The Search For The Truth

The Search For The Truth mystery party game

The Search For The Truth party invitationA great Bible Christian game. A mystery game perfect for Church & youth groups!

A group is attending a Christian camp. They find that they are not only on a search for their own personal truth, but also the truth in relation to a crime they didn’t think could ever happen – the poisoning of camp leader, Peter Stein.

Note: There is also a mystery (not murder) version of this kit.

Reading level of the Christian game: 6

Christian cross indicating Christian gameThis mystery Christian game was written with the assistance of a youth pastor in the US and was loosely based on real teenagers. There are some references to Biblical stories. However, all our kits are great for Church fund raisers and youth camps.

This kit can also be enjoyed by non-Christians.

Biblical stories referred to in the Christian game

Abel was killed by Cain because Cain didn’t value God’s love. This story is covered in the Book of Genesis in the Bible.

The handwriting on the wall is mentioned in The Book of Daniel in the Bible. King Belshazzar and his guests didn’t know what it meant. Only Daniel could read the writing. It told that they would be punished because they were drinking from golden cups stolen from the temple.

“The burning bush” is mentioned in the Book of Genesis in the Bible. This is when God captured Moses’ attention by presenting him with a burning bush. It was then that God spoke to him.

What they’ve said about this Christian game

Teri Woods, USA

Teri Woods, a youth pastor in the US had another pastor pretend he really had died and they had a friend who is a Police Officer come to investigate the murder just to add a touch of reality. They were at a camp retreat at the time next to other people in cabins that were not part of their group.

“Stephanie,

Sorry for taking so long to let you know how the party went but when I got back the whole Easter thing was thrown my way. I have been a busy little bee.

So, they LOVED it! A few funny things happened that I thought you would like to know. First, one of the kids had his cell phone with him and tried to call the police to report that someone was dead. Luckily, I was right next to him and looked him directly in the eye and said, “Whatever you do, don’t use your phone right now. Just trust me on this.” I think he got the jest of what was up. Next, the people in the cabin next to the “murder” packed up all their stuff and were ready to leave. They really thought there had just been a murder and an arrest and they had decided they didn’t want to stick around. I hadn’t even given a thought to the people around us! We had to explain it to them. They thought it was a great idea and the young lady with them was going to have a talk with her youth director about it.

One of the girls there, as soon as she saw the police man in uniform, started in with comments like, “He’s not a real pig… I know bacon when I smell it. He’s just a faker…” (Did I mention we have a few “street tough” kids in our youth group?) Anyway, the police officer laughed and we had a hard time convincing her that this man in the uniform with the gun and the cop car was a real cop. (When he came over to me I asked him if he wanted to arrest her and he said, “Can I?”)

I think I told you we were going to plant evidence and let the kids find it. Well, when we gave them evidence markers and told them to look for clues they went outside and started marking everything from gum wrappers to broken potato chips they found. We finally had to tell them to hold off until they saw something they KNEW was a clue. Throughout Saturday we planted the clues… the diary, the letter, the watch, and a couple other things. They did get the idea and started to keep a look out, not ever knowing when something would show up.

My own group, believe it or not, wanted to arrest me. Since our worship leader had quit and I took over her job, they thought perhaps I wanted to run the whole church and take over the other pastor’s job too. I told them it was a possibility but if they thought I really wanted that much responsibility they were crazy!!!

Anyway, it went so very well. Thank you for everything you did. It is a weekend these kids will not soon forget!

In Him Always,
Teri”

Pastor Bob, USA

“Thanks for the “Search for Truth” murder mystery. We ran it last week with our youth group. We had 35 youth participate (we had to double up on a couple of parts) and everyone had a great time. The accusations still continue even after they know the solution. Thanks.”

Carol Ferdinand, USA

“Stephanie,

I just had to write, and tell you of the wonderful response “The Search for the Truth” had with my church youth group. Given recent events, I was unsure how a murder mystery would go over. Fortunately, everything went well, and all present had a wonderful time.

Our production took place on Saturday, September 22, 2001. The hall was decorated with red and white checkered table cloths, and mason jars acted as simple vases. The program was advertised as an audience participation Mystery Dinner Show, and the players had been given acts one and two, along with their character sheets, approximately 2 months in advance. (Act 3 was kept secret because I didn’t want them figuring it out).

Tickets were sold for $10.00 which included the dinner as well as the show. The dinner consisted of a salad, spaghetti w/roll, and dessert. We tried to keep our costs low, since the goal of the program was to raise funds for our youth group.

Unfortunately, several of our youth backed out at the last minute, and adults were called upon to fill some of the teenage roles. They were great!! Detective Sam Cummings was turned into Samantha Cummings, and my only regret is that no one took a picture! She was a cross between Columbo and Mimi from Drew Carey.

Everyone arrived to the hall to decorate and prepare the meal, in character. They were so into it, that they would not respond unless called by their character name. (This was quite annoying at times, but I created the monsters so I couldn’t complain).

We had approximately 35 guests in attendance. The characters greeted them, and served them throughout the night. In addition, 13 audience members were called upon to read clues. After Act 3, everyone was given a card to write their name, and guess “Who Done It?” Five audience members guessed correctly, and received a CD holder in the design of a basketball.

I was so into the show, that I forgot my video camera was ready and waiting in the next room. Therefore, I did not get any pictures the entire night.

The Search for the Truth was a huge success, and the kids (and audience) are looking forward to our next production.

I am sure that I will be contacting you soon to get another mystery. They are fun and simple to do, and fairly low cost.

Sincerely,
Carol Ferdinand
Very Satisfied Customer
Brownstown, Michigan USA”

Emma Keirle, Guernsey, Channel Islands

“Over the last few years we have done several of your murder mysteries and we have just finished the Search for the Truth Christian camp murder which was amazing and the 16 young people who took part loved it! I normally do these with our church youth group and they are very suitable, for which I am grateful!!

Thank you again for providing a wonderful resource.

Emma Keirle

St Martins Church Guernsey Channel Islands”

Alana Cook, USA

Here is Alana Cook’s photo from her “The Search For The Truth” party:

A photo from Alana's The Search For The Truth party
Alana

Alana sent in this feedback about her party:

“We did this party a couple of years ago as a Halloween event for our students and it was a BLAST. I’m looking through all of the new parties and seeing what one we would like to do this year. It was so much fun and I can’t wait to see how the kids will dress up this year. They went all out for the “Search for Truth” party so I know they won’t disappoint this year! Thanks for the great organization of the kits and giving us everything we need to put on a great party!

Versions and samples of the Christian game:

Overview of the murder version of the Christian game

A large group is attending a Christian camp. The theme for the weekend is to find the truth. As the weekend progresses the participants find that they are not only on a search for their own personal truth, but also the truth in relation to a crime they didn’t think could ever happen – the murder of camp leader, Peter Stein.

Peter was a hard-working 56-year-old man who was said to look like “a stern garden gnome”. He was a Vietnam vet and retired Lt. Col. in the US Army. His favorite food was Haggen Daaz ice cream and he never turned down dessert. He had a wife who helped run the camp, two grown children and four grandchildren. He was a counselor for the police department. He had a Masters in counseling, although some people found his counseling style a bit dictatorial.

Overview of the mystery version of the Christian game

A large group is attending a Christian camp. The theme for the weekend is to find the truth. As the weekend progresses the participants find that they are not only on a search for their own personal truth, but also the truth in relation to a crime they didn’t think could ever happen – the poisoning of camp leader, Peter Stein. But it is obvious that there was no intention to kill Peter, only to make him sick.

Peter is a hard-working 56 year old man who is said to look like “a stern garden gnome”. He is a Vietnam vet and retired Lt. Col. in the US Army. His favorite food is Haggen Daaz ice cream and he never turns down dessert. He has a wife who is helping run the camp, two grown children and four grandchildren. He is a counselor for the police department. He has a Masters in counseling, although some people found his counseling style a bit dictatorial.

Excerpt from this Christian game

Langley: “Some people have been giving Peter the cold shoulder on this camp. Actually it’s been more like a freezer, than just refrigerator type “coldness”.”

Invitations for the Christian game

Reading level of the Christian game

Note: The reading levels of each kit (not just “page” as it says below) were determined by copying and pasting the kit (the play version), into The Readability Test Tool (see www.read-able.com).

The Search For The Truth reading details picture

Some of the characters in the Christian game

The people present are:

Detective Sam Cummings

A police officer. I knew Peter from the police station. But we weren’t friends.

Suspects

Kevin Spicer

I’m mad about heavy metal music. I played piano for 11 years but now I prefer to play bass guitar. I received a scholarship recently to do computer science at university. I like chick flicks but never get to see them because I don’t have a girlfriend and I’m too embarrassed to go on my own. I hate Tim Allen movies. I was in a car wreck last year that totaled my friend’s car. I drive a big red Buick, work at sorting parcels, and still live with my mom.

Pamela Marras

I am so sweet – everybody says so. I have a beautiful laugh that is contagious, but too loud sometimes, people tell me. Guys are mad about me and I’m mad about Latin. I have played in the sea a little bit but I don’t know how to swim so I don’t go swimming. I wear contact lenses. I’ve vacationed out of the country to places like Trinidad and Bermuda. I’m vegetarian. I like karate movies and I hate people telling me what I should or shouldn’t do.

Kennie Rosie

I love any movies by Monty Python especially “The Search For The Holy Grail”). I’m a drummer and play the guitar pretty well too. I’ve written a few songs including “My Two String Guitar” which everybody knows and likes. I love basketball and work at a grocery store. I have a girl for a best friend (Kitty Raymond) and a girlfriend (Renata Beavis). I’m a great skateboarder and a pretty good snowboarder too. I can always make people laugh so I’m good fun to have around. My ambition is to be a radio broadcaster or an actor, because I can do great English and Australian accents.

Eleanor Hoskins

I am fluent in sign language as both my parents are deaf. I spent last Christmas on a cruise in the Bahamas. I wear braces and I can eat more than anyone else but I never put on weight. Everyone teases me about my appetite. They tell me I’m eating all their supplies but I don’t think they’re serious. My hair is red right now but I change the color every month or so. I’m mad about a guy named Tyler, but that might change next week. I’m a student and I work at a copy shop part time. I’ve taken 3 years of German but still struggle with it. I will be attending an elite art school in San Francisco next year. I like to wear clothes that show my flat tummy. At night I go to sleep cuddling my teddy bear.

Damien Hoskins

I’m Eleanor’s brother. I still live at home with my parents. Like my sister, I am also fluent in sign language. I love country music. I also went on the cruise with my parents. I have a dog and a cat (the cat is also deaf). I always wear a baseball cap, even to bed. The only time I don’t wear it is in the shower. I’m really fit because I walk about two miles every day and play football, basketball and do wrestling.

Renata Beavis

Some people think I’m a bit fanatical because I carry a toothbrush and mouth wash with me wherever I go. I make lists for everything, keeping track of every food group I eat during the day on a chart, which I keep in my purse. I always match my top with my socks. I’m an avid scrapbooker so I’m always taking photos. I’m Kennie’s girlfriend and I have a little white Maltese dog named Angelo, but they call him “Angel”, because he is one.

Kitty Raymond

I’m a gymnast. I no longer compete but I am still as limber as ever. If you notice my lisp, I would prefer you not to mention it. I always like to have something in my mouth to chew on. The guys don’t seem to like me very much. My socks never match. I think it’s a waste of time to worry about that. My parents are always off traveling somewhere. I’ve been to every state in the Union but Alaska and also traveled to Germany, Italy, England, and France. I don’t eat breakfast, and some people think I’m a bit ditzy. I wear contacts and when I spend the night somewhere without having my contact solution, I sleep with my contacts in my mouth. I swallowed them once.

Theresa MacGregor

I am a teenager and I’m in love with a 21 year old named John Mark Harrison and have been for at least a year (he used to go to our church but moved to Wisconsin). I’ve never been kissed by a boy and I like to mother everyone, even my own mother. I play the violin, am very ticklish and I’m very good at saving money. I have a purple and green bedroom; I’m great at foos ball, love the Green Bay Packers and talk very loudly when I’m excited. I love any movie from Saturday Night Live (eg “Wayne’s World” etc.) and simply adore the actor Heath Ledger from “The Patriot”. I love the ocean. In fact I love almost everything except my big feet!

Langley Weaver

I am a student. I play electric guitar (in a band with Kennie and Kevin), and am gaga over Donna Glover! I drive a black Cougar and I’m VERY protective of Donna. I’ll do anything she wants. I sing back up in the band and I have a little brother. Though I like heavy bands, I’m usually very mellow. I’ve just started working at a grocery store on weekends. It’s not much fun but it helps to pay my student fees.

Donna Glover

I’m a student and I’m gaga over my boyfriend Langley. I’m teaching myself how to play the piano and I work at a department store. I adore short shirts and hipsters but my parents won’t let me wear them. With my blonde hair everybody says I look like Brittney Spears. I know a lot about horses. I plan to be a vet and I don’t intend to have any kids. I prefer animals. I love anything that’s pink. My whole room is pink. I also sing in a choir. They tell me I have a lovely singing voice. I pretend to be ditzy (but I’m really not). Eleanor Hoskins is my best friend in the world.

Rose Willis (not in version for 12)

I’m a youth leader and I also work as a draftsperson for an architecture firm. I’m getting married this fall to Keld who I adore. I just started learning the guitar so we can sing songs at camp, but I’m not particularly good at it. I don’t like girls who giggle all the time and just chase boys. Some people say I’m spunky but that’s not important to me. What is important is honesty and staying close to people you love. I drive an old silver/gray Honda. I’m sort of a tomboy, with one niece and one nephew.

Keld Henderson

I work as a draftsman for an electrical firm. I’m getting married this fall to Rose, which is very exciting. I’m usually quiet except when in a competition of some sort. They say I’m very competitive. I love to ride jet skis. I really want one! I drive a little white truck and love anything that has to do with the “Indiana Jones”.

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