Monday, May 14, 2007
Free Youth Group Resource
Tim Schmoyer, a youth group leader with an excellent blog, posted a free (but small) e-book online last week with some extremely practical guidance for youth workers. It's basically a list of 130 tips for small church or new youth pastors who are looking for some guidance. While a lot of this is simple stuff, there's a lot of wisdom in here, and even veteran youth workers will find this a worthwhile resource. Plus it's free. Click here for the e-book.
Here are a few highlights:
Here are a few highlights:
- Admit failure. No one is perfect, so don't pretend like you are. Students will respect you more for it.
- Don't over-react about the problem of cliques. Instead, provide plenty of opportunities for everyone to interact and discover each other. Breaking up cliques is usually an exercise in futility and somewhat counter-productive.
- Spend more time focusing on people than on programs. Programs should be done within the context of relationships.
- Create an atmosphere of "belonging" by plastering your youth room and office walls with pictures of the students and your activities together.
- Include the Sr. Pastor as much as you can. Make him/her feel like they are welcomed to your group and give the kids a chance to meet him/her outside the pulpit.
