The Darkness - and that actually caused me to reevaluate what my actions say about my faith.

            Hi Kip! by the way.
            sigpic

            Comment


            • #7
              Nor did I mean or imply that all Holy rollers are bad, I too was raised Roman Catholic. I just think they need to know when to lay off because of their lack of knowledge of this industry. I know so many great dedicated Haunters that are true belivers and practice good will and charity. That's really what it's about anyway. Over the top bible thumping turns more people off than anything!

              Many of you know Rev who works for us, he's an ordained minister, albet mail order!
              Listen to them, Children of the night. Oh what music they make.

              Comment


              • #8
                hmm

                Rev? and ordained minister?
                Of what dirty deeds done dirt cheap?????
                Wait what was that called in Vegas???.....OHHHHH the P something
                Damn had too much tekillya in vegas
                Gee could it get any better than this?

                Comment


                • #9
                  It's "The Competition!"

                  The preachers are supposed to scare everyone into being good , we just scare them for fun and personal profit (hopefully).
                  Halloween is a rude holiday. If Christmas or Easter or St. Patrick's Day were having the rude portions celebrated maybe Halloween wouldn't look so bad by comparison?
                  The rudeness of those gift expectations forcing people to spend money as the winter begins taking away money for the essentials of financially surviving...The rude story of crucifiction, should we dwell on the physical nastiness of that as we say it's a holiday?
                  St. Patty playing with all those snakes! Let's celebrate leg-less reptiles, they are green!
                  Wear a green snake March 17th, see who wants to kiss you!
                  0ctober 31st can't help it, it is the strangest day/night of the entire year as measured simultaneously with mechanical clocks and sun dials. On that day is the biggest gap between those measurerments of time..16 minutes!
                  Throughout history and various cultures the end of October has always been "that time", that wierd, scary time and maybe it has more to do with the earth's rotation than anything else?
                  Gravity changing slightly? The two worlds get closer for a few moments, we see into it?
                  Are we getting closer to a scientific explanation of the supernatural?
                  "Scientific" versus "Psychological".
                  hauntedravensgrin.com

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    I'm an ordained minister (albeit online) and I have NO issues with Halloween and the meanings behind them. A pastor told me a little something a few years ago and I tend to agree with it.

                    "Religious people scare me to death, Spiritual people do not".

                    I live smack dab in the middle of the Bible Belt and regularly see people protesting Halloween, Harry Potter books (even though Billy Graham enjoys them) and many other things in the name of God and how he HATES these things. (really?) Every Sunday afternoon in October, the local AM radio stations are filled with pastors preahing about how "evil" this holiday is and I just shake my head and go after the next pop scare...
                    http://www.bigscaryshow.com
                    http://www.rabidbadger.org

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      I am as well Badger! That is scary in and of itself... lol

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Well that explains everything! On Friday morning I think it was. I walked out of my Hotel room at the Ren and saw about 65, 13-16 year olds invading the hallways all lined up waiting to get into their rooms. I walked out and said "Jesus Christ" out loud and I got some weird looks from them. Of course I was wearing all black with a giant skull on my hoodie. LOL Now I understand
                        ~Bill Mlinac
                        The Deadland Haunted House
                        www.facebook.com/Deadlandhauntedhouse
                        www.Thedeadland.comsigpic

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Motograter View Post
                          Well that explains everything! On Friday morning I think it was. I walked out of my Hotel room at the Ren and saw about 65, 13-16 year olds invading the hallways all lined up waiting to get into their rooms. I walked out and said "Jesus Christ" out loud and I got some weird looks from them. Of course I was wearing all black with a giant skull on my hoodie. LOL Now I understand
                          Bill Mlinac's comments and opinions do not reflect the comments and opinions of his partners at The Deadland Haunted House.

                          And Bill you should have been wearing a nice shirt like me not a hoodie, LOL. I keep trying to get you to be more professional, LOL! Little Chris would have worn a suit.
                          Jared Layman

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by mindtumor View Post
                            Bill Mlinac's comments and opinions do not reflect the comments and opinions of his partners at The Deadland Haunted House.

                            And Bill you should have been wearing a nice shirt like me not a hoodie, LOL. I keep trying to get you to be more professional, LOL! Little Chris would have worn a suit.
                            yeah bill you need to step it up a lil hahah I mean skull hoodie and halloween I can't make the connection next year let's keep it classy haha just messin

                            did anyone see those jesus shirts that were in the color of the obama campaign that said " jesus is the only real hope " I thought those were pretty cool
                            HHA Member

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by mindtumor View Post
                              Bill Mlinac's comments and opinions do not reflect the comments and opinions of his partners at The Deadland Haunted House.

                              And Bill you should have been wearing a nice shirt like me not a hoodie, LOL. I keep trying to get you to be more professional, LOL! Little Chris would have worn a suit.
                              Well Jared at least I didn't purposely bump into that one boy as we walked into the center's lobby because he was in your way and they where irritating you. I bet that boy will never forget you.
                              ~Bill Mlinac
                              The Deadland Haunted House
                              www.facebook.com/Deadlandhauntedhouse
                              www.Thedeadland.comsigpic

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X