Free Youth Group Game: BUCKET!

This game is so simple and incredibly fun! Its a take on the popular card game "Spoons".  Gather plastic buckets together (or use paper cups, then those tend to get crushed) and have youth partner up. Each youth leans over the bucket while a leader calls out different body parts (head, neck, knees, feet, etc). At the leader's discretion, they call out "Bucket!". Once youth hear that, the first one to grab the bucket wins the round. Winners can then take on other winners in a tournament format. 

Very easy game and very fun! 

Free Youth Group Game: How to Play Human Hungry Hungry Hippos

Watch the above video to see Human Hungry Hungry Hippos in action! This is an unforgettable, totally awesome youth group game and activity. I've done it many times and kids always LOVE it. 

Supply List - Here is a list of what you'll need for this Human Hungry Hungry Hippos: (product links included)

• 2-4 Wooden Dollys with casters (depending on the size of your space and how many players you want to have) - link to product
• (optional) Bungee cord (product link) - as you see in the video, you can opt to use people as the "mover" of the human hippo(s), or you can tie cord securely around the handles of each dolly and have players pull their "hippos" back (but with adult supervision and maybe gloves). They also used large squares to keep the balls in play due to the size of their space and it also got more students involved. 
• 2-4 Laundry Baskets - to collect the balls (product link) You can purchase them or borrow some from your students. 
• Plastic Balls (optional: balloons) - product link

HUMAN HUNGRY HUNGRY HIPPO RULES

• You'll need a flat surface, either tile or a gym floor. We tried it on indoor/outdoor carpet. Does NOT work that well.
• At go, teams attempt to collect as many balls/balloons as they can either within 30 seconds (or any time you designate) or when all the balls/balloons are gone. Which ever team collects the most at each round either wins, or moves on to play another team (if you're doing a tournament). Make sure students take turns allowing other students be the "hippo".
• Create safe lines with tape on the floor that teams have have all their balls behind in order for their score to count. Any stray balloons/balls that don't make it behind the line before time is expired do not count. Also, if balloons pop (which they will and its hilarious) those do not count toward their teams point total. 
• OPTIONAL - Have two teams, and each team takes turns (one hippo at a time) collecting as many as they can until all the balls/balloons are gone. Creates more tension, especially if you use balloons. 

FREE YOUTH GROUP GAME: Face-Off

The simplicity of this game is its beauty. Its hilarious and awkward and it builds community. 

Have all players stand in a circle and look down at the ground. At the count of three (1-2-3 FACEOFF!) each player looks up and stares at a random person in the circle. If that same person is looking at you, then both players are out. Play until only one player remains.

NOTE:

• all players must look at someone each time (not the floor, their feet, etc)
• players cannot look at the same person every time

Youth Group Game Idea: Jedi Master

Both of our middle and high school groups played this game this week and they all LOVED it. Its called Jedi Master. 

Here is what you'll need:

• One foam pool noodle
• One blindfold
• At least 25 close pins

Pick a volunteer to be the Jedi Master. Place them in the center of the circle with the blind fold securely on. Cover their clothing and shoes with close pins. Give the Jedi Master their foam pool noodle/lightsaber and tell them to start swinging. Those standing in the circle, on the word GO, have to attempt to grab as many close pins as they can from the Jedi Master without being struck down with fury. If someone is hit with the pool noodle, they must sit down and that player is out. Whomever collects the most close pins wins the round.

A few extra rules (that we learned via trial by error)

• If you are hit and have close pins in your hand, you must drop all your close pins and sit down.
• Don't let the whole group rush the Jedi Master. Allow only a few to attempt to steal close pins at one time. (There will be so much swinging going on not that many will want to go initially, anyway).
• The Jedi Master MUST keep their feet set. They can pivot but can not meander around the circle. They must stand still and swing all around themselves.
• To switch to a new Jedi Master, wait 5-10 minutes and let them play. Once someone is hit, you can make them the new Jedi Master. 
• If anyone is hit ANYWHERE on their person at all, they are OUT. (head shots are fine)

Enjoy!

People over Programs

Our middle school ministry has really be exploding lately, as in numerically. Not the violent sort. Its been a tough lesson learned, but over the years I've realized the importance of people over programs. Youth workers/ministers are notorious for pumping up games, pizza, crazy antics, pizza, games, etc. When a huge crowd arrives it may temporarily pump up our ego, but what measurable results are there after its over?

I recently went to a National Day of Prayer gathering in my community and there were three other youth ministers present from churches in my community. One of these peers walked from student to student, talking very briefly with them, and began pitching his upcoming summer camp, handing out flyers and the whole bit. It seemed like he only showed up to partially pray, but mostly to further his ministry’s event.

I’m all for evangelism, and I love summer camp, but it felt like the wrong venue.

I realized that youth ministers (myself included) have a tendency to focus so much on the EVENT that we forget about PEOPLE. If we aren’t careful, we can fall into a sort of evangelical-pharisaical ministry practice, focusing more on “doing” and less on simply “being” with God’s people.

Jesus always focused on the person in a relational sense, and then ministry could flow from that. Flipped the other way, it can quickly become about ego, numbers, and “salvations”. I’m all about seeing students get saved, but I want to do it God’s way, not in a way that has me charging ahead without listening to the Spirit’s guidance.

Ministry is about relationships: our relationship with students, (more importantly) our volunteers relationship with students, and everyone’s relationship with God. If we forget that and focus only on events and flash, our ministries can have the outward appearance of “health” when in reality they will have no longevity, and the discipleship we worked so hard for in the live of teenagers will not carry over into their young adult years.

Its a lot harder to slow down and seek relationships with students over event planning. It takes time, patience, risk (especially if you’re an introvert) and so much more. But it is what God is calling us to do.

God sought us out first for a relationship with us (1 John 4), shouldn’t we seek to do the same with students?

Kingdom Vision doesn't involve "youth getaway" weekends

We just finished up a "retreat" weekend with many of our Clemmons:One youth and youth from Lewisville UMC.  In total, we had 62 youth and adults.  Instead of just "getting away", we spent our Saturday completing eight different mission projects around our city.  We had the fun retreat time at a local camp along with worship in the evenings, but we also did something with what we believe, instead of just talking about it.

The theme of our time together was Kingdom Vision:  What is God's kingdom?  What is hindering you from seeing more of God's Kingdom?  Do you know you are being called to join God's Kingdom? 

I've done this for three years now, and you know what?  Its bigger and better than ever.  They absolutely loved it.  Teenagers have a deep desire to see justice played out in the real world.  They want to be part of the solution.  They really do.  I believe this is far more effective model for discipleship than always "getting away."  They get to see real social and spiritual change in their neighborhoods and immediate communities. 

They aren't just verbally challenged to see God's Kingdom: they are encouraged to go out and SEE it.

Why can't we "get away" while also serving others? Fight the urge to choose between the two.

I put "retreat" in quotes at the top of this post, because I have a problem with exclusively doing youth getaway weekends.  Only doing a youth retreat is ineffective to this postmodern generation, because:

• They are insular
• Many options, like ski trips, are expensive, dangerous, and youth groups are a marketing target with which to turn a profit.  I have a problem with that.  You could argue that ski trips are an outreach to friends.  While true, ski trips are ultimately a dumb waste of time AND money.  Hey, its my blog.   People can, and should, go skiing on their own time.
• Its not effective discipleship:  I'm not sure God wants us to teach teenagers that Christians are always supposed to "get away".  I see Jesus getting away often on his own, as we should as well, but when the sun was up, Jesus was with the people A LOT.   Sometimes we have to push people out of the nest and make them DO STUFF for God.  If we really believe that God is with the poor, and we say we want more of God, than why aren't we spending more time with the poor?  If we say we follow Jesus, why do we want to run the other way, away from the poor, in order to "get away"?

Have I done youth getaway weekends in the past?  Definitely.  Can God use a getaway weekend, like a ski trip?  Of course.  But is it the BEST way to disciple this generation?  Does it possibly teach the ulterior message that we are raising a generation of Christian consumers?  Maybe.  Why risk it?  What do you think?