Almost every kid has a cell phone these days, and almost every single one of those kids bring it to youth group with them (and forget to turn it off). Here’s a fun way to incorporate their cell phones into a game you can tailor to your specific church environment.
When it comes time for the game at your program, assemble everyone onto a 2-4 person team (depending on the size of your overall group). Give them a print off of the list below and tell them that they have 10 minutes to collect as many pictures of the items as they can on their cell phones. Groups can stay together or split up to save time…but only give ONE copy of the list to each team! (Before you print off the list, make sure your church has every item; if you don’t have an ice making machine, make sure to take it off this list!)
The team with the most points wins. Award the first team back in the youth room an extra 40 Points IF AND ONLY IF they have EVERYTHING on your list.
Make sure to synchronize everyone’s watches (or clocks on their cell phone) because ALL GROUPS MUST be back in the youth room at the 10-minute buzzer. Deduct 30 points from any team that is not back in time. You may want to have a few adult leaders spread out around the church campus giving 3, 2, and 1-minute warnings.
The List
10 Pointers
1. A cross (of any kind)
2. A soundboard of any size
3. A painting, or picture, or mural of Jesus
4. An adult leader making a funny face
5. The lost and found box/area
6. Youth Pastor’s office
7. A toilet
20 Pointers
1. A choir robe
2. Church sign by the road
3. An offering plate or bucket or bag
4. The driver side of a church van or bus
5. A pew
6. The baptismal pool or fount or container
30 Pointers
1. A hymnal opened to “Amazing Grace”
2. A stained glass window
3. A janitor’s closet
4. An ice making machine
5. The pulpit or lectern in the sanctuary
40 Pointers
1. An “In Memory Of…” plaque
2. A King James Version Bible
3. A filing cabinet (not in the Youth Pastor’s office!!)
4. A baby crib
5. A “visitor’s only” parking sign
50 Pointers
1. An overhead projector (kickin’ it old school, baby!)
2. A set of drums or a set of congas or a set of bongos
3. Any outdoor or indoor recreational equipment (volleyball net, basketball goal, soccer field, etc)
4. A box of animal crackers or goldfish snacks
NOTE: Do bear in mind that not every kid has a cell phone. No worries. As long as one team member per team has a camera phone, that’s all you need! So divide teams appropriately.
Jonathan McKee
Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new The Guy's Guide to FOUR BATTLES Every Young Man Must Face; The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices; If I Had a Parenting Do Over; and the Amazon Best Seller - The Guy's Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, all while providing free resources for youth workers on TheSource4YM.com. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.
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June 15, 2025 at 11:32 amThis is such a creative idea! The scavenger hunt not only makes it fun for the youth but also helps them engage with each other and their surroundings. Can’t wait to try this out at our next youth gathering! Thanks for sharing!
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July 20, 2025 at 7:16 amThis scavenger hunt idea is so creative! I love how it gets everyone involved and makes church activities more engaging. Can’t wait to try this with our youth group!
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July 31, 2025 at 6:51 pmThis scavenger hunt idea is fantastic! It’s a fun way to engage the youth and integrate technology into church activities. I can’t wait to try this out with our group; I know they’ll love the challenge! Thanks for sharing such a creative concept!
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January 20, 2026 at 5:54 pmThis scavenger hunt idea is fantastic! I love how it encourages interaction and creativity among the youth. It’s a fun way to get everyone engaged and can easily be adapted to fit our church’s theme. Can’t wait to implement it in our next meeting!
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January 24, 2026 at 3:00 pmThis is such a creative idea for engaging the youth! I love how it combines technology with teamwork and fun. Can’t wait to try this at our next gathering!
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March 5, 2026 at 2:58 amWhat a fantastic idea! The Church Cell Phone Scavenger Hunt sounds like a fun and engaging way to bring the congregation together. I love how it encourages creativity and teamwork. Can’t wait to try this out with my youth group!
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March 6, 2026 at 5:54 amWhat a fun and engaging idea! I love how a scavenger hunt can help bring the church community together while also incorporating technology. Can’t wait to try this out with our youth group! Thanks for sharing!