Pastor Holds Turkey Bowl for Missions Offering

Pastor Throws Frozen Turkey Through Church Wall
(Just another fun Sunday at New Life Greeley)

Sunday evening, Pastor Ken Mowery, threw a 10 pound frozen turkey through the wall of the sanctuary at New Life Community Church in Greeley, Colorado. Actually, “the bird” only flew part of the way through the wall according to Mowery.

Mowery, who has pastored the church since its beginning in 1999 stated, “There was no ill will toward the turkey or anyone else. I was simply demonstrating to church members the proper way to bowl with a frozen turkey.”

Having a “turkey bowling” event was one church member’s brain child as a means for raising money for state missions, although weeks later no one could remember whose idea it really was. According to Pastor Mowery, “During a church leadership meeting we were brainstorming ideas about how to raise money for missions when somebody blurted out that we should do a turkey bowl.”

“Although, none of us knew how to do “turkey bowling” and we certainly had no idea how it could ever relate to missions, we decided it might be fun. So, that’s what we did”. The group determined that each pin (a liter soda pop bottle filled with sand) was worth a nickel. Participants would donate one nickel to missions for each “pen” knocked down.

“When it came time to start the “bowling”, no one really knew what to do, so I grabbed the bird and lofted it toward the 10 pens.” “Well, I knocked a few of the pens down, but the turkey kept going. It didn’t stop until it had lodged itself in the wall. Its surprising how far a frozen turkey can actually “fly” admits Mowery.

Reportedly there was a slightly awkward silence for a moment or two followed by a sudden and extended outburst of laughter. Mowery later conceded, “It was really funny and I’m glad that I’m the one who did it. It sort of freed everything up because the worst that could happen had already happened. After that everyone relaxed and had fun.”

Finally it should be mentioned that about $100 was raised for a state missions offering. The church decided that the nominal costs of repairing the hole in the wall was a small price to pay to be able to participate in the broader work of God’s Kingdom in the state of Colorado.