yOuTh MiNiStRy AdDiCtS yOu HaVe Come tO tHe RiGhT pLaCe FoR gReAt IdEaS aNd InSpIrATiOn!!!! Ok I am tired of typing like that..whew. I hope everyones week is going well, I know I have been slammed with work and checking items off my "To Do" list. I am also working on my first Youth Ministry book, which I am very excited about but I can say no more...for it is a secret!
On to our resources...Our first is a way to help bridge the gap between your teens and their parents by hosting a "What is MySpace and Facebook" seminar in which you act only as the guide and allow the teens to develop and lead a discussion on these two social networking sites. The point is to give your teens the opportunity the teach and at the same time teach the parents all they need to know about the sites which practically every teen uses. Make sure you allow time for Q & A.
Our second resource is a website in which to share with your teens, www.therebelution.com by Alex and Brett Harris. Ask your teens to visit the site and read or watch the latest blog entry, then the next time you meet, discuss the topic. It is a great way to turn your teens onto a great Christian website and its a great lesson idea.
As for our talk sparker this week, I want to talk about bridging the gap between the different generations in our churches. I have been reading the latest issue of Leadership Journal ministry magazine and that's where the idea comes from. What are you doing to bridge the gap? Are you making an effort to help the teens form relationships with older, more mature Christians? When teens do not have relationships throughout the church with a variety of generations, once they graduate high school they are more likely to leave the church.
So talk with your fellow leaders and Pastor about getting the teens involved in the running of the church. Some great examples of how to do this is have teens and adults serve together for a community service project. You will be amazed at how the Lord will work on both sides! Also, have teens serve as ushers, greeters, music, assisting with younger children, and so forth. That's all for now. Tell all of your fellow youth leaders about my column and if your interested in subscribing to my monthly Youth Ministry newsletter, which features this column and so much more get that info off of this site or leave a comment on this column. See ya!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Youth Ministry Lite
Welcome back youth ministry addicts! Our first resource this week is a film that received high marks at the San Antonio Independent Film Festival, The Widow's Might. The film was written and directed by a home schooled young man and tells a heartwarming tale about pulling together to help those in need. It is a film that every youth group should watch and it can be used as a precursor to a community service activity.
For our second resource we have a lesson idea which centers around criticism, which is hard for most to take and is rarely given with love in the heart. Have your teens think about the previous two days and ask them to list anything they criticized. You may need to give them a couple of examples to get them going, such as what mom cooked for dinner or the clothes a kid in my class wore. From here discuss the positive role criticism can play as well as the negative role and how it affects the person receiving it. Ask your teens to think about Chris Criticism, the guy who is always criticizing something or someone. Ask them: Do you think anyone will want to be around him? What consequences are there to your criticisms?
Teach your students about appropriate times and ways to offer criticism. At the end of the lesson challenge them to participate in a criticism fast until you meet again. Encourage them to keep notes of when they slip up, what they said, and why they shouldn't have said it or how they could have said it differently. At your next meeting ask them how it went, did they struggle to not be so critical, and give them some ways to become a less critical person.
For our talk sparker I want us to briefly discuss growing relationships with our students. It is vital for us to forge a relationship with every student in our ministry. It doesn't take a whole lot to do this. Some of the key ways to do this, as I have found, are keeping in touch with them via email/facebook/myspace, always greet every student by name and add a personal touch such as, "How is soccer practice going?" Make sure you are calling on and treating everyone equally and be willing to hang around after class to talk with them. They are yearning for love and we need to insure they are receiving that love at youth group!
For our second resource we have a lesson idea which centers around criticism, which is hard for most to take and is rarely given with love in the heart. Have your teens think about the previous two days and ask them to list anything they criticized. You may need to give them a couple of examples to get them going, such as what mom cooked for dinner or the clothes a kid in my class wore. From here discuss the positive role criticism can play as well as the negative role and how it affects the person receiving it. Ask your teens to think about Chris Criticism, the guy who is always criticizing something or someone. Ask them: Do you think anyone will want to be around him? What consequences are there to your criticisms?
Teach your students about appropriate times and ways to offer criticism. At the end of the lesson challenge them to participate in a criticism fast until you meet again. Encourage them to keep notes of when they slip up, what they said, and why they shouldn't have said it or how they could have said it differently. At your next meeting ask them how it went, did they struggle to not be so critical, and give them some ways to become a less critical person.
For our talk sparker I want us to briefly discuss growing relationships with our students. It is vital for us to forge a relationship with every student in our ministry. It doesn't take a whole lot to do this. Some of the key ways to do this, as I have found, are keeping in touch with them via email/facebook/myspace, always greet every student by name and add a personal touch such as, "How is soccer practice going?" Make sure you are calling on and treating everyone equally and be willing to hang around after class to talk with them. They are yearning for love and we need to insure they are receiving that love at youth group!
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