Compiled by Rory Douglas
A Little Bit of Auction History
In 1990, James B Notkin, then pastor of Youth Mission & Ministry, started the auction as a way for students to fund their own missions.
“From the beginning it was an endeavor to believe in students, to build community among the students, and to foster a greater relationship between youth and the greater church.”
In the last 20 years, the auction has funded the construction of 217 houses in Mexico, and has helped several thousand YMM students go on missions not just to Mexico but to Los Angeles, New York, Wapato, Scotland, El Salvador, Ecuador, and more.
Under Two Conditions
One year, a 95-year-old UPC woman donated a 1967 Chrysler New Yorker, complete with an eight-track tape player. She requested a starting price of $3,500.
A UPC member who knew something about cars saw the price and told James B, “You know, that car is worth six-hundred dollars, tops.”
Later in the day, James B encountered that same UPC member writing a check to buy the car for more than $3,500. He told James B, “I’m going to do this under two conditions: One, I don’t want the car. And two, I don’t ever want to see the car again.”1
Two for One
One year Walt Wagner donated a private in-home piano concert. He agreed beforehand that if bidding reached $4,000 he would do two concerts, one for each of the $4,000 buyers.
When bidding approached $4,000, the student auctioneer told the audience that if bidding got up to $4000, then Walt would do two concerts—for the price of one. And that’s exactly what happened.
Dessert with Earl
To solicit donations for the auction, Edge students have pre-auction phone parties where they call UPC members and request donations. Donors are asked to estimate the value of items so that students have an idea of where to start the bidding.
During one of these phone parties, a high school girl set down her phone during the middle of a call and announced:
“I have some guy named Earl on the phone, and he thinks that dessert with him is worth eight-hundred dollars!”
One Woman’s Ministry
Each year, one UPC woman (who will remain anonymous) bids on lots of items she has no intention of buying. She does this to increase the price, so that whoever ends up buying the item has to donate more money toward YMM missions.
Of course, sometimes no one outbids the woman. Every year she ends up with an assortment of items she didn’t necessarily want, which she usually gives away.
Rejected Items Include …
- A half-eaten jar of peanut butter
- A package of Depends
- A shower seat
This year’s Youth Mission Auction is Sunday, March 13. Click here for details.
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