It’s called geocaching. It’s been around for a decade and is becoming more and more mainstream as over two million caches have been planted worldwide with millions of people participating in this hi-tech, outdoor treasure hunt.
What is Geocaching?
Geocaching combines the best of being outdoors, utilizing technology, participating in social media, and playing hide and seek … all in one family-friendly activity. According to the official website (www.geocaching.com) “Geocaching is a free, real-world, outdoor treasure hunt” wherein players try to locate hidden containers called geocaches using a Smartphone or GPS device and then share the experiences of their find online.
Caches come in all sizes from large ammunition boxes to tiny biological vials. Most contain a scroll or small notebook on which you can log your name and the date you discovered the cache. Many contain inexpensive collector coins, small toys, or local trinkets that embody the characteristic of the surrounding area. The idea is that if you take something from a cache you then should leave something behind for the next person to discover.
Christian Outreach with Geocaching
When I got hooked a few years ago on geocaching with my children, I knew there would come a time and place when we would figure out how to combine Christian outreach with geocaching.
That day arrived this past summer. During Sunday morning worship, I invited our congregation to write down Bible verses that were meaningful or inspirational to them. Then, our members came forward, read their verse to the congregation, and shared what the passage meant to them. After that, they placed the verse card in a special, water proof container. We named the cache “All Things Possible.”
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After the service, I placed a note card and small pen in the container instructing those who would discover this cache to log their name, take a Bible verse card, and consider saying a prayer thanking God for His creation, the enjoyment of the find, and anything else that might come to their heart or mind. I went to a nearby park to hide the container, and then submitted the cache online.
Since the policies for placing a cache indicate that geocaching is not the place to solicit for products or services, we did not list our church’s name or advertise our worship service times. To date, the cache has been found by 25 people and all report positive experiences with their discovery. A few even left comments on the cache’s online log thanking us for sharing God’s Word with them and said that it was just what they needed.
Whether your church hides a cache and utilizes it to share the love of God in Jesus with others, or you go out geocaching with your family or friends; it is an excellent and inexpensive way to enjoy God’s creation, spend significant time with special people in your life, and utilize a little technology and strategy in a challenging way!
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