Youth Ministers Rap Video

Here are some ideas that may be more effective AND will save you money! 

1. 5th Quarter Party – Host Houses – The past two years, the biggest difficulty can be described in one word…TRUST.  From their parents, Sesame Street, and Bob the Builder, kids are taught about “Stranger Danger”.  So when you get a flyer to get a ride in a strange van (even though it is a church van) to a strange place (even thought it is a church), most students will decline because they don’t trust you.  So we came up with a solution to the “stranger danger” problem – host houses.  Here are the steps:  1.  Ask a set of parents to host the event at their house (one for each high school represented in your student ministry), 2.  Recruit food donations, chaperones, clean-up helpers from your church (don’t put everything on the host house!), 3.  Get the students involved in the planning – games/activities, prizes, flyers, 4.  Get guest speakers for the party- Sunday School teachers, Parachurch ministry speakers, etc.
2. 5th Quarter Party – On the Field - In issue 3 of the Youth Minister Newsletter, Student Life has a great article how to save money in your ministry.  One great idea was to hold the 5th Quarter Party on the football field.  Here are some steps:  1.  Contact local high school A.D. and ask permission (don’t just show up), 2.  Have parents & church donate items for party, 3.  Have football themed activities, 4.  Get guest speakers for the party – Sunday School Teachers, Parachurch ministry speakers, etc. (FCA may be a good idea)

Hope this helps you save money and, more importantly, bring the gospel to the students in your area!

I know people are trying to push God out of the schools, but the NFL?  Click Here

Do we take the words seriously in Proverbs 4:23 to “ABOVE ALL ELSE guard your heart”?  This past Wednesday night we discussed how to avoid failure as a leader.  We see failure happen in our political leaders (see Bill Clinton, Mark Sanford), professional athletes (see Kobe Bryant, Plaxico Burress), and even in the leaders found in God’s Word  (see David, Solomon).  But how does this failure happen?  I would propose that the governor of South Carolina didn’t say one morning I’m going to have an affair with an Argentinian woman today.  Kobe Bryant didn’t walk out of practice and say I’m going to make court appearances after the playoffs because of this decision I’m about to make. 

This was a result of previous decisions.  These men did not guard their heart ABOVE ALL ELSE!  Take music for example.  Your teen would probably argue till they are blue in the face that music does not affect them.  Well try this on for size.  What about TV, that isn’t such a big deal, is it?  You tell me.  Don’t ignore what I am telling you.  What you watch, what you hear…they affect you!  Take God’s warning seriously in Proverbs 4:23, Guard your heart, AND guard your teenager’s heart too!

If you have not subscribed to the youth culture updates that cpyu.org supplies, you are missing out as a youth worker, youth leader, youth pastor, parent, or community member!  They supply you with articles across the world that have to do with youth culture.  Here’s a suggestion too, save the articles that are relevant in a folder and use them in parent meetings, parent sunday school classes, youth leader meetings…and wherever else God uses you to equip those that work with young people.  Here are the articles that are can’t miss for this week:

Intergenerational Youth Ministry

Importance of Family Dinners

Tired of finding parental advisory lyrics on your child’s iPod and you were never advised?  Want to help your students help resist pornography or offensive music for their mp3 player?  Going on a mission trip and want your students to listen to just Christian music for a week?  This should help answer these questions:

Parental Control Setup

Developing student leaders should be at the heart of every youth/student ministry.  Is our goal to produce luke-warm, back-row sitting, come to church when I feel like it, non-involved members of the next generation of churches?  Absolutely not, we, as youth ministers and leaders, seek to produce outspoken, servant-driven, equipped for ministry, God-loving, constantly growing students to feed the next generation of churches.  So how do we do this?  Well, can’t say I’m an expert, but here are some suggestions.

Student Leader Selection Process – Ideas to fill student leader positions

Youth Group Election

You can elect these leaders through nominations by the students and hold an “Election” to vote those leaders into their perspective positions. 

WARNING:  This can turn into a popularity contest, so beware of this.  Make it clear to the students that this position is based on spiritual maturity, not how many touchdowns they threw last season, the coolest house, or let’s be honest…who is the best looking.  Okay, maybe don’t say that last one, but you know you’re students are thinking it.

Another option would be to allow for nominations but then allow the youth leaders to pick the one most fitting for the position.

Hand-Picking

More and more, this seems like the best option.  There have been times where those that have been elected simply are there because they said something funny before the election and won the popular vote.  You wonder if they will even show up to the student leader meetings, let alone do the extra work.

This option gives you and your leadership total control.  It becomes a privilege, more than a right to be in the leadership position.  You are probably more aware of the spiritual maturity than your students…and gives you a better chance at picking the right leaders.

Age

Your juniors and seniors become your student leaders.  May I suggest some form of training and/or requirements to reach this position?  Age may allow you to vote or drive, but that doesn’t make you a leader. 

Here are some requirement ideas:  Must have attended one or more mission trips, member of youth group for more than a year, consistent attendance, etc.

Student Leader Positions

Small Group Leader

If your youth ministry is set up with small groups, allow them to play a leadership role within that group.  Give them assignments, allow them to lead discussion, and really push them to lead their group.  Make sure they realize the importance of their choices from here on out as they lead the group – movies they watch, music they listen to, parties they attend, and people they hang out with, etc.

Specific Leadership Position

Secretary – In charge of attendance each time you meet.  Could be in charge of keeping track of important details during meetings.

Activity Coordinator – This one has great potential.  Begin by giving one or two events he or she can plan with your help.  Then as the years go on, give this person more and more responsibility within the event planning.

Missions Representative – Have this person attend the mission meetings with you.  Let this person be more involved with missionaries your church supports.  Attending the mission trip is a must for this person.  They need to be a leader for recruiting students for the trip and be focused on being a leader on this trip.

Prayer Coordinator – This person is in charge of the prayer requests of the youth group.  Suggest them putting together a master list of requests to bring to specific prayer nights.  Have them pray during youth services and before meals.  (I don’t always have them pray, but I have them pick someone for me)

Leadership Training

Curriculum

www.leadertreks.com

http://www.simplyyouthministry.com/resources-small-groups-courageous-leadership.html

Write your own – can include lessons on respect, visitor welcome plan, edifying

What do you do in your student/youth ministry to train student leaders?  I would love to hear more ideas that have worked and haven’t worked.  Comment away!

Looking for a way to get the guys together in your youth group?  Football, wings, & mountain dew usually do the trick.  And that’s what you can do with having a fantasy football draft.  Here is how to set it up and organize the event:

Location

Church

Positive:  This would work well if you want to limit the mess at someone’s house.  Also, you can use the gym or facility afterwards for a flag football game or quarterback challenge.

Negative:  May struggle getting new visitors to come to this setting compared to others.  Is not a different setting for youth ministry kids. 

House

Positive:  This would be a comfortable setting and could provide an opportunity for a leader or parent to bring the students in their home.  A good step in building relationships and familiarity.

Negative:  THE MESS!

BW3’s or Local Sports Restaurant

Positive:  This is great for atmosphere.  You got big screens showing preseason football games, you got a sports atmosphere, and you got waiters getting your drinks and wings!

Negative:  You can’t always hear very well.  Your time is somewhat limited, especially if others want to get your table.  Space is a concern as well.

Forms

Fantasy Football Form:  On this form you need to have listed – Name, Team Name, Email, Username, Password, & List of Positions for student to fill out (QB, RB, WR, TE, etc.)

You can make the teams as unique as you want.  Maybe make everyone choose 3 kickers or 4 Quarterbacks.  Maybe you like defense better and want more individual defenders…have fun with it.

Fantasy Football Rankings:  This depends how nice you are.  I’m pretty nice, so I print out (*see below) the top players for everyone.  This speeds things along and helps those that don’t know as much about the game.  But, someday, I might just tell everyone to do their own research =) 

League Rules:  For those that have done fantasy football before, you may get asked how the points are awarded, if the league is head to head, trade rules & deadlines.  If you just read those things and thought it was a different language, I suggest going to a popular fantasy football website (**see below) and choose DEFAULT settings.  It will save you time, and then next year you can change things around based on your preferences.  Suggestion:  Make the points big and easy to remember.  In our league, every touchdown is 6 points, every big defensive play is 5 points, 10 yards in rushing and receiving is 1 point.

Websites

1. *Fantasy Football Rankings 

http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasyfootball/rankings

       2.  **Fantasy Football Leagues

http://football.fantasysports.yahoo.com/ – My Suggestion

http://games.espn.go.com/frontpage/football

http://www.nfl.com/fantasy

http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasyfootball?refcode=FFB2Gen09_SEMgg3

What do you think of this picture?  Think it is posed?  Take a gander at the speedometer.  Still don’t believe me?  Click on the picture to read the article.

Here some interesting data for you.  According to a recent study by the American Automobile Association, the risk of a car accident increases by 50% for people who text message while driving, and some researchers say you are 4 times more likely to get in an accident while operating a cell phone.  Should we all invest in this for our teen drivers? 

When things like this happen, I just imagine the Lord saying, watch this!

Amazing Double Play

What are the chances?

Kinda random, I know.  Just thought I would share in case you missed it on SportsCenter.

Seriously though, look at Scripture.  God shows His power in so many ways that only can be explained that “God allowed that to happen”…the Jericho wall comes down with ram’s horns, Sun and moon all day, the writing on the wall, the virgin birth…We serve an amazing God.

What are some stories that you have that only can be explained by “God did that”?