Wow! Who knew that there was so much planning that needed to be done to have games be successful in youth ministry? After watching various youth ministers try to have games in their youth programs, it has become very clear to me that they needed to read these seven deadly sins of game leading. The bottom line is as a youth leader you must be prepared and ready not just for your lesson, but also for the games that you want to do during your youth group. Preparation is the key to keeping your youth involved and excited about the evening.
When we are doing youth ministry in our churches, it is important for us to remember what the purpose is for this ministry. Why do we want to use games as a tool in our youth group? I think that if done correctly, games can be one of the greatest tools in getting more diverse youth in our program. Games can really help foster relationships among the youth in our youth groups, but if not done correctly, games can be the thing that pulls our youth group apart.
The biggest thing that Jonathan McKee, the author, said in the article Do Game Still Work? The Seven Deadly Sins of Game Leading for staff be more than "chaperones, but youth workers." This was a great challenge for me, and I know that this is what needs to happen for youth workers to have real relationships with the youth. How can we, as adults, expect to have relationships with our youth if we can’t get our hands dirty? If our teens do not know that we can have fun with them and aren’t afraid of getting embarrassed or doing what we are asking them to do, then why would they do it? Adults need to be youth workers who are involved in what the youth are doing. They do not need to be chaperons just sitting on the sidelines observing.
McKee does a great job reminding youth leaders that leading games is something that will make or break the attitudes and setting for that evening. I agree with what he has said. I think that sometimes youth leaders do not put enough emphasize on their games and just try to pull something together at the last minute. I know personally that when I have tried to just pull games together at the last minute, it does not work. Granted, sometimes it might, but ultimately am I giving God my best if I wait until the last minute and throw things together? God and His work deserve our best!
This Article was submitted by Dave Stout, a Senior Youth Ministry Major at Ohio Christian University.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
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8 comments:
Dave,you began and ended your response of this article with the concept of preparation. It's so easy to talk about being prepared and an entirely different thing to actually be prepared. Without preparation there are so many less options or avenues that can be taken in the activity aspect of youth ministry. Some games need props, and if there is no planning, games that require props will never happen. A result of not planning could be a group of high schoolers and junior highers playing duck-duck-goose, which I must admitt happened at our ministry last week. At least I played with them. I think I had as much fun as any of the kids, and they seemed to enjoy it. Sometimes the simple things like this can be effective, too.
As far as chaperones verses youthworkers, you brought up a good point. A chaperone just stands outside a group and watches, so they are not really working at all. If we, as youth workers are supposed to be 'incarnational' in our ministry, then sitting out of bounds is dead wrong. Jesus did not sit outside the circle and observe what is going on withing the group. He was involved within the culture and in the lives of individuals. If we are to have the same attitude of Jesus (Philippians chapter 2) then we ought to be likewise. We must be relational in order to change lives in the most effective manner.
I took a quick look at the article, and I believe that this guy is very passionate about games. I think he may be a little over the top on a few things he says, but at least he takes this issue seriously. Applaud him for that, but I don't believe if I tell a kid it is time to play a game, he'll have second thoughts about coming to youth group.
Thanks Dave
Your friend,
Clayton J.H.
I couldn't agree with you more Dave. I know when I was growing up in the youth group games were huge. To see Dave and Jamie joining in the game made it so much more fun. I loved to see them enjoying themselves along with us. I also loved stomping their read ends too from time to time. Haha but thats a whole other story to be told...however from time to time they handed me a butt whoopin. Knowing they were their not only to supervise but to join in the fun also let me know that they would join in on my sufferings as well. I know I put Dave through alot when I was young and he and Jamie stuck with me through it all. The games they played were just the ice breaker to the rest of the story. As you said games being done right and being prepared well in advance is huge. Teens today don't want half way, they want all the way so we as youth workers, leaders, pastors need to be well organized and prepared to give our teens the best we have. Games build not only relationships but also trust. They are a huge part of ministry, not the only part, but when done right make a world of difference to our teens.
This is an important issue in YM. Youth workers are scattered, not focused, they are ill prepared, and lack of managing their time. It is challenging to keep a good, effective schedule running. However, it is vital for the ministry. There is only 24 hours in a day. It is important for youth workers to know how much time they have available during their working days, preparation, events, and also private life plans. Once someone figures out that part of life and puts these events on a schedule then comes the important part of eventually having sufficient time to get ready. Games are time consuming. They need to be prepared in advance and experiment with them. It is important to involve the youth workers in advance so when the actual program is running it is all good and well executed.
Also, it is vital to have the right youth workers in place when planning for an event. There is a lot to accomplish for youth activities and our help needs to be up to date with that. It is a serious responsibility to be up to date in events and with that motivate our help to be up to date and they would not be only mere spectators while youth ministry is being done.
I agree that for the sake of doing games it is not a good idea. It is important to plan and to have games in line with youth activities. If we waste the time of youth they will grow inpatient and bored with the ministry and they will not find it attractive to come to these events.
Hey Jake, your site morphs appearances more frequently than Michael Jackson.
"God and His work deserve our best." Good comment.
Hey Dave, I really appreciate you bringing this topic up. I think I have a tendency not to do games well because I kind of think they are silly. I will have to remember to participate and/or find volunteers who like doing games. I would rather be the teacher of the Word and not a game planner but thanks for reminding me of the games!
Ahh, very relevant topic. I enjoyed reading your posts. Hopefully you've learned something from the posts of all the previous. Procrastination is certainly a common thing in ministry, and it's never a good thing. When you lack in preparation, everyone in there suffers. Best of luck in your ministry.
Faithful Servant
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