When it comes to fund-raising in a down economy, giving the extra $20 at a car wash or bake sale might seem like a lot more to fork over than it has in the past. So what do you do to raise funds for your youth group when skinnier wallets seem to be held tighter? Go back...
Twenty Minutes? What's so important about programming a 20 minute program? Good Question. Ask yourself the following: Do you effectively "draw" kids into your youth group? Is it difficult to segue (or transition) from your "draw" to discussion or teaching time? Do students have a reason to come back to your ministry each week?...
Recently I've spoken at several events that were very well planned... until the altar call. Think about this for a second. A kid hears the Gospel and even has the guts to stand up out of their seat with the desire to make some life-changing decisions. They walk forward to the front of the room... and... Freeze. Stop...
Question: What do you do with an audience of over 1,000? Good question. It's not like you can roll up a newspaper and start playing "Newspaper Name Smack!" (one of my top 20 favorite games) Many people go straight to UP FRONT GAMES, which can be entertaining. But are there activities that involve the whole...
One of the most frequent questions I am e-mailed is "How can my youth group grow and reach more people?" 1. P R A Y I N G: Start by praying. . . and pray hard. Ask God to increase your group size. Sure we all say we pray . . . but do we really pray? Take a...
Find a Purpose or Theme This doesn't necessarily mean that you need a discussion topic theme, like "Knowing God." This might just mean understanding your purpose, like "to reach unchurched kids for Christ," or "to bring out a large number of new kids to youth group and show them a good time." You should always know what your purpose...
We recently received an email from our friend Joe that asks some great questions about discipline: I've struggled with disruptive and goofy kids who like to sabotage games, interrupt worship, and distract during teaching. Part of it's my fault: I've been a buddy, not a shepherd. Now I'm playing catch-up. Near the end of last semester I spent three...