The head of the Jesus Party has drawn criticism from parents for handing out candy and preaching to children after school.
LEWISTON – The Rev. Doug Taylor takes his place shortly before 3 p.m.
Stationed on a public sidewalk on the edge of Longley Elementary School property, Taylor is armed with a portable speaker system, a handful of gray religious fliers and his Bible.
Children’s worship music blares from the speaker on Taylor’s hip. He is flanked by his 13-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, and her friend.
When a crowd of children leave the school, the girls take up bags of Smarties candy. Taylor grips his microphone.
Grinning broadly, he shouts, “All right boys and girls, the Jesus Party is now passing out after-school snacks at Longley Elementary School!”
It’s a daily ritual that has disturbed and angered some parents.
“It’s a grown man targeting children. It’s a grown man using teenage girls to hand out candy,” said Naomi Nicholoff, who has a kindergartner and a first-grader at Longley. “Ethically and morally, it’s wrong.”
////Complaints//////
Director of the Jesus Party, a Pentecostal youth ministry, Taylor is known for his Harry Potter book cuttings and Friday night worship services that use ice cream and prizes to attract kids.
For eight years, in fall and spring, Taylor has handed out candy in front of the 230-student neighborhood school. The sidewalk is public property but directly in the path of students walking home.
“It’s a very strategic spot for evangelizing for kids,” he said.
Longley Principal Thomas Hood said he had received five complaints from parents since school began two weeks ago.
Some were angry because their kids had to walk past Taylor or risk crossing a busy street. Some were upset that Taylor was preaching to their kids. Others were worried that children won’t understand the difference between taking candy from Taylor and taking candy from any other stranger.
“It’s a different situation, however there’s always that concern,” Hood said. “I think that parents have a right to be concerned about that issue.”
Lewiston Police Chief William Welch said his department has received at least one official complaint. But while officers talked to Taylor about his activities, he said there’s little they can do. The Jesus Party stays on public property.
“He’s not violating any laws,” he said.
////’God willing’/////
On Monday afternoon this week, Taylor’s daughter and her friend handed out $15 worth of candy while Taylor called to the kids.
“Did your teacher give you a lot of homework tonight?” he asked a pair of boys walking alone. When they nodded and gave their teacher’s name, Taylor exclaimed joyfully, “We’ll pray for her!”
Most kids took some candy or stopped to talk. Many of the youngest children pulled away from their parents and ran to the bag of Smarties.
Christina Carey’s son was one of them. Carey, who lives near Taylor, said she liked to see the Jesus Party handing out sweets.
“It’s a pretty good idea that they do that,” she said. “It gives them something to snack on after school.”
Other parents didn’t agree.
Jeannette Cunningham said she doesn’t have a problem with Taylor. Just the candy.
Getting sweets right after school makes it hard for kids to concentrate on homework.
“I think they could find a better place to do it,” she said.
Nicholoff didn’t like Taylor’s message or his candy. The mother of three used to love walking the block and a half to pick up her two oldest children from school. Now she drives.
“I think it’s wrong,” she said. “I think a grown man should know better.”
Watching his daughter hand out candy Monday, Taylor said he could understand parents’ fears about strangers. But he makes sure he’s never alone with a child. He stays loud and visible so everyone knows that he’s there and why.
He doesn’t harass kids, he said. And he doesn’t give candy to children whose parents have told him not to.
“We don’t chase kids down in the street trying to push candy on them,” he said.
Despite the complaints, Taylor said he won’t leave. He plans to be at the school until the weather turns cold.
“God willing,” he said.
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