SERVE to Lead - From The Tribe Has Spoken

“Spread love wherever you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. ”

– Mother Teresa

You’ve got to catch them all! Whether by bicycle, on foot, alone, or as an entire family, people are hunting “Pokemon” in the small towns of Gravette, Hiwasse, and Decatur in Northwest Arkansas. The pastime started on April 1, 2023 and throughout the summer has grown from a following of 150 people in its first week to over 500 after the first month! Heading into the final week of the “hunting season” and culminating on August 12, 2023 which is also Gravette Day, an annual celebration of the town, the number of local members and participants has grown to 1700 hunters!

As with the other editions of this newsletter, we search for the lessons on servant leadership that life offers us. Practical, real, and applicable to anyone’s lives. And at first glance, creating a “Pokemon hunt,” may not seem to be an example of servant leadership, but once you peel back the layers of pikachu, charmander, dragons, and jedi’s, at the heart of this walk in the park, downtown, or woods, is a small group of people being led by one man with a heart for serving.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with the creator of the “Pokemon Hunt,” James Killbreth, about how these events got started, WHY, the impact it’s had, and what his vision for the movement is going forward. James is retired and has now monetized his abilities to create large cosplay productions. From figures to statues to life-size replicas, James, “Hasn’t found anything I can’t create.” But if there’s something he wants made known about, “The Hunt,” it’s that he doesn’t take a dime. In fact, in true servant leader fashion, James has given up his entire year’s earnings in order to wholeheartedly pour himself into the production, programming, and efforts associated with the hunt itself. He begins production prior to midnight each night, setting multiple alarms to get up and check his 3D printers until their finished around 3 am….and then he goes out to hide his creations! I asked James some foundational questions during our conversation. And what I discovered and heard was a blessing I needed, as well as vital lessons to share. Throughout the text below I’ve placed those lessons for us as servant leaders to find.

Why this? Why now? And, Why Gravette? “I grew up in a large metro area and moved to Gravette over 30 years ago. I met my wife here, we had children, and now we have grandchildren. There’s a small town camaraderie here. I often have breakfast with the mayor or the police chief. Everyone just looks out for one another.” “This is the first year we’ve had the hunt and it started as I was making creations to sell. I kept accumulating leftover materials that I couldn’t use for larger pieces and they were taking up room. My wife was tired of my scraps laying around so she told me to do something with them. I had overheard so many parents discussing how expensive activities were for their children during the summer. So, I decided to provide something for kids to do that didn’t cost a thing.” (With servant leadership, inspiration is most often cloaked in love and embedded in our culture)

"Community is not a place but rather relationships among people. It is the treasured feeling of community that bonds Gravette. It is our shared experiences, sense of trust, belonging, safety and caring for each other that creates that feeling," - Heather Finley, Gravette Day chairwoman.

James, if you gave up your own income, how has this program been funded? What are some other ways people have supported you and the hunt? And, what’s some feedback you’ve received? “We’ve held raffles for creations, as well as other fundraisers. But, every cent we make goes into the production. I spent some time in the hospital this summer due to health issues and friends and members of the group rallied around me. Helping create and hide figures for the hunt. People drive into town to find my home so that we can take pictures together and thank me. Some have even waited for me and my family to finish dinner out somewhere so that they can say thank you. I get upwards of 200-300 messages a day to thank me, support me, and even report cheating,” James stated as he laughed. “I’ve hidden in the woods at 3am in a ghillie suit in order to remind people that the start time is 7am!” And sometimes when necessary, he’s had to remove “obstacles,” that hindered the hunt for others. But that’s not all James finds while out hiding his creations for kids. He’s also found gifts and thank you notes that people have left for him to find. The community is reciprocating his kindness. (The true impact of servant leadership is building more servant leaders)

What has the impact of this program been? “For me, it brings me joy and peace that I’ve always wanted. I’ve made mistakes in my life and this is my way of giving back. The smiles and laughs from kids and their parents is what makes this worth doing.” James went on to explain, “I want every kid to enjoy this. If they haven’t found anything after several days out hunting, their parents have contacted me and I’ve set up private hunts just for them.” But the impact of James’ servant heart doesn’t stop at smiles and laughter. James’ work has changed lives. As James told it, “a man recently messaged me to ask about the hunt and what it’s all about. He shared with me that he had gone into the woods to take his own life but stumbled upon one of my creations. He went home and looked up what this was all about and found me online. Now he makes them himself as well.” (Our gifts are tools for our purpose. As servant leaders, we must use those tools to serve and develop others)

But this phenomenon isn’t just isolated to a tiny corner of the state. People have come from as far away as Minnesota while on vacation in Texas. “They drove three hours out of the way to come here and hunt,” exclaimed creator James Killbreth. In addition, “Two school buses full of students from a school in Kansas City, KS drove down to allow their special needs students to hunt!”

James, what is your vision for, “The Hunt”: “The people coming into our community to hunt have really stimulated local economy. I’m hoping the city will get more involved next year.” But, the real vision that James has, is the exponential growth of the joy that can be shared. “I’m also working with the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Hospital to put together a hunt in the hospital for the children’s oncology unit. Those kids can’t get out and hunt due to their immune systems and sickness. So I’m going to create figures just for them and take the hunt to them.” James is also going to use his talents to supplement the local school system. “I’m working with Gravette schools as well to develop articulating figures of animals that can be used for special needs students to help them engage and learn.” (The impact of servant leadership has no boundaries)

My conversation with James ended with us both emotionally sharing revelations that we’ve had while discussing the hunt. I’ve personally had conversations with my own children that we will both remember for the rest of our lives. About such topics as diligence, perseverance, patience, and gratitude. James shared, “Maybe when it’s my time to go they’ll cremate me and put me in an urn shaped like a “pokeball” and say, “We finally caught him!” (As servant leaders, our servanthood is our legacy)

This week:

1.  Strengthen relationships with the people you love and lead.

2. Strengthen the culture of your family and organization by not taking no for an answer and if necessary, removing the obstacles that hinder that growth.

3.  Use your God-given skills as tools to serve others and to help develop more servant leaders.

4. The example of service you display and tolerate will be that which is exercised by the people around you.

5. The impact you have on others to develop as servant leaders is the legacy you leave behind.

Use this link to find out more about James and “The Great Pokemon Hunt” and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter as well. Pour into others, “wash feet,” and have a blessed week. Thank you James for the wonderful example of servant leadership you live out each day.