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Forum Newbie
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Last Login: 10/13/2009 6:37:19 PM
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| I am a fairly new youth interm at my church. I come from a 3 year background doing youth ministry in a big church with lots of problems. Having moved to a different state to continue to reach out to kids and parents, i am finding myself having trouble adjusting to small church and few kids at youth group. I went from working with 100+ kids on a weekly basis to having 3 on a regular wednesday night and half of the time 2 are late :-) My question here is, can anyone tell me anything wise on what to do about having such small group? i have anywhere from 1 to 8 kids. mostly 3. Ages varying from 13 to 16. I am struggleing to find activities for them. things that worked in a big group setting dont seem to work with them. They are really good kids with little to no church background. their bible knowledge is minimal and things that interest me, well you guessed it... BORES them!! Anyone know of any simple, entretaining, games? perhaps video clips. anything would really help. And is anyone out there having the same problem
I am a fairly new youth interm at my church. I come from a 3 year background doing youth ministry in a big church with lots of problems. Having moved to a different state to continue to reach out to kids and parents, i am finding myself having trouble adjusting to small church and few kids at youth group. I went from working with 100+ kids on a weekly basis to having 3 on a regular wednesday night and half of the time 2 are late :-)
My question here is, can anyone tell me anything wise on what to do about having such small group?
i have anywhere from 1 to 8 kids. mostly 3. Ages varying from 13 to 16. I am struggleing to find activities for them. things that worked in a big group setting dont seem to work with them. They are really good kids with little to no church background. their bible knowledge is minimal and things that interest me, well you guessed it... BORES them!!
Anyone know of any simple, entretaining, games?
perhaps video clips.
anything would really help.
And is anyone out there having the same problem.?
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Forum Guru
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 12:15:33 PM
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One of my favorite books is "Single Digit Youth Groups" by Marcey Balcomb. It is inspirational, rejuvenating, and full of great stuff to make small youth groups awesome. If you ever feel envious of the "successful" youth pastor who has hundreds of kids in his youth group this book will get you back on track to value your smaller group. I've been involved with large and small groups and I much prefer the intimacy of a smaller group. Pouring your life into a few kids has an awesome effect on them for life. It's so great to see my students graduating from college bringing their faith with them into the world. Get this book.
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Forum Guru
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Last Login: 1/6/2010 2:51:30 PM
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Generally, larger youth groups tend to be more event centered with big videos and being more showey. It draws in, and tends to keep, the large numbers. People are more likely to come, just be part of the crowd and leave. If you have a really good group of volunteers you can make it more personal, but generally it's the volunteers or youth leaders that are involved in the more personal aspects of the youth group.
Small youth groups are different. They are ALL about the individual relationships. Being showey and super dynamic is more likely to push people away than help (been there, done that, had to deal with the consequences). In a situation like this, it's going to be much more about how you respond to them and reaching them where they are, than having the right video clip or making sure your powerpoint is perfect.
With small groups you need to find out what they are passionate about and get into those kinds of things. If they aren't Christian things, find Christian alternatives. You can do games like 2 truths and a lie and other discovery/relationship building games. Try out some different things. After a while you should have an idea as to what works and what doesn't with your group.
I know where you're at. It is really difficult to go from a large group mentality to a small group one. You have to go from a higher viewpoint of being dynamic and reaching to the mass as a whole, to a much more ground level, "Come hang out with me. I'm here in the trenches with you". It's tough to completely change your mentality.
Masterpiece in Progress - Building masterpieces one person at a time.
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Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2/2/2010 6:47:56 PM
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mtvyouth (10/13/2009)
I am a fairly new youth interm at my church. I come from a 3 year background doing youth ministry in a big church with lots of problems. Having moved to a different state to continue to reach out to kids and parents, i am finding myself having trouble adjusting to small church and few kids at youth group. I went from working with 100+ kids on a weekly basis to having 3 on a regular wednesday night and half of the time 2 are late :-)
My question here is, can anyone tell me anything wise on what to do about having such small group?
i have anywhere from 1 to 8 kids. mostly 3. Ages varying from 13 to 16. I am struggleing to find activities for them. things that worked in a big group setting dont seem to work with them. They are really good kids with little to no church background. their bible knowledge is minimal and things that interest me, well you guessed it... BORES them!!
Anyone know of any simple, entretaining, games?
perhaps video clips.
You are basically leading a small group. Treat it as such. God has given you an awesome opportunity to build close relationships, to do random excursions to Pizza Hut for youth group, etc.
My first YM, we had 5 kids for 2 1/2 years. I was often discouraged, but I was also often stupid! God gave me a blessing & I was so busy looking at the grass in larger yards that I didn't see how green my grass actually was.
anything would really help.
And is anyone out there having the same problem
----
Love God
Love People
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