Free Youth Ministry Ideas

Crack-a-Grin:
When my son Garrett was little we used to like to take him for car rides. One day when
he was two, he asked his daddy, "Daddy, where are we going," His daddy said, "Crazy, do
you want to go?" The next day at home Garrett was crying in the front room while his dad
was laughing. I asked, "What's wrong", and Garrett sobbed loudly, "I want to go crazy."



Hot Topix:
A. National Day of Prayer is this Thursday on May 6th. With all the controversy surrounding the event and lack of support from our supposedly Christian President, we must stand strong and take the time on this day to be prayer warriors, alongside our teens. Keep the youth building open for a couple of hours after school so teens can come at their convenience to pray. Have some refreshments by the door that they can grab to take with them after they pray. Be bold and stand strong, our country needs all our prayers now more than ever.
B. Plugged In is a great event for your teens. Basically you will hold a lock in either overnight or for 4-5 hours. There will be no electronics or electricity allowed……no call phones, computers, electric lights, handheld gaming systems, etc. If you are holding the event at night, use candles or oil lamps (be extremely careful). Use the time with the teens to discuss what is important in life and staying focused on Gods Will for our lives, instead of allowing modern conveniences to keep us distracted. Get the teens to talking about how affected they are by these devices and help them come up with rules to live by in order to take control of these devices instead of allowing the devices to control them.

Stats-o-the-Week:
According to religioustolerance.org, today 75% of American adults identify themselves as Christians.
Thought to ponder: What does being a Christian really mean and why is this country drifting further and further from Christian morals?

Roughly 83 million Bibles are distributed globally each year, according to Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (2009).

Free Resources:



A. The Way of the Master – (www.wayofthemaster.com)
Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron have partnered together to encourage fellow Christians to get out and witness and to bring the unbelieving into a relationship with Christ. This website is full of tools and knowledge to grow your faith and that of your teens. Listen to audio lessons, street witnessing video clips, order materials, link to Ray Comfort’s blog, find out the station and time for their television show …and much more all on the website. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
B. Let Freedom Ring Ministries – (www.letfreedomringusa.com)
Get your kids involved in standing for and when old enough fighting for our constitutional freedoms. This website contains Jody Hice’s daily radio program which features the latest news dealing with our constitutional freedoms and how they can and do affect Christians. Also get informed regarding the Hope For America rallies. Our teens need to understand that we are fighting a war in this country to keep our constitutional freedoms from being taken away. They must realize what a blessing it is to freely attend church and that there may come a day where that is no longer a freedom we Christians have, which is why we must fight.
C. (Illustration) – “Are the things your living for worth Christ dying for?”

Encouragement for the Road:
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21

Free Youth Ministry Ideas

Welcome back my faithful youth leaders! As you can see this is not a regular post. In an effort to increase readership I have made some necessary changes in order to increase my rating for web crawlers. The new blog is Free Youth Ministry Ideas http://freeyouthministryideas.blogspot.com It is the new and much improved style and I look forward to seeing you there.

Free Youth Ministry Ideas

Hey followers! In an effort to increase readership I have changed my blogs name to Free Youth Ministry Ideas, so this will be the last post to this blog. I am still Youth Ministry Lite, just under a new name. Enjoy the blog and tell your friends.

Crack-a-Grin
A Sure Cure: Three pastors in the south were having lunch in a diner. One said, "You know, since summer started I have had trouble with bats in my loft and attic at church. I've tried everything..noise..spray...cats...nothing seems to scare them away." Another said, "Yeah, me too. I've got hundreds living in the belfry and and in the narthex attic. I've even had the place fumigated, and they won't go away." The third said, "I've baptized all mine, and made them members of the church....Haven't seen one back since."

Hot Topix
Most teens have a cell phone now days and the age at which one gets their first phone is getting younger and younger. I am 31 and I remember when my mum got her first cell phone. It was a top of the line.........BAG PHONE! I know you're smiling right now. Back then all you could do with a phone was place a phone call and this was in 93-94. I got my first phone during my first year of college in 98 and it was more for emergency than anything.
Today however, kids are getting a cell phone as young as twelve. Parents are not teaching their kids phone etiquette or requiring them to be responsible. Because of the lack of etiquette and boundaries set by the parents, tweens and teens are participating in risky and sinful behavior. Sexting is common among teens and can vary from a seductive pose with clothes on to full frontal nudity to sexual acts.
Teens do not understand that this behavior brands them among their peers and can create big problems down the road. Once a text is sent, a copy on the SIM card can be found even after deleting photo. Now days, employers are visiting applicant's Facebook and MySpace pages and many a potential employee has been skipped over because of their elicit pages.
Parents are good at sticking their heads in the sand and telling themselves that their child would never participate in such acts. The majority of times, that parents kids are the ones participating. As Youth Leaders, it is our responsibility to teach parents and teens about such hot topics and bridge the gap between the two generations. Research the subject and hold a discussion for your teens allowing them to share their thoughts and you to provide God's take on the subject.
Hold a meeting for the parents. Begin by asking them what sexting is and ask what safeguards they have put in place to deter there teens from participating. Come prepared with copies of a list of potential boundaries. Remind them that their kids may not like it now but they will thank them when they are older. LG, a cell phone manufacturer, is making a point to inform and teach parents about this topic, have them visit www.LGTextEd.com for the information.

Stat-o-the-Week
73% of American teens who are connected to the Internet, use Social Networking sites, such as Facebook and MySpace. A significant increase from the 2006 stat of 55%.

Free Resources
A. The Doug and Jon Show - www.thedougandjonshow.com; This website aims to reach teens and young adults with the gospel through humor. They have cartoon short videos, videos which they star in, a blog, and much more where they grapple with the question that matters most, "Is there a God?". The duo don't mind making fools of themselves, which your teens will enjoy.

B. Textmarks.com - With texting the most common form of communication now days among teens, this free service will allow you to send out mass messages about upcoming topics, special events, and so forth.

Scripture
"But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, being always ready for a defense to everyone who asks of you an account concerning the hope which is in you."

My Life
What stresses you out the most regarding your youth ministry?
a. Disruptive teens
b. Preparing my lessons
c. Recruiting volunteers
d. Getting the church to see the youth ministry as an important part of the churches program
** Send your answers to youthministrylite@yahoo.com with your choice in the subject line. Then check back next week for the results!

Thank you for supporting Free Youth Ministry Ideas. Tell your fellow leaders about the weekly blog and leave your comments and ideas! If you are looking for a speaker for your event, click on the Speaker Booking tab.

Youth Ministry Lite

Welcome Back Fellow Youth Ministry Geeks! Our first resource is the dvd lesson series "Youthbytes" which can be found at www.youthbytes.org. The series is great to use every now and then to give the teens something new. Each dvd consists of scripture and solid bible teaching. The teens can easily relate what they learn to their daily lives and they will get a few laughs in as well. You can have a free sample dvd sent to you and you can view small bytes of various videos on the website.
Everyone has seen the huge billboards along the highway saying, "I GEEK...." Our second resource is the illustration "I GEEK JESUS". Talk about the purpose behind the billboards, which is basically to coax the public to go to their public library and learn about whatever topic interests them. Let the kids know that this is the attitude every Christian should have when it comes to following Jesus. We must read our bibles to get to know Jesus and learn how we are to model our lives.
Next I want to talk a bit about what is going on in my life regarding youth ministry. I unfortunately had to leave my original church home due to conflicts in biblical foundations and other issues. We were a small church with an even smaller youth group, but we had kids who were faithful who came from various backgrounds. I did not want to leave them but God was clear in His will for me.
I spent many months praying and crying because my heart was broken.
I was serving as the "unofficial" Head Youth Leader because our Youth Pastor had left. I got a lot of hands on experience because the ministry had to continue and during that time, God taught me much. I know that there was purpose behind my being there because God led me to that church, but I had fulfilled what I was supposed to and it was time to move on. Now months later and several new churches having been "tested", I possibly may have found where God wants me.
This new church is also small and when it comes to Youth Ministry, they have a couple of volunteer adults so there is plenty of room for me and for the ministry to grow. I am naturally a person who thinks outside the box and is a go getter. I have been called to work with teens and to share my personal journey to Christ. I want to reach the teens who are turned off by church and who are hurting right here in my community.
I will keep you up to date on how things are going as I continue down this road. Serving God in any fashion can be difficult and it may mean leaving a church we don't want to and staying at one we would probably leave, if it were up to us. If you have had a similar experience, please leave a comment.

Youth Ministry Lite

Ok guys, I am back on schedule. I am going to be adding book and film reviews, along with some other things so please leave a comment and let me know what you like, what is helpful and what isn't! Let your colleagues know about my blog!
Our first resource is to hold a "Great Debate 2010", where you will allow teens to debate and discuss current hot topics that affect Christians. A couple of weeks prior to holding the debate, ask your teens to write down one topic they feel needs to be discussed. Choose which you want to use from there ideas and add with it topics you and your fellow leaders choose. I have listed below several which can be used if you do this soon. If you are reading this later on in the future, they will not be of use. Throw in a few philosophical questions, such as "What is commitment?" or "Define success." Prepare a list of comments and questions that you feel need to definitely be covered. Also have a couple of scriptures that go along with each topic. You want the teens to know where God stands on the issues. This will help you to control where the debate heads and keep it flowing.
Have the group set in a circle and let them know that only one person can talk at a time. You don't want a screaming fest. Also, do not let anyone bully or pick on another because of their views. Help them to respectfully discuss the issues and to think about the opposing view points and how to reach those who believe opposite of what the bible teaches on a subject. Make sure both sides to each topic is presented and share what the bible has to say on each.
A. Campbell County, Virginia - a young girl gave birth to her newborn and suffocated it. When authorities arrived the umbilical cord was still attached to the mother. Do to a loophole in the law, she can not be tried for murder because the baby was not completely separated from the mothers body.
a. How should Christians respond to this case as well as the loophole?
b. What can we do to get girls like this one to have the baby and give it up for adoption?
B. A mosque was recently opened up at Ground Zero.
a. Do you believe that Christians are being pushed to the side and that we are being silenced?
C. Allowing politicians to make immoral choices with no consequences.
a. What kind of example does this set for your generation?
b. Do you think those in charge should be held to a higher standard than they currently are?

Our second resource is the saying, "God is the God of 2nd chances."

Our third resource is the film, "To Save A Life". You can visit the website at www.tosavealifemovie.com. This is a film that every teen needs to see and then have a group discussion on it. So many teens are hurting and this film brings to light one teens story of dealing with a childhood friends death and dealing with life in general. Have a great week!

Youth Ministry Lite

Hey Gang!! Hope all is going well in your piece of the world. The more news I listen to the more I believe that Jesus will be returning very very soon. Today's generation is the hardest to reach thus far due to what they come into contact with on a daily basis. Our kids can not walk into a grocery store without seeing a magazine cover with a shirtless guy who is this years "sexiest" man alive or a young woman who is wearing a shirt so low that you can see a good portion of her upper extremities. We have to lean fully on God if we are to start a revolution for God among this generation. We must encourage one another and unite as one.
From now on, I will only be posting every other week. I have not been able to keep my commitment to this blog so I believe this will help. If you are using the ideas from this blog please leave a comment so I know it is making a difference. Our first resource will recall you to do little researching. It is called "Whats In A Name" and it is a game and lesson all in one. The key of the lesson will be that names are very important. Back in Biblical times, a person was named for the characteristics seen in them. Compile a list of good names and bad names along with their meanings. Put the names on a poster board, dry erase board, or somewhere the kids can read them. Give them a pen and paper, ask them to choose a couple of names that fit with their actions (what would their classmates choose) on one side of the paper. Let them know it's for their eyes only so be honest. Then have them choose a couple of names that they would like to represent them. Challenge them to work on becoming the person they would like to be, the person God made them to be and to hang their paper up at home as a reminder. Ask them how it is going after a couple of weeks, remember we are called to make disciples and that means keeping up on how our lessons are affecting or not affecting their lives.
Our second resource comes from a book I am currently reading through called, "A Theological Miscellany" by T.J. McTavish. Find a lesser known bible fact or figure and start your lesson off with it and allow the teens to comment or ask questions regarding it. Note: It doesn't have to relate to your lesson.
Resource three is the quote, "God always gives His best to those who leave the choice to Him."
Have a great couple of weeks and keep fighting the fight!

Christian Book Reviews