Youth Leader at Church
By aconner
@aconner (218)
United States
October 17, 2008 2:27pm CST
I'm a youth leader and am looking for interactive unique ways to get the youth involved with our weekly discussions. Each discussion varies of course, but any tips you can offer are much appreciated. My usual routine is to announcements, game, and then give the floor to the youth pastor to then give the message. He normally builds a message off of the game that I have. I'd like to incorporate crafts, give them opportunities to speak, etc. What do you suggest?
1 response
@staysee34 (94)
• United States
17 Oct 08
Open discussions are a wonderful idea and with todays youth very helpful in getting them to feel comfortable about sharing concerns they might have. I would suggest picking a discussion topic a week in advance and telling the group so they have time to think about it. A good opener may be something as a poem, book, or song they may want to share. As far as crafts...posters, collages are always a good idea. Also with the holidays coming up doing toy drives, coats, and canned food items for donation is a great idea. Also, making small gifts to deliver to church members...magnets, book marks and such. I think coming up with large scale ideas that the entire group can play a part is a great thing. It fosters team work and discussion at the same time.
@aconner (218)
• United States
17 Oct 08
Thank you so much! I like all of your ideas. One that stuck out was the coat drive. I'm going to do something with that. Maybe get people in the church to donate coats and jackets and we'll take them to the local shelters or Salvation Army or Good Will to donate. Thank you. We are doing Operation Christmas Child again this year. It will be the second year we do it. I'm hoping it continues.
@busyB4 (874)
• United States
31 Oct 08
I like your ideas too. I think another thing would be to have them do service projects for elderly members, like raking leaves, or washing their car, or things like that. It can mean SO much to the receiver AND giver!!
Maybe they could decorate a bulletin board for a childs classroom.
Where my parents go to church, the elderly "adapt" a "grandchild" teen for the year. Both do little things for the other, little gifts, sit together at a potluck,etc.. Again it enriches both!
