Serve Together Before You Serve Together

on January 25th, 2012

We’re almost a month into the new year.  This is the perfect time to start focusing on stuff that will be happening in your ministry this year.  For many of us, that means starting all the preparations for a summer mission trip.  By now you’ve selected the date and location of your trip.  If you haven’t already, you’ll be finalizing the youth and adults that will be going on the trip.  All of these those are important steps in the process.  Once these are done, you can begin the pre-trip process.

Depending on your mission provider or if you are organizing your own trip, there should be pre-trip meetings that help to get everyone going on the trip get ready and be prepared for serving those in need.  But… you still won’t know how everyone will come together.  Will everyone “gel”?  Will they learn to work together?  Will something difficult or unforeseen derail the trip?  Will your adults lead and be, well, adults?  These are incredibly important questions. Questions that often can’t be answered until you’re on your trip.

But, what if you could get a glimpse of how these questions will be answered?  What if you could know how your group will work together?  What if you knew that your adults would lead?  What if you could get a preview of how the team will come together?

Well… you can.

Get your group involved in a service experience before your trip.  A one-day service event is a great time to help everyone in your group gain a little experience before your trip.  Witnessing your group serve others, even for just 6 to 8 hours, will give you great insight into how the group is coming together.  You’ll be able to get a great idea about areas you can help your group improve in before your trip.  You’ll know some coaching you can give your adults so they are ready for the trip this summer.

Just one day of serving together and you’ll have a great preview of this summer.  There’s still time to plan a day like this and add it to your pre-trip preparations.

Discuss

Some great stuff from Simply Youth Ministry!

on October 26th, 2011

Discuss (1)

The Big Day of Serving – Bloomsburg, PA Disaster Recovery

on September 30th, 2011

As a result of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, the Susquehanna River flooded to levels around 30 feet – destroying roads and bridges, inundating entire communities and washing away the first 2 floors of many homes.  We’re partnering with the people of Bloomsburg, PA, one of the communities devastated by this flood, to bring help and hope to the people of that community.

For 4 consecutive Saturdays in October you have the opportunity to make a real difference.  The dates are October 8, 15, 22, and 29.  You can find more information here.  We’re making this event a little different than most The Big Day of Serving.  We want anyone and everyone 12 years old and older to come serve – not just your youth group.  You can invite the men’s ministry, women’s ministry, adult small groups, Sunday school classes, pastoral staff, etc. to come with you to help.  We’ll take everyone who can help.

Please consider bringing your youth group!

The Big Day of Serving – Bloomsburg, PA Disaster Recovery

 

 

Discuss (1)

1 By Youth – St. Louis

on April 18th, 2011

What a great day on Saturday!  Over 500 people served in the College Hill neighborhood.  Here’s some highlights…

We started the day at Imagine Academy – a local school that generously allowed us the use of their building beginning Friday night.

This is what greeted 1 By Youth as they arrived.

Everyone  gathered in the gym at Imagine Academy on Saturday morning.  This is what almost 500 people waiting for an amazing day of service to start looks like…

Waiting for the Kick-Off Rally to begin...

It was really a great day of service.  We cleaned empty lots, cleared sidewalks, painted buildings, improved parks – whatever we could to help the people of College Hill.  One of the most meaningful projects was planting a landscape garden at the base of one of the original water towers in the neighborhood.  This is the last picture I took as I was leaving College Hill at the end of the day.

Bringing beaty to one of the most important places in all of College Hill.

Thanks again to everyone who served.  You made a real difference.  The residents of College Hill are very appreciative and hope we come back next year.  See you in 2012!

Discuss

Easter Worship Experience

on March 25th, 2011

We used this experience during our 2006 mission trips.  God used it in some pretty incredible ways that summer.  It’s called the “Bread Body” and it’s a powerful visual of Christ’s sacrifice.  It should work well during the Easter season and as an experience that flows into Communion or the Eucharist (depending on your church).  I wanted to pass it along in case your looking for a good experiential time of worship this Easter season.

Bread Body

He is Risen!

Discuss

Fall Fundraising Poll

on November 9th, 2010

Here’s a link to a good, basic, easy fall fundraiser for your group.

Fall Fundraising Idea

It got me thinking about fundraising.  I wonder when you begin your group raising money for their summer mission trip.


Discuss

1 By Youth – Detroit

on September 30th, 2010

I’ve mentioned 1 By Youth a couple times and wanted to give an update on how this new ministry is doing.  We’ve had two 1 By Youth events so far this fall and both have done exactly what we hope – transform a neighborhood!

But don’t take my word for it…

Here’s a great blog post from Tom Roepke of New Hope Community Church about his youth group’s experience at 1 By Youth Detroit.

There is one more 1 By Youth event still this fall in New Orleans on November 6.  If you live any where near New Orleans, please consider bringing your group and helping to transform a neighborhood!

Discuss (2)

The infamous 3-legged race!

on September 26th, 2010

About a month ago, the Simply Youth Ministry team challenged members of the Group Workcamps team to a 3-legged race.  Well, the SYM folks just didn’t do so great…  The Workcamps team killed it!  Guess we know who’s just… better…

You can see it all for yourself here.

Go Workcamps!

Discuss

Fall Fundraising Ideas

on September 22nd, 2010

While your summer trip (mission trip, camp, rafting, etc…) may seem a long way off, it’s never too late to start fundraising.   Here’s a couple quick ideas to get you thinking what you can do now to begin to raise the necessary funds for next summer.

  • Yard work – Rake leaves, trim trees, haul trash and debris for a fee – but make it fun!  The crazy thing is many people will give a donation once the “free” work is done.
  • Fall Celebrations – Halloween substitute at the church without all the goblins and ghouls. Make it family friendly with games and treats suitable for kids and ask for money or a donation at the door.  Make sure the event offers as quality an experience as a family would get anywhere else and they’ll gladly pay good money for good, safe family time.
  • Pumpkin sales – Arrange to help set up a stand and sell pumpkins for your local farmers. Include homeade donations like apple cider, apple sauce and decorations like corn stalks and hay bales.  The more professional the sale the more $ people will be willing to pay.

These are basic ideas but you could combine a couple into a single event or use them as inspiration for your own unique idea.  If you have a fall fundraising idea that has worked really well for you, I’d love to hear it!

Discuss

Free Game – Hide and Seek (with a twist)

on September 2nd, 2010

Here’s a thought-provoking twist on an old game that you can use at a youth group meeting to help kick-off your fall and to generate a great discussion about community and commitment to each other. With this new twist on the classic Hide and Seek, from back in the day, your youth will have to make a decision that will provoke deeper thoughts as to: “Why we hide sometimes,” “Why do we not seek others out” and “How does it feel to be ‘found’.”

Hide and Seek (with a twist)

Discuss

1 2