I like lists. I like youth groups. (Yesterday's youth group post was evidence of that) I also like giving free books away. So when the folks at Moody said I could give you five free copies of the book, “YOUthwork
: 99 practical ideas for youthworkers, parents and volunteers” I said hooray.The contest is going to be simple. Post a comment by Tuesday, August 18th with an answer to the question below to win a copy of this book by Don Pearson and Paul Santhouse. I’ll pick the five most awesome answers. Here’s the question:
What youth group related topic is still missing from Stuff Christians Like?
That’s it. Write a short comment with one idea. Write a long one with ten. This is your chance to say, “Here’s a youth group idea you’ve failed to write about yet on Stuff Christians Like.” And you could win a free book.
Ready?
What youth group related topic is still missing from Stuff Christians Like?
How about the *insert Youth Group name* Poster Child.
ReplyDeleteHe has the youth group's logo as his Facebook profile, can be found at the church every waking moment, involved in every event. Everyone calls this kid with any/all questions of upcoming events, requests for rides to any/all said upcoming events as they know he will be going......they even contact him to find out what other youth group kids are doing over the weekend because he is always in the know (although he is never included in the plans).
Unfortunately he sometimes gets taken advantage of due to his overly eager-to-please trait.
Girls might manipulate him to introduce them to one of the worship band guys. He is the one who is called to do the "gopher jobs" during all the great social activities or has to clean up and lock up church after Friday night youth services and misses out on the group meeting for pizza or a movie.
He might like to back out of some of these situations/responsibilities but due to his lack of self confidence....he is afraid that he will lose this position of being the youth group "Go-To" guy.
I don't honestly know but I wouldn't mind having a chance to win one of those books.
ReplyDeleteHow about a post on possible youth group kick-back schemes? The most obvious one would be the t-shirt industry. Seriously, our youth group doesn't go out to a movie without a printed tshirt declaring that the event occured and making that event sound monumental. I'm sure there are numerous other possible kick-back schemes out there.....
ReplyDeleteYouth and money, i.e. their spending habits.
ReplyDeletehave you posted on the phenomenon of the way the youth group shrinks and grows within days depending on what kind of activity is going on? Trip to a theme park? HUGE group. Sunday morning sunday school? NOT so huge.
ReplyDeleteHow about youth group fundraisers in general? For money needed to attend outreach camps, mission trips, etc. You could cover any of the following:
ReplyDeleteSpaghetti dinners
Auctions (esp. for students' labor - that is, babysitting, snow shoveling, leaf raking, etc.)
Bake sales
"Youth Sunday" offering collections, usually marked by the youth group singing and doing corny hand motions.
Etc.....
---
There is also the idea of the single and bitter youth group leader. This guy/gal might be biding time until "the one" arrives in his/her life, but in the meantime professes to anyone who will listen that he/she is totally cool and comfortable with singleness, and in fact may be called to singleness. A particular hallmark of this stereotype is their overobsession with discouraging the 15, 16, and 17 year olds from dating, kissing, hand-holding, or generally pondering the opposite sex, as they aren't old enough to marry ergo should put the idea of romance out of their heads altogether - real underlying motive involving a dash of jealousy that these "kids" are finding chemistry like change under couch cushions while the youth leader is suffering a frustratingly romantically fallow period in life.
How about:
ReplyDelete"Believing that giving away a car/new TV/4.0 for the rest of high school is equivalent to saving souls"?
As evidenced by the essential youth group cast additions we know there is always a klutz...I was one. I wasn't allowed to play in many a youth group game because of this!
ReplyDeleteEveryone knows that youth games are the greatest things. The mind of an awesome youth pastor knows no boundary in the creation of games. But what about the new youth pastor or that intern trying to show just how much they love Jesus?
I think that SCL needs a guide to creating the perfect game. What should one add or make sure not to include.
I will probably be posting more than once as I think of ideas...
ReplyDeleteBut how bout Youth Leader burnout...
Also Youth fundraisers - youth selling food,etc. tickets to that...
Youth Stayawakes...
But more is coming...Will get there soon...
Also I've noticed in many churches there is an area where the youth sit (instead of with their families),and can be very embarrasing if you by accident sitt here.
Youth Group fundraisers that strike fear into chuch members(i.e. "flocking the yards with plastic flamingoes, Valentine's Banquents hosted by the youth, etc)
ReplyDeleteThe Church Lock-In! (or maybe my church was the only one to attempt this catastrophe...)
ReplyDeleteI'm not entering for the book, but I just want to second Chandre's comment on the special seating for the youth. Always towards the front, but still I didn't pay attention while sitting there.
ReplyDeleteHow 'bout the Youth Pastor Gross-Out Syndrome?
ReplyDeleteIt works like this: The YP asks for volunteers to come up front. Eager to be embarrassed, the daring young teens head up there not quite knowing what they're getting themselves into.
Ahhhh, a blender drink contest. Peanut butter, herring, yogurt, sauerkraut, taco dip, and finally the ever-slimy hot dog. Whirl it around for a few minutes, pour it into plastic cups and whoever doesn't puke wins!
(Each teen gets his/her own puke bucket of course)
The stages of life for a youth minister.
ReplyDeleteTypes of youth workers.
Unreal qualifications for a youth minister. All the things he must be able to do and be good at.
Types of youth parents. Should be very funny.
List of appropriate movies you can show at a youth ministry event and why they are appropriate.
Thanks for what you do. The laughs are needed.
How about a post concerning youth group skit teams? When I was in YG, we did what we called "human videos" to popular Christian songs. Our favorite was to "Arise My Love" by Newsong--a skit in which we all did sign language-like motions to the words. At the end, our zealous skit team leader came out dressed as Jesus (as if he'd just risen from the grave) wielding a flaming sword. Every time we did this skit at other churches or youth rallies, we were sure that 10s of people got saved. We were also sure that God had smiled with favor upon us, since no one's hair caught on fire.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if you can relate to this, but skit team was the bread and butter of my YG experience.
What about the way every church's youth ministry renames everything every few years? The youth building, the midweek meeting, Sunday School...In the 10 years I've volunteered in our student ministry I've been called a Sunday school teacher, a "connect" leader and a shepherd. This is SCL gold right here.
ReplyDeleteAs a youth pastor I second the Reign of Ellen. The Lock-In, or All Nighter, is the single dumbest event in youth ministry.
ReplyDeleteWe come up with all kinds of reasons to have them: building unity, an sweet themed contest, get kids to grow in their relationship to Christ, etc. Really, by 1:30 am we all remember why we hate these things and why they are a terrible idea.
treating youth pastors like NBA coaches (expecting big results and then canning them within 2 years when the youth group is less than championship caliber)
ReplyDeletespilling punch on the Jones Memorial Carpet - this is a Mike Yaconelli-ism that describes when kids goofing around at church break or ruin some "sacred" part of the building much to the chagrin of church members. Yac said that if you did this often enough, your church was doing something right (reaching out to kids).
I think we should have a post about cool youth group names.
ReplyDeleteIdeas for an essential list for a cool youth group name:
1. Modern spellings/language - Because correct spelling just isn't cool anymore. ex. Uth 4 J-Sizzle
2. The use of fire - Every good youth group name needs to talk about fire. I once heard someone say we're essentially raising up a generation of "flamers"... ex. FireUth, the Firehouse, etc.
3. The acronym - Absolutely essential for an awesome youth group name. ex. RADICAL (Relentless And Determined In Creating Awesome Lives)
4. The edgy one-word name - two words is too long. ex. RADICAL; AFTERSHOCK; AXIS; UNPLUGGED; etc.
I'm sure you could have a good time thinking of a few more.
Thanks for what you do in making ministry more enjoyable!
OT, but @faith: when the youth group my son attended on the side at another church had something "sacred" (i.e. "expensive") broken, they decided they could no longer afford to host it. It was an outreach ministry whose stated purpose was to evangelize to the unchurched kids of the community, but apparently their lost souls were not worth the price of a low-end guitar. Evangelism at it's finest.
ReplyDeleteHere are a few:
ReplyDelete1. "Underground Church"
2. "Progressive Dinners"
3. Inventing new sports games. I volunteered at a youth group in Gainesville, FL, where one of the high schoolers invented a game involving several Barney dolls being tossed across a soccer field at one time... very surreal.
4. Youth choir: letting all the drama of youth group spill out in music practice.
5. See You at the Pole: suddenly, there are hundreds of Christians on campus, who can't be bothered to get together any other day of the year.
6. Being the only kid in your youth group who goes to your high school. This was me; thank you magnet programs...
7. Youth group dinner theater.
8. Youth retreat hazing
9. Youth pastors being stuck in the 70's. I guess they're stuck in the 80's, now.
10. The unofficial youth group band. The 4 guys (+1 token chick) who practice in a garage and offer to play at every youth worship service.
i never liked youth group. everyone was too fake for my liking. and too athletic. i don't LIKE volleyball and flag football...ultimate frisbee is okay though.
ReplyDeletedid we discuss youth pastor/youth pastor's wife stereotypes? both extremely athletic, wife can sing, husband can play guitar, kid coming is a plus.
What about the instability that ensues in youth group when the regime changes? The “getting a new youth director” phenomenon.
ReplyDeleteLoyalties divide up between those youth who miss the old leader and the few revolutionaries who are happy for the change – and it gets messy. There are tearful, overly emotional slideshows at goodbye parties and cards to be signed by everyone – shoot, I wish leaving my job at the office got such hullabaloo.
Then the new leader comes bounding in (literally sometimes) and the turmoil of “but Dave didn’t do it that way” or “this year’s mud fight was so much cooler than last year’s” begins.
It takes a while for the new leadership to regain stability, but I suppose it’s just a part of the office…I mean job.
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ReplyDeleteHow to affectionately welcome a new leader: TP, vaseline, forks and pickles. (and the address of their house)
ReplyDeletePart two: How to recover your affectionate welcome to save your reputation (doughnuts, lighters to burn up the TP, goo gone, LOTS of paper towels and strong glutes)
Part three: how to properly document all three pieces and then make the pictures the background for all the worship lyrics on Sunday morning
Need advice on this? See me. :) We had a creative and oh so loving youth group at Johnson Ferry Baptist in Marietta
Stuff Christians Like: Praying for unsaved youth to come to youth group and then complaining when they do.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise known as the "We want you to know Christ but first you must put out your cig & stop riding your skateboard in the sanctuary" phenomenon.
(I'm surprised Nick the Geek hasn't chimed in with this one, I hear he's a bit of an expert in this area).
Also: The youth room. Always the coolest place in the church but usually the most disgusting / eye sore. Why can the church spend $15,000 on chandeliers for the chapel but not be willing to spring for a 2k youth room re-do? (True story). Can we at least get rid of the rats? Johnny is still foaming at the mouth...
How about a post on the awkwardness of a kid having his/her parents come along on a trip.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of awkwardness, a post about youth group kids dating each other might be appropriate. Parents even encourage this (You know, little Billy, I hear that Bible carrying Barbara is available!) Everyone else in the youth group might even give them a Brangelina type nickname (Bilbara?? in the example above). Then, and here is where we get to the awkward part...they break up and it pretty much divides the youth group for a couple of months. For upcoming trips, you'll either have "him and his friends" or "her and her friends."
Not that I speak from experience or anything *sigh*
A few more ideas (my apologies if some of these have already been done):
-Church van breakage. How's this for a fund raising idea: Cash for Clunkers.
-Perhaps you could provide a "Top 10 answers for that dreaded question." I (and I'm sure full-time youthworkers everywhere) often am asked a question: "Dude, what do you do all day." Over the year I have provided many answers, For some reason they never like my answer. Maybe you could help me with a satisfiable answer. (Like c'mon, man. I read and comment on SCL all day. What else would I ever want to do?)
-You could always do a post on one of the hardest things for a youthworker to do: diet.
After all, if you tell the kids that you'll be serving Bulgar wheat salad, Fiber-One Bars, and water then you might as well tell them to show up late with food already in their bellies. But give me a break, We have pizza half the time (mostly because it's cheap and easy), Sonic ice-cream runs after class, those "belly-bomb burgers" they serve at the bowling alley, and stopping at Taco Bell on the way to camp...don't these kids know I'm trying to shed some pounds!?!?!?
We've all heard of prayer retreats, but maybe I should get to work on a "fasting retreat" for my group. Problem solved!
I agree that the youth room itself is ripe for humor. Do you choose an overall theme? Does it have anything to do with where you are geographically located, or is it OK to have a "surf shack" in Oklahoma? Do you just slap some posters up (preferably those that are free from the Christian record label)? Maybe you pretend to let the kids lead the design team, but actually find ways to tone it down. Do you get to buy new things, or is everything scavenged from a storage closet or somebody's house. Are there mice in the sofa cushions? Finally, does the design change every time there is a change in youth pastors?
ReplyDeleteHow about the youth sunday camp testimonies? At with my church's youth, it because a few kids all saying that camp was "good" and not much else.
ReplyDeleteAlso, dumb youth games. Whether it is passing a lifesaver from person to person using only your teeth and a toothpick ( true story from HS youth camp) or using an dead fish as a baton for a relay (sadly, this is also true), it is sure to provide some interesting and awkward moments with some member of the youth group.
How about the mandatory sermons that every youth pastor must give to his youth group each year?
The "trendy" youth pastor.
ReplyDeleteWhy do they all seem to have a soul patch?
Here are a few of the things about the single youth pastor.
ReplyDeleteThey like students more than their peers.
Engaging with students is easy even in a group of 100s, engaging in a converstation with 10 peers imposible.
Wondering if they are just waiting for one of thier students to turn 18 so they can finally date.
Maybe this is too specific to the one I currently know.
The Blue Hair Mafia ending the playing of "secular" music at youth events or trips.
ReplyDeleteThe Ultimate Superhero Quiz for youth ministers. If FB can tell me what Veggie Tale Character I am, surely you can tell me if my youth minister is Aquaman or Green Lantern.
When gross out skits make youth pass out and when other youth devotion illustrations go horribly wrong.
Youth group speed dating.
ReplyDeleteCliques for every youth group
Cool events that are so far from cool it isn't funny ... ok it is funny but not to the youth.
Worst youth games ever
Day in the life of a youth pastor (I think I just got an idea)
To Chris Petter: Hear hear on the trying to lose pounds while in ministry...I'm a children's pastor surrounded by buckets of candy on a weekly basis - not to mention the obligatory trip to McDonald's on the way to camp; the pizza party at the last Christmas play rehearsal; and cute little kids with big Precious Moments-esque eyes coming up to me, "Pastor Leanne, will you buy some cookie dough so that my school can afford to serve something other than gruel in the cafeteria?"
ReplyDeleteOkay...on topic: How about the super strict parents who are suddenly "called" to serve as youth leaders when their precious children join the youth group, but are mysteriously "led" to another ministry when junior graduates or loses interest? This is also the leader who tends to give the most fervent "say no to sex" lectures and/or describes in great detail what they [or their husband, if it's a mom!] will do as a parent if any punk ever tries anything with their daughter...
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ReplyDeleteWell I was told as a youth by my youth pastor that he could tell by looking at my face that I wasn't living for Christ... devastating blow to a 16 year old... always wanted to know why he thought he knew that.
ReplyDeleteWhat facial expressions should youth stay away from? Which one was my downfall?
Inter youth group dating.
ReplyDeleteThe youth group "player" - has dated nearly every girl in the youth group. He probably plays guitar.
Missionary daters - the girls who date non-Christians and hide that non-Christian status from the rest of the youth group, brushing off questions with, "Oh, he's Catholic."
The single youth leader you secretly think might have a thing for a student or two.
The legendary youth group couple that has been dating for years. The youth group divides when the break-up comes.
So much more could be said. Youth group dating is an endless topic.
How about the infamous YOUTH GROUP HOUSE BUILDING MEXICO TRIP... aka. Makeout fest... aka... diarrhea all week long... aka sick, mangled dogs on the side of the road... aka 60 re-dedications... aka 4 hour line at the boarder...
ReplyDeletehow i love Mexico trips.
Two words: Snipe. Hunts.
ReplyDeleteThankfully, I never went on one. I can't stand the humiliating idea, which I finally pestered someone enough to tell me so I wouldn't fall prey to it. That, and my church is in suburban SoCal, so there are no rural places to go and do this... unless you wanna drive for 2 hours one way in any direction.
Also (SPOILER HERE): There IS such a thing as a Snipe. Its a bird from the waterfowl category. Don't believe me? Look it up here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Snipe. (If you just had yourself way too vindicated or crushed, don't say I didn't warn you...)
This could be a short list: things students won't eat or things kids won't eat for hundreds of thousands of "points."
ReplyDeleteTips and tricks on how not to lose kids at theme parks or other off-campus outings.
Other church members' beliefs about youth. (I suspect the reason I have never seen the head custodian at my church smile in my direction is because he knows I was a youth ministry intern.)
College-age youth workers.
Free t-shirts. Does a youth pastor ever need to spend a cent on new t-shirts?
Or how about some good news from the youth group front? Like about the ways youth are impacting the Kingdom.
7 steps to surviving youth group break ups.
ReplyDeleteRules for YP dating younger girl/guy.
Top 10 Youth Group Movies, and the analogies that scripture over-looked.
Wow, I joined this party late...
ReplyDeleteThe church lock-in is a good thought..as are different youth worker types
What about the healing powers of the conga line.
and an exhaustive explanation of snipe hunting should be done. as well as the rules for shotgun, church van rides were always more pleasant in the front seat.
Random Story: I once was on a trip with RA's and got vomitted on. I smelled like beef jerky and bigred for a few days....
Easy,
ReplyDeleteWednesday night youth volleyball
A Southern Baptist tradition
youth group censorship 101 for youth pastors...how to make sure that parents don't find out about you getting pulled over in the church van, slipping out a cuss word at a kid, or otherwise doing things that might cost you your job.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Easter Sunday? At Easter, the youth group is so large it isn't even funny. There's always some kid reading a poem or singing a solo that you've never seen before, and will probably never see again until next Easter. Their purpose is to show off their new Easter outfit and to get an Easter basket or candy, whatever the church is giving away on that day. I guess you would call this youth group The Holiday Attenders.
ReplyDeleteHow about the people who never move out of the youth group? Like the 30 year old that is still hanging out with the youth.
ReplyDeleteThe really pretty, flirty girl that all the guys love but all the girls hate. Maybe becaue I'm a chick I'm in the loop on this one. Still, I'm telling you there's one in every group. It would be funny to do "A Youth Group Meeting in the life of Abcd." How does she plan her outfits, makeup, crying spirts, etc. to attract the most attention. THEN how the girls who are on to her retaliate. Just so you know, I was in the retaliation group and I was a stealth.
ReplyDeleteSecret make out coves at the church. A youth worker's guide on how to find them.
ReplyDelete@ Stacy From Louisville
ReplyDeletewouldn't the secret makeout coves be next to the secret bathrooms?
Topic 3:00AM during youth all-nighters. This is the magical time of the night when the youth are pushing past sleep deprivation. The solution, some kind of crazy impossible game or quite the opposite...conversations that tend to be more deep than any youth lesson given
ReplyDeleteHow about:
ReplyDeleteThe backslidden couple who make out in the church van on the way to community clean up/missions trip/carwash...
OR
The only kid in the youth group with a car and job, hence the one giving rides home and buying dinner after youth group, in Jesus' name...
Along with what "Matt" and some others said above...
ReplyDeleteStereotypical YG names, like On The Edge or any old thing dressed up with an "X" in it or followed with at least three !!!
!!!
Games that send people to the hospital or "Ode to Red Rover."
ReplyDeleteI don't have the burn-out, I'm very sure of my calling. I suffer from sick-of-having-to-do-it-all-because-all-the-other-workers-know-we-have-no-life-and-will-always-be-there. Take tomorrow for example...EVERY Youth teacher will be gone tomorrow but my husband and I. Nice. Including the Youth Minister.
ReplyDeleteI love my job, but having to constantly fill in all the time gets tiring.
Or the teachers that get PAID to do this job?? I've heard RUMORS that this happens...seriously? I'd love to know the answer to that one! Is that a real thing? LOL
I'd just LOVE LOVE LOVE that book! I need all the help I can get!
my youth pastor in high school had this thing about "swapping sheep" which is basically when students start visiting around to other youth groups.
ReplyDeleteThis takes place for a number of different reasons: members of the opposite sex, insurmountable cliques, the other group has better "worship music" (in other words, the other group has a hotter/cooler worship leader) etc.
Don't forget about the "Naming the Youth Group Contest" with a wicked cool name so when inviting friends you don't have to say... "Hey do you want to come to youth group or church?" Instead you can say... "Hey do you want to go to.... ***insert new yg name here***?"
ReplyDeleteThe checklist to surviving the all night event at the local go-kart track is definately missing.
ReplyDeleteOr better yet, maybe we need a scoring system to determine if you actually are sane after surviving the fun event.
Sorry if you've already mentioned this-
ReplyDeletePainting the youth room black and pretending it doesn't look like a club.
Also known as-
"the best way to tick off the deacons"
The awesomeness that is the side hug!
ReplyDeleteThe Awkwardness of telling a Leader that Modest is hottest, and all the boys are checking the leader out.
ReplyDeleteYouth group bands and how BAD some of the talent is. Sure they have heart. But pitch would be nice too. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, and I'm a youth minister...and in charge of the band. And guilty.
This is what every youth group doesnt need:
ReplyDeleteCollege Kids who refuse to grow up
As a youth pastor I have 10 college students who come in and are a huge distraction every summer and major holiday that they choose to bless us with their presence. These are the kids whose parents are deacons but they get drunk every weekend and slowly pull the HS seniors down because they look up to the college kids. The sad part is you cant say anything because their father is deacon...hooray church politics...boo my negative attitude this morning...sorry
I think the Wise Young Sage needs to be on the list. Generally a guy in his junior or senior year who, like Mother Hen, seems far beyond his few years. His parents probably named him prophetically after a strong Biblical character (ours' was named Aaron). All the young men who actually like Jesus (and aren't just there for the girls, but maybe those guys too) look up to him and aspire to be him. All the young women who actually like Jesus (and aren't just there to find guys to make out with that are parentally acceptable because "I met him at youth group," but maybe these girls too) sit down to write their "qualities for my future Godly husband" but only write the Sage's name at the top of the list, desperately hoping there's another another one out there. He also holds the "he's like my big brother" position in the heart of 97.5% of the youth group. His spiritual disciplined-ness shocks all in his small group; he appears to have the prayerful faith of Daniel, the leadership capabilities of Moses (post exodus, anyway), the steadfast conviction of Paul, the work ethic of, um, someone who works hard(?), the prayer life of David, and quite possibly the physical strength of Samson, all with the humility of a man who has just been reprimanded and set straight by his donkey. Mission trips are filled with leaders sighing with relief "oh Jesus, thank you for letting the Sage be here to help me." Half-hour small group meetings are nothing but a fluff of nonsense while the group waits for the Sage's mouth to open and outpour a brief but endlessly deep word of wisdom and revelation. Surely this young man has a fault-- only one has been found thus far, the fact that he will grow old and go off to college to study youth ministry, leaving his current youth group feeling satisfied that the Sage is doing what he is clearly destined to do, but heart broken and sick to their stomachs at the idea that one of the remaining will have to step up and fill his void!
ReplyDeleteNot quite sure I understand the question...
ReplyDeletebut missing topics-
-why the youth leader has to be a young married man, never a woman (gasp!), or older person. Must.be.a young. man.
cause we all know women cant lead spiritually...
- limiting parent participation in youth group being suppliers of food and once every few years for "parent on the spot" night and to mandatory parent meetings in august that provide no useful information. certainly we wouldnt want EVERYONES parents to be involved in any way. Parents going on trips must be limited to the paretn with the cool van or winnebago or truck, the pastors wife, the suck up who sucks up to the youth pastors wife and THATS it folks
-How about how the youth get in groups and pray for the sick but NEVER-and I mean NEVER visit their own high schools friends in the hospital that are there with serious illnesses....like they might catch cancer--praying is good but any other support than the requisite giant card signed from "everyone" is taboo. Wouldnt want to really minister to a fellow youth group member while they are sick, but praying man, praying is good
-How about youth members being roped in to help with VBS when clearly they dont want to be there but they get volunteer hours for high school-too bad God doesnt offer volunteer hours
-how about the sofas in the youth room? They were going to be thrown out but then the family remembered the youth room needed them.
-
Oh yeah forgot one-the youth leader who volunteers to accompany the youth member on their altar call walk-kind of like-you know you need to go dude and I am calling you out but at the same time I want to appear spiritually better than you-so if you know what is right you will be walking tonight...
ReplyDeleteMy current favorite for SCL: telling unmarried men and females that while they're definitely well-qualified, the church is going with someone, well, married (and male). (as a female with a youth ministry major from a conservative christian college, this one gets me every time).
ReplyDeleteOr... have you talked yet about the youth leaders that wait until the day kids graduate high school to ask them on a date? (i've seen this too many times to count and not throw up a little in my mouth)
And... a personal favorite... when the youth pastor has to leave for "undisclosed, but non-sexual issues." We all knew he was having sex with the girl in youth group. Lying to the youth makes it no better.
Or... "Hey kids, unmarried sex is really not good; it's awkward and your friends don't really like it anyway." Great idea guys... then, when they DO have sex and realize they DO like it and the church lied about that, they'll wonder everything else the church lied to them about...
What to do when your youth pastor is addicted to Twitter and coffee. LOL.
ReplyDeleteThe Youth group all-nighter.
ReplyDeleteIn one group one year we stayed up until 7 am by going to Boomers for a few hours, mcdonalds at 3 am, and then rollerskating. I think we did more, cant remember.
With my last youth group-my youth pastor would take us to magic mountain all day and then we'd go back to church (of course-stopping by a gas station on the way to buy snacks) and then make us stay up all night and play games like hide and go seek and dodgeball. Many of us were not so awake the next morning in service.
Like the rest of you, I've also spent many years in youth min; but it wasn't until I stepped away that I had some good chances to ponder all the silly things I did & saw in that chaotic, beautiful mess that has become the North American Youth Ministry model:
ReplyDelete(some of these are original topic ideas, and some are me voting for other peoples' ideas)
-----------------
1) "Instant Y.G. Name Creater!"
(props to matt)
- Name must be one word, and a noun (exception: extra points for "The")
- noun must be as dynamic as possible w/o actually being on fire
- (exception to 1st rule: "On Fire/En Fuego")
- txt splng 4 wrds tht dnt nd 2 b shrtnd (ie: "The Jrny,")
- random insertions of Z or Y
- and so on...
------------------------
2) vote for Trey's Stages of YP's life
-----------------------
3) "Essentials of the big, loud, expensive outreach project!"
- inflatables
- skateboard ramps
- exponential ratio of decibals to number of angry neighbors
- dynamic, "I-was-once-like-you- but-did-drugs-and-had-sex-now-turn-your-life-around" speaker
- hot local Christian rock band (usually only local Christian rock band)
- a king's ransom in Mt. Dew
- videos of Xtreme sports at every turn
- posters placed around town/schools
- leader discussion of how to handle resulting flood of new convertants
- chance of seeing any of those kids again? 0%-.01%
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4) "congreg.-assigned YG chores"
- youth choir
- sermon-enhancing skits (esp. Christmas
- childcare during business mtgs
- VBS volunteer pool
- backup Nursery worker/ Su.Sch.teacher pool
- worship team instrumental talent
-----------------------
5) "Threats to your survival of The Lock-In"
(mine and many others' idea)
- contraband caffeine
- much student purpling
- much volunteer purpling
- two words: shaving cream
- it goes on like that...
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I just discovered your blog today. Oh how I wish I'd found it long, long ago!!
ReplyDeleteHow about the topic "God Loves You the Way You Are But Doesn't Like What You Do".
Seems to be that youth are told how much God loves them, yet they don't know what SIN is.
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ReplyDelete"You know that your accepted as youth pastor once your house has been tee peed."
ReplyDeleteIn the world, we'll often see tee peed houses, forked yards, and all sorts of things that we'll obviously assume are gifts from one enemy to another.
But in the world of youth groups this means something entirely different. If your a youth pastor and wake up one morning and wonder why not as much light is coming into your house and you open your door to see only the unending white of toilet paper. You must realize one thing. You have now been welcomed as youth pastor.
In some cultures it is customary to give gifts, or eat a meal or shake hands. But in the youth group culture, the most welcoming gift they can give you is a house covered in toilet paper. Or a front yard full of plastic forks.
So if your a youth pastor with low self esteem, and you think your youth group doesn't like you. You have to ask your self one question; "Have I been tee peed?". And if that answer is yes, well good work, you have successfully been accepted into the youth group tribe.
Someone may have mentioned one of these...
ReplyDeleteYouth Group break-ups - Who gets custody? Custody of certain events, sides of the room, even the youth group itself. And what to do when the YP inevitably forces you to interact after the break-up reinforcing his "no dating" in youth group rule.
The old YP is in town for 5 minutes and everyone goes crazy, what's the new guys name again? Giving the new youth pastor a break.
If I don't tell me youth pastor about the guy/girl I am dating then I probably should be dating him/her? It's okay that they don't love Jesus I will be a witness to him/her by not going to youth group as much as I used to. These kids drive me crazy.
Showing up on the YP doorstep whenever we want. Showing up two hours early for an event. Why can't I ever hang out in my pj's anymore!!!
And why you never volunteer to eat a twinkie in youth group and other totally disgusting games. (Mc Donald's in a blender, restuffed hotsauce twinkies, etc)
the children of employees, workers and multiple service attendees. they know all the answers (if not the point) of all the questions and for most part are totally bored. they're always my most fun group when we don't have a class especially for them.
ReplyDeleteA few ideas:
ReplyDeleteThe mandatory "I have to share the Gospel" Wednesday night youth meeting
The kid who picks his nose and eats it (there's always at least one)
Bad powerpoints
The Maccas (McDonald's) run after youth events- why is it after we have a seriously spiritual event and God meets our deepest needs, do we feel the need to fill ourselves with junk food? It's like there's a God-sized hole in all of us that only He can fill... but he can't fill the Big Mac sized hole? (My husband and I pastor a youth church, and it can be a really intense time when people encounter God, and then we always feel like going home and watching a DVD- so I guess it's not just the youth :) )
ReplyDeletehow about the youth retreat's saturday night cry-fests?
ReplyDeleteI love how everyone feels like the youth department is the drop off place for all objects that are ugly, dated, or broken (but can be fixed). Even though it didn't sell at the garage sale, or wasn't picked up off the curb despite the "Free to a good owner" sign on it.
ReplyDeleteCase in point: my church built a new sanctuary after 20 years - guess where the old sanctuary carpet went. Ding, ding, ding...that's right - the youth room!
college student leader that still acts like they are in high school.
ReplyDeleteor...
that token student we youth leaders have in our group....the one that never ceases to call or text...or facebook...or find any other method of communication to talk to us at all hours of the day. (true story)
There are a number of things for youth to be involved in: missions (local and overseas), prayer (house of prayer, weekly prayer chains), outreach in the community and local schools, inter-denominational / combined church meetings (including concerts or weekend events). And so on.
ReplyDeleteYouth involvement is a huge topic and one that could never be covered in a single blog post, as I'm sure there are many stories that you have heard or experienced yourself. I know that most of the readers on here would be able to share their own stories regarding youth outreach and activity. Even taking one of those (eg. prayer), I'm sure you could fire up the youth bus and take us along for a very eventful and entertaining ride.
Peace.
I'd love to hear about the Youth Group parents. I'm one of them. What's goes on at youth group? Why won't my kids tell me? The Youth Minister seems so nice...why do some of my kids adore and others despise him/her? Can we get an actual youth to guest post(sorry, Jon, but aging out of youth group is a Good thing)And why does my daughter want a t-shirt that says "May I water your camels?" One can never be ready for teens. Never.
ReplyDeletePost-summer youth group rift. You see when half the youth group return after spending a full summer working at camp together there is a tension in the air. The inside jokes from camp become awkward. The non-camp group holds a serious grudge since they had to get real summer jobs that actually pay. Tan jealously. Overly righteous "I spent the summer with God" attitudes. And until about mid-October the youth pastor is stuck trying to patch up the friendship that seem to have dissolved.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm...how about what to do when a member or members of your youth group has/have a crush on you the youth leader?
ReplyDeleteI haven't been privileged enough to read all of your entries as I just got started reading, but I did a quick search and discovered that you haven't talked much about fundraising. I'm a youth group alum, and we always had very interesting ways of raising money for whatever we were doing. Here are a few we tried:
ReplyDelete1. Car washes - the boys were allowed to take their shirts off, but the girls were not even allowed to wear bathing suits.
2. Donation dinners- the youth would cook (and what youth know or cares about cooking?), and everyone who attended would give a donation for their plate. But the food we made was never worth much money, and I always wanted to say, "You really don't want to eat that."
3. Talent shows- this was the time when anyone who could strum a guitar was worshipped. Because the alternative was the youth choir doing a number, sounding horrible, but still getting a Standing O.
4. Rock-a-thon- This is where we got donations per hour or flat-rate to rock, in a rocking chair, all night. My calves are still sore.
Oh, and speaking of which, looks like you also haven't done a post on youth choir. Youth choir is an entity in itself and definitely deserves a post.
How to tell a kid he/she has no future as a musician.
ReplyDeleteUsing the word "XTREME" to make every game and event seem more exciting.
-Corey O, Springfield MO
I admit it, I wrote the book.
ReplyDeleteI love the range of comments; from cynicism to more frenzied, program ideas.
Trying to figure out how to do YM today reminds me of a time warp. Just when we thot the biggest issues were keeping kids out of each others pants, we've awoke to a new scene. The old problems and their consequences seem small by comparison.
Extended adolescence, gender confusion, isolating technologies (to name a few) are rocking the youth culture.
Dating, as a system, is crashing/burning. The aggressive girl, the passive guy are messing with spiritual longings.
But have no fear, the replacement venue of Facebook is here to save the day.
Interesting times to be sure.
If you want a true winner, pack your bags and head to Mexico (The American church in the 70's with a slight Spanglish accent). It's time travel all over again and the cool thing is.....traditional youth ministry is ready to explode. It's a win-win. You know what worked here, you know what didn't
dp
I lived in a small town w/ a lot of churches in the town... 15-20 maybe. Anyways it always seemed like our youth group was competing with this paticular other youth group (OYG). I still remember the day that our YP said "I am going to tell you the truth, and if you can't handle it you can go to OYG down the street."
ReplyDeleteThere is a list somewhere in there about how your youth group is cooler then the one down the street!
Thanks,
Noel - PK from OK
i'm not sure if you mentioned this one yet, but the fact that some youth groups are made up of all white kids, and then 1 token black guy or 1 token mexican.
ReplyDeleteI grew up going to a church where there were no Mexican's. I was the only Mexican in a group of all white people...it seemed that I wasn't alone, because at a Youth Trip I realized that there were 1 or 2 of us in every group of mostly white people...odd, since I lived in southern california
What about the token really attractive college-aged summer iterns? Supposedly hired for their passion and interest in pursuing a career in youth ministry, but more likely hired to boost the numbers at Centerfuge. PS--it totally worked! Also creates amazing blurred boundary lines of fliration as they aren't that much older than the high school girs yet it is sort of forbidden. And no matter how attractive, amazing, and in love with Jesus they were--they NEVER had a girlfriend/boyfriend back home. Coincidence?
ReplyDelete-Dangerous activities that were cool in the early 90's before the advent of "reducing the risk" policies at churches. I'm thinking about the 40+' cliff diving on the summer houseboat retreat, relay races with steel trash cans over our heads where you run in an x pattern hoping for that massive collision, allowing kids to drive p/u trucks loaded with teens at night on fall retreats....good times
ReplyDelete-using doughnuts to attract kids to youth group...until you realize you're dropping close to $3k a yr on OJ and Krispy Kremes.
-the overly loud introduction of visitors to the rest of the group, really good way to bring them back and also encourage your regulars to BRING visitors...
there's more, but I'm supposed to be working
maybe i missed this but it would be fantastic if you wrote about the tech youth (the ones running the sound/graphics/etc. for the youth group)...usually boys but not exclusive - their inside jokes, God complexes in "controlling" youth services, and the like. and if you wrote about this already and i missed it, sorry for joining the conversation late :)
ReplyDeletei'm thinking the classic youth group prank wars between the boys and girls. every summer, it never fails. they start out as a major flirt fest, and end up going until there is serious drama. Damaged cars, toilets on the front lawn, the contents of the entire dumpster at krispy kreme dumped on someones driveway, not to mention a huge division in youth group and lots of angry parents.
ReplyDelete"The Youth Minister Shock Factor"
ReplyDeletein an attempt to be hip, relevant, or simply boost attendence, some youth ministers like to shock the crowd. they feel the need to do something extreme, something unexpected.
these can be as "mild" as walking onto the stage, tossing the Bible aside and saying, "you know what? i'm not even going to use this today. i'm going to get real with you guys. i had a whole lesson planned on something else, but God told me this morning what you really need to hear."
or as extreme as eating a live goldfish at the start. this has really happened, btw.(http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47070)
forget the fave sunday school snack, sometimes christians have to get extreme with their designated, stereotypical symbols.
i am a hardcore christian. i don't just toss a fish logo on my bumper, i eat them for breakfast. alive.
You should write about taking your youth group paintballing. Talk about ways to defeat them every time, and how to sort the more competitive with the non-competitive students.
ReplyDeletewhat about the myth of the part-time youth pastor?
ReplyDeleteyouth interns and the countless hours of work they put in working with students, only to receive their pay through having their pick of whatever they want to eat out of the youth room fridge.
ReplyDeletek so i definitely don't have time to scroll through & read all these lest i repeat an already spoken brilliant idea (why? because im a youth director & we try not to spend any more time than absolutely necessary doing things that dont involve pizza, free trips or getting teenagers "saved" j/k j/k ;)
ReplyDeletehowever.
how about....
the different youth volunteer "types" (the mom. the overweight mid-40's man who says "dude" way too much in an effort to be cool. the over zealous college student who wants to talk eschatology with a 7th grade boy... etc.)
the worst games to play on a long van ride. (ive seen "never have i ever" get ugly & inappropriate really fast way too many times!)
the 7 deadly sins of student ministry/student pastors (deciding to go to a different camp. "What? We're not going to Big Stuf? Im becoming Baptist cause they still go!" changing the times for small groups from Sunday night to Sunday morning. etc. oh the drama.)
most overused worship songs in youth groups. (back in my day it was "as the deer"... but now almost every wednesday i have to resist the urge to choke our worship guy as he plays "enough" by chris tomlin for the millionth time.)
scary that i could go on, but ill stop now. :)
Puding through the nose games... or at least thats what we called them when I was younger. It's basically any humiliating relay race invented by over-eager youth leaders and may or may not involve sucking puding through the nose.
ReplyDeleteExamples (from personal experience) include:
*passing miniature marshmallows from person to person via toothpicks clenched between your teeth. It's almost like kissing your team mates, but not.
*Sucking warm rootbeer through a straw, while lying on your stomach, hands behind your back... out of a bedpan.
*Eating an entire can of raw SPAM... with out the use of your hands.
*Lining your team up in order of shoe size, without talking, while blindfolded.
*(and my favorite - it was called "the worm") your team lies down side-by-side and the person at the end rolls over the rest of the team to the front, followed by the next person, then the next until your entire team has crossed the finish line. This game is raticularly fun when you're the 110 pound scrawny kid and the fat kid is rolling over the top of you.
And if my last idea was too long: stuff Christians like (youth groups edition): frisbee football
ReplyDeleteOne thing we always had in our youth department: dilapidated couches. There are 4 corollaries from the dilapidated couch
ReplyDelete1) donating your couch that no one would take for free to the youth department
2) staking your claim on the most comfortable dilapidated couch.
3) saving seats for the rest of your crew on the most comfortable dilapidated couch.
4) getting rid of the dilapidated couches, not because they ceased being attractive 30 years ago, but because they promote cliques (admittedly a higher calling for getting rid of a couch that shouldn't have been there in the first place).
"the kid who always plays Jesus in the skits"... sometimes they even let their hair grow out.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the Youth Group Guy/Gal that has just coming back to church after Leaving at age 13 to "follow the ways of the world"
ReplyDeleteIts amazing the amount of Automatic coolness that this person has in the eyes of the Youth Group after being on the "other side"
Also note, Former Jesus Guy/Gal may have the following things at their return.
1.) Piercings (more than the acceptable one in each ear)
2.) Hair that does things that after years of trying, i still cannot make mine do
3.) a 78' Camaro
4.) Stories of Life on the "other side"
5.) A Real Tattoo (not the kind from the Fruit Stripes Gum that i used to put on my forehead to make my mother mad as a kid)
6.) a Tongue ring that makes it sound like They're speaking in tongues whenever they say hello
7.) a Slinky
Okay, maybe not the slinky, but honestly, who doesn't think that slinky's are awesome?
While this Former Now Current Youth Guy/Gal may have one or all of these things in their possession, their level of automatic Awesomeness in the eyes of the students is unrivaled. BUT, if that sheer awesomeness can ever be harnessed for God, the Student Ministry will never be the same.
(P.S.- If i win the book great. If not I'm gonna buy it anyway. Have to rebuild my library of Youth Books after giving all mine to a struggling youth Pastor last year)
The 50-something youth pastor who runs the youth group the same way he did in the 70's. "Hey guys, we're doing a huge outreach this weekend. Bring all your friends for popcorn and an outdoor movie. We'll be showing 'A Thief in the Night' - a riveting look at the end times in modern times - followed by an invitation to accept Christ." Yeah, that still works.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if it was before tuesday or if we can still comment on the tuesday...
ReplyDeleteSome more ideas:
*********
1) Expecting things of youth, e.g. expecting youth to pray "spontaneously" by giving hints when guest pastor from another town is visiting
2) Doing an item at some special church service, when youth doesn't generally sing...
U know just the whole all of a sudden this group needs to be the main star of something idea...
***********
Impressions of church people of youth members, or leaders...
***********
the unsung Unique talents of youth
e.g.beatboxing/emo drawing,etc...
*******
oh, dunno if you can write a post on this but the sudden focus and expectation from youth ministries and ministers when the leaders own children hit teenagehood. Then we all of a sudden need to be SPy agents, parents, etc... But maybe before that the focus was Children ministry...
So maybe this idea can be clarified to When youth ministry all of a sudden becomes a focus, and can cover a whole different ideas thrown under one.
I think a post on "Creative" discipline in the student classroom on Sunday mornings would be interesting. My suggestions:
ReplyDelete1. Problems with teens playing with their phones and i-pods during the message? How bout instead of confiscating them, we change all of their music to Classic Carman songs.
2. Kids talking and interrupting you? A Twinkie filled with mustard and sardines in the pie-hole does the trick!!
3. Kids continually late for your meeting? Wake up calls at 4 AM makes everyone happy.
Just a few ideas. I would love to hear your take on this.
Things that every youth room needs.
ReplyDeleteFor example:
- The classic Jesus picture in very brown colors with a yellow halo behind him.
- No fewer than 5 posters of the next Christian concerts of bands that they love to hate.
- Mics and amps that are so unreliable that they make nails scratching on a chalkboard sound like music.
- Anything BUT a chalkboard.
- At least 50 CDs that were on the Top 10 Christian lists from the 90s
- A refrigerator with all the savory leftovers of fruits, juices and other food stuffs from lock-ins past.
- And so many others!
At an overnight event; Applying messy food substance to the face of a "heavy sleeper" and taking a photo of the dastardly deed while he/she is still sleeping while all the culprits smiling faces encircle the victims face in the photo.
ReplyDeleteFor some "mysterious" reason youth group leaders tend to pack a knowingly excess amount of certain sticky food items like honey and whip cream. Then when the evening comes after an exhausting day of hyper-energetic youth group activities there's always at least one student who jumps into his sleeping bag/bunk earlier than the rest. Youth group leader checks the kitchen inventory and says, "Hmmm, guess we brought more whip cream, honey, and flour than we'll probably use."
Shortly after he goes back to counseling/fellowshiping in the main public area he notices students snickering and tip-toeing out of the kitchen with concealed items. He gives them a disapproving look because he is the authority figure, but does nothing to intervene.
And why does he not intervene?
Because he understands that this will probably be the one team building event that the youth will remember from the retreat and the picture will be the highlight of his power-point presentation that he'll be giving before the church congregation to promote the next youth group all-nighter.
How mission trips seem to be a "hot spot" for our kids to start dating relationships.
ReplyDeleteI want a book
Caz suggested;
ReplyDeleteDangerous activities that were cool in the early 90's before the advent of "reducing the risk" policies at churches.
I totally second this suggestion and here's my contribution.
Fireball Soccer
Important things to remember
1. ball must be made of natural fibres only (cotton & wool).
2. tie strips together firmly into ball shape. *DO NOT* wrap in chicken wire to hold it all together (this occasionally results in the complete removal of 1 big toenail which doesn't tickle - just sayin) Instead, tie it all off in a pillowslip or similar.
3. Soak overnight in kerosene.
4. Ensure all youth are wearing natural fibre clothing and leather shoes - but haven't told their parents why (except for the kids who's farm you're using with the understanding parents full knowledge and blind eye).
5. Caution several times and apply penalties for any balls travelling over waist height (unless you'd like to deal with that monobrow Jon - took care of one in our YG)
6. create teams, goals and boundaries. Get lighter from the kid everyone knows smokes but pretends they don't know - get it going and have fun.
7. Pause the game breifly to assure the kids that it is only the kerosene which is alight, occasionally some may splash onto their clothing and flame for a short period of time - but only until the fuel is consumed - and unless they are wearing synthetic fibres against previously issued instructions there's not enough heat/time for their clothing to catch on fire.
8. or don't tell the kids that and make sure you have a video camera ready (d'oh!) for when the cool kid suddenly panicks at the sight of a small lick of blue flame at the bottom of his jeans and drops them fast - but can't get them off over his shoes - and dances around in his undies.
9. In spite of all your after the event protestations to parents, senior ministers etc that everyone had fun and no-one got hurt, and that the kids are begging to do it again, this will probably be a one off event, so make sure it sizzles by having 2 or 3 balls ready to go in case one falls apart, or they want to do it again when it's run out of puff.
10. do it at night (for the 'bless their hearts' group that borrowed the idea from us a while later).
Also, if you're looking for a fundraiser under the 'Dangerous activities that were cool in the early 90's before the advent of "reducing the risk" policies at churches' banner get an old car and charge a buck a swing with a sledge hammer. Provide overalls and eye protection and refer to the first half of point 9 above.
Anonymous Bruce
oh crap - by the time/date signature on my entry I missed the deadline by 2 minutes - "No soup for you!" Ah well, it's been Wednesday the 19th for 17 hours here anyway.
ReplyDeleteAB
UUUUHHH just remembered some more modern youth group ideas!
ReplyDeleteIn SA there is a really popular mobile chat thing called MXIT that is taking over our schools, churches lives, kids are up till 2AM on mxit...
So def something around this idea churches using technology to reach youth, or youth being hooked on chatting on their mobiles,myspace whatever...
Somehow my brain just woke up...
ReplyDeleteBut ja, todays youth have generally a more the same look, like MTV generation,so maybe something about fashion
Skinny Jeans
Guys with mohawks
ipods...
cool phones
Trying to be so unique that the individual look all looks the same...
The use of modern reality TV shows in youth...Camps e.g. Survivor, Idols... So you think you can dance!
Youth Club/Raves/disco ideas...
or something to do with
Youth Praise and worship events
I want to ditto Tomara...
ReplyDeleteA humouristic look at what youth are really learnign at youth group through all the stuff we do, games fundraisers...