Tag Archives: free youth ministry ideas

5 Crowdsourcing Ideas For Your Youth Ministry Using Social Media

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Happy Wednesday everyone! I hope everyone is psyched to meet with their kids tonight.  I  have some big new and bigger news coming. One of the big newses (newses?) I blipped in my new Real Time Training Video HERE and the other big news I’ll break at the end of the week.

I tried an experiment a few days ago. I texted a bunch of my kids, maybe 12-15, and asked them to take a picture of something that they are struggling with. They could have taken a picture of their homework, a bully, a teacher, their parents, etc. How many pictures did I get back? Nil, nada, zero. My first reaction could have been, “Lazy bums” but instead I decided to be patient. I may still get one or maybe not. This is a new thing I am testing so I cannot be discouraged when nothing happens. Our students are not used to me engaging with them this way, yet. I have a few other ideas I am thinking about , using various social media

Facebook

Picture needs a caption. Post a picture, funny or serious, and ask your students to write a caption for it. The picture could have something to do with tonights lesson. Offer a prize for the best captions.

Twitter

Send out a quote or a verse of scripture and ask kids to re-tweet it with a hashtag Like John 3:16 #Godislove. Use the hashtags in your meeting that night as game to see who said what or to create a slide with all the hashtags on one slide as an opener or closer to your lesson.

Vine

Vine is the best way create short, beautiful, looping videos in a simple and fun way. Have kids make a 7 second statement about a topic like homelessness, abortion, or whatever. Ask permission to show the videos in your meeting that night.

You Tube

Put a video up on your Facebook page or text one out and kids to comment on it. This could be a video you make or one already on YouTube. Use the comments to add t your points or as a discussion starter.

Instagram

I am really excited about this one. I think it has the most potential because teens love taking photos. The reason I think I failed in my attempt the get a picture back was because I was not specific enough. If I said, “take a picture of something gross and send it to me” my phone would have been dinging like crazy (makes me wonder how many photos of dog poop I would have received) Maybe I should have said, “Take a picture of something beautiful” Now, this pictures may not fit with my message but I could put together a worshipful slide show with a scripture at the end like, “ He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Eccl. 3:11

Those are my beginning ideas. I know have to bring this up in my youth meeting, get feed back, build consistency, build a habit, etc to make this work. Sporadic interactions are not going to cut it.

Any of these ideas float your boat? Do you think they will work or fail miserably? Did it spark any ideas on your end? Leave a comment, a crowdsourcing idea you’ve used, or one you just thought of, below.

Have a great meeting or Bible study tonight.

 

 

 

 

Upping Student Engagement In Your Youth Ministry Through Crowd Sourcing

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Yesterday I framed the idea of crowdsourcing with our youth ministry to mark our meetings with their fingerprints and to challenge them to think deeper about their faith.  Today I’d like to break it down with a few ideas  I am experimenting with with  our own group.  If you decide to try a few of these ideas, remember:

The more students you field a question to, the more potential engagement you’ll have.

Crowdsourcing is not a substitute for prayer and the Word, it is an enhancement. (Duh!)

Ok, onward.

One of the keys to getting a good response is to offer an either.or approach. Ask an open ended question like, “What do you want to do tonight?” and you’ll get confusion. Ask an either/or question and you’ll get more kids offering decisive a answer.

Elements You Could Crowdsource 

Take some of the pieces of the meeting I mentioned yesterday and send them out via text or Facebook and see who’d like to take those responsibilities.

Maybe you have two messages on your heart. Ask your kids which one would benefit them  most. Ask this one early enough. Give them your text as well and maybe they’ll look it up.

Which game would you rather play tonight Ninja or Volleyball?

Announcements: Should I wear the sombrero or the viking helmet to do announcements? Take a picture with both hats on and let kids chime in.  (I wish I had a viking helmet)

The goals of crowdsourcing isn’t just to field the elements of your meeting, but to get insight about your kids, spot idea leaders, and get feedback about the program or even get new kids involved by asking their opinion.

Remember:

1. Don’t be afraid to try and fail. We all fail, but at least your kids see you reaching out.

2. Be patient with your kids. It may take them time to respond. Don’t judge them as slackers too soon.

Tomorrow I’ll be sharing some crowdsourcing ideas using the social media our kids use.

Which of these ideas are ones you could try with your group?

Have you tried anything similar? What was the response from your kids?

Experiment and let me know what happens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Using Prayer Stations To Share The Gospel With Your Youth Ministry

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Last night a used a tool that has served me well over the years. I would go as far to say that prayer stations may be the most powerful tool I have used in youth ministry. Let me explain why. Prayer stations engage our kids in a way that preaching and even small group bible study does not. You are literally saying, “Go engage with the scriptures and with God.” and “Listen to what the Spirit is saying through your interactions”

Last night we did an Easter Prayer Station. The prayer station took kids through the last week of Jesus’ life. Each table had a theme. One table covered Jesus’s suffering and another His prayer time in the garden. Each student got up close and personal with the Savior last night.

Following the prayer we had a time of debriefing. For the next 15-20 minutes kids shared, one after another, about what God had revealed about themselves, their relationship with Him, and what this youth ministry meant to them. It was powerful!

Watch the video (don’t forget to subscribe) and you’ll get an idea of how I set the prayer station up. If you want to a written copy of this prayer station, sign up for the Get It First Newsletter in the top right hand corner and it will be in my next mail out.

Have you ever participated in prayer stations? What was it’s impact on you?

Have you ever done prayer stations with your kids? What was the impact on them?

Fighting The Resistance: Challenging Teens To Share

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photo credit HERE

Have you ever come back from a retreat, camp, or event where God moved powerfully and then were met with resistance when asking kids to share their experience? Yeah, I’ve been there too, but recently I have tried to head off the resistance with a simple plea to those who went to our yearly youth convention. Here is what I asked of them, feel free to steal, modify, etc.

Hey All,

It’s been a few days since convention and I hope you all had as good a time as I did. I believe God did something in my heart and I am pretty sure he has done something in yours as well.

I’d like at least one of you to share tomorrow night at Fusion. I know what you’re going to say “not me” “I am not a good speaker” etc. etc. but consider a few of these reasons why you should share before you answer:

1. It will encourage people to go next year. If the rest of our group does not know that God did a work in our hearts, why would anyone want to go next year?

2. Like the messages we heard, it’s time to step up. It’s time to stop using excuses like the ones above. Sharing is a simple way to be obedient to what God did in our hearts.

Finally, and maybe the most important,

3. If we don’t share what God has done, if we don’t declare his goodness to others, how long do we expect that good work God did in us to last? It’s funny how many times kids come back from camp and within a week “lose” whatever they got. One quick way to hold on to, keep, nurture, and protect what God has given us is to share it, we need to let our own ears hear what God has done.

Revelations says 12:11, “They OVERCAME him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their TESTIMONY; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”

I want you to be over-comers. I will help you.

So, with that said, I am asking you to pray through the fear, the doubt, and the anxiety and share what God has done in and for you.; for your benefit and the benefit of others.
If you say no, no hard feelings. I will not put you down or think any less of you. This is what I do guys. I lay the challenges out there, so you can pick them up.

I love you all.

Pastor Paul

What has been your experience with kids sharing/testifying in your youth ministry? Is it like pulling teeth or easy like a hot knife through butter? How do approach kids to share what God has done in their lives?

 

12 “Love” Songs On My Youth Ministry Play List

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For those who have youth tonight, I thought I share my Valentines Play List with you. This is our intro music which stats getting played 15 minutes before service.

Made to Love (Telemetry Remix)  Toby Mac

I Give My Love – Press Play

Define Love – Blueprints of the Heart

Crazy Love- Robbie Seay Band

Let Love Win – The Museum

Your Love Is Strong – Robbie Seay Band

Forgiven and Loved – Jimmy Needham

I Love You – Lecrae (F. Chris Lee)

Love Invades – Robbie Seay Band

Everyone Needs Love – Ben Kolacrik

Love Gone Wrong – Family Force Five

Love Rule Today – Revive

Bouns: Faithfully by Journey will make an appearance

One More Bonus: Dear X: You Don’t Own Me by Disciple

Will you be using music in your ministry for V-Day?

What’s on your play list?

What am I missing off my play list?

 

SEO Search Says Youth Discipleship Is Not In High Demand

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I did some SEO (search engine optimization) searching yesterday, looking for key words and such for youth ministry. Here is what I discovered.

In searching for youth ministry key words, to help youth workers find  posts they are looking for online, I started by searching the word youth ministry discipleship. Now, I am only getting started in this SEO thing, a complete novice,, but this did not look good,

Search: youth ministry discipelship

Competition Is: Low (which tells me there is not  a battle for the words)

Global Monthly Searches: 110 (this how often the subject is searched for,globally, on Google, every month, averaged over 12 month)

Local Monthly Searches: 91 (this is how often the subject is searched for on Google, every month, averaged over 12 months.

I Googled both youth ministry discipleship and youth ministry discipleship ideas

youth ministry discipleship showed over 2 million options

youth ministry discipleship ideas showed 412,000 options

On the other hand, searching 

youth ministry games revealed over 4 million options

youth ministry activities, which could include discipleship, but revealed mostly game links, showed over 13 million options

Like I said, I’m no expert, I can only go by what I am looking at.

The questions I have then are:

1. Do youth workers already know how to disciple teens, they just don’t need to search online for it?

Which leads me to the second question:

2. Is there a greater demand, by youth workers, for games and activities than for discipleship ideas, in their youth group?

I would love more people to see this post, but I am afraid no one is searching for it.

Side Note: I am not anti-game, we play them with our group all the time, I am just pro discipleship.

If you are an SEO guru, and I am reading the date wrong, straiten me out. I think the numbers are fundamentally true. Do youth ministries still spend a majority of time still  focusing on getting kids to show up versus discipling the students they have to reach their friends for Christ?

If you would like to see some articles on youth ministry games you can go here or here.

If would like some free you ministry ideas about youth discipleship I have a few video trainings here and here (don’t forget to subscribe)

And a couple of my posts on church youth ministry here and here

If you are looking for a systematic way to disciple in kids in your youth ministry, I also recommend the book Multiply by Francis Chan and David Platt

 

 

 

 

 

Real Time Training: New Get Healthy Resource

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I have started making more training videos because I think they add value. We hear from speakers but rarely do we get to see to the inner workings or a visual “how to’s” of a ministry. I hope that the videos will be helpful, insightful, sometimes funny, and occasionally thought provoking. If you’d like be “in the know” and would like updates when I post a video, simply CLICK HERE to subscribe.

You can download the Get Healthy Resource by clicking on the free resource tab above.

7 Reasons Why I’ll Skip Your Youth Ministry Network Meeting

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This will sounds grossly arrogant, but I don’t “need” a network. Now, let me clarify, I do not need a traditional network. I am in certain category, I am a 40 +, 22 year youth ministry veteran. Many networks are sponsored to pimp programs or sell stuff. Think of the timeshare you sat through to get the free ticket to x park in Orlando. Was it wort it? This is not to say I don’t need Christian friendships or professional peers, I just have a different context for those.

So, whether it is Greg Stier from Dare 2 Share doing a luncheon 2 hrs from me or a company at YS doing a network deal at a conference or a local network in my area, I apply the following rules to all of them.

. Here are a few reasons I’ll skip a network meeting:

1. I’ll skip it if we are only meeting so you can share your agenda and why we should jump in/buy your stuff (aka pimping your stuff )

I have enough going on. I don’ t need another thing to sponsor.

2. I’ll skip it if I feel there isn’t space to share my experience or talents.

Like I said, I am in a different boat and the context of many meetings don’t apply to me. I am at the point in life and career where sharing and passing on what I know is of utmost importance. I am doing this through my blog and Squidoo articles, and it is very satisfying. If there is not open space to help someone, I check out.

3. I’ll skip it if I think you are going to waste my time (meeting just to meet)

Once again, meeting to meet, unless I am with my closest friends (shout out to my Hueytown crew), is a a waste of time. I don’ need a guest speaker. I can watch what I want or need on YouTube.

4. I’ll skip it if there is no networking.

I have been to many kinds of network meetings, seated around round tables, and I left without having really networked. To me, and most people I think, networking is not a meeting or a guest speaker. Networking is for sharing ideas, making friends, and praying with those who share your burden for the next generation. A network sponsors role is to create the context where these things can happen.

5. I’ll skip it if I am not challenged to be more.

I want to network with people who challenge me, challenge the way I think about ministry, life, and faith. I don’t need a pep talk, I need answers and life on life relationships. I have enough surface relationships, thank you.

6. I’ll skip it if I sense I won’t walk away smarter or better than I walked in.

This goes back to the principles of networking which is relationship. You many also say, “How arrogant.” Go ahead and say that. Let’s see what you’re like after 20 years, you have a family, you have kids in college, and see if a network meeting is the same draw for you. I love relationships and new ideas. I want those at my network meeting.

7. I skip it if I feel like I’ll be shamed for skipping it.

If you run a network or host a network, you should love your network and value the people in it. Shaming someone because they’ve missed or because you think that person doesn’t “buy in” to your philosophy is the wrong direction.

Advice to network leaders, Treat youth pastors like you would the kids that come to your youth ministry:

Always keep your channels open.

Send friendly reminders that you missed them.

Offer them the opportunity to contribute (they won’t skip as much)

Love them fiercely.

So, whether you think I am arrogant, pretentious, or just crazy, that is o.k.. I know me. I am who I am and you are who you are. I am getting ready to “play the back 9″ , as some say, and I want a network of people who will make playing the back nine as fun, informative, crazy, and as fruitful as possible.

You may say “If you are so dissatisfied, Why don’t you start your own network then. ” Good idea. I have a thought. if you live in the Birmingham area or not are interested in being equipped and not just entertained check out EQUIP and let’s see if we can create something cool.

What about you? Do you have a youth ministry network? Do you love it or hate t? Do you skip it for any of the reasons above? Which ones?

If you are a network leader frustrated with how your network, do any of the above principles apply to you? Which ones?

Why do you think people are skipping your meetings?

Rivals 3 Week Curriculum Available: Grab A Free Lesson

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Looking for three weeks of outreach and messages that take advantage of the football season? Look no more. Rivals is now available for purchase on Youthmin.org. You can read a full review at Youthmin.org. but you can only get a free lesson here. Kick the tires and then stop by youthmin.org and grab the complete lessons, the whole package is only $2.99

Check It Out Rivals- Free Lesson

Starting The Year Right With Your Parents

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Happy New Year Everyone! Are you glad last year is gone and the new year is here? Me too. One of the way to start your new year off right is by touching base with your students’ parents. I recently sent out my first of the year e-mail to my parents and thought you might benefit from it. I tried to do there things with this e-mail

1. Engage- I send out an e-mail every week that not only deals with youth programming but life in general.

2. Explain- Let be honest, some parents have no idea about the programs we run. I do my best to explain them  so they can choose what is best of for their kids.

3. Expect- Expectations are important. Parents have expectation of us and I have expectations of them. It is about partnership and working together to build the Kingdom of God.

Christianity is not a buffet but our youth programs are, so I do my best to make sure parents get to decide what their kids need and let them choose.

I Want My Kids To Be More Responsible (Be A Leader Not A Follower)

I don’t know of any parent who says to their teenager, “Please, let me do more for you while you play xbox for 20 hours a week.” We take leadership seriously in Fusion. We believe students should own and lead their youth ministry . They can hear from God just like we can. They can have passions, ideas, and visions just like we can. They can execute a plan just like we can, with a little guidance. They can build the Kingdom of God just like we can. That being said, we offer a monthly Endeavor meeting, where kids and adults get together to make plans and dream for what God wants to do in this youth ministry. If you want your kids to be responsible at home. Let them be responsible for God’s house. One will reflect the other. Our first Endeavor meeting will be Tuesday, January 10th at 6:30 p.m. Location is TBA. Endeavor meeting are for 8th grade students and up.

I Want My Kid To Be A Stronger, Deeper Disciple for Christ (Act On Their Convictions)

This is not a short term goal but a life long goal. We all want to get deeper, be stronger, and live out what we believe to the max. At least I hope we do. The first step to that, as parents, is to deepen our own walk with God.This is a great time for your kids to see you go deeper as we fast and pray together for the next 21 days. I spend two hours a week max with your kids, you spend at least 28-40 hours a week (when they are not in school). My impact is limited, your impact is limitless.

We have an event this month called Discipleship Camp put on by the State A/G Youth Team. it will be in Springville on January 13-15. It is a great time to getaway for worship and teaching. I would have let you know sooner but we were not planning to go because of the Gulf Shore trip. If you would like your child to attend, the cost is $75 for Endeavor members and $80 for everyone else, and is due this coming Wednesday. I have attached a form for you. Please send me a quick e-mail if you are wanting your child to go. You can check out some of the years district activities here www.alabamayouthministries.com

We are also offering Youth Convention March 2-4. More info will be coming about this next week.

I Want My Kids To Care About (Love) Others More

Jesus said, “I will make you my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the Utter Most parts of the earth.” Jesus told his disciples this after he promised the power of the Holy Spirit. I believe Jesus is still speaking this to us, and to our young people today. We will start in Jerusalem ( Pleasant Grove, Hueytown) and move to the Utter Most parts of the world in a three year plan. We will be designing special outreaches for your kids to bring their friend to for the next four months and we will be capping it off this summer with a trip outside the state. We will be having Missions Wednesday in two weeks January 18th. After reviewing our options and prayer will will choose a location and begin fundraising. You are invited to check out the locations we are considering on that night and share your thoughts.

If you think these programs will assist you in strengthening your family, then I say come on aboard! If there are other ways, or if you have other desires for your family, let Kim and I know and we will do our best to assist you.

As always, we pray for you and your family. Please pray for Kim and I as we serve you to the best of our ability.

Paul and Kim