Sunday, August 22, 2010

Things that make you go... Oh, I remember

When i started my new job i arrived with three filing cabinet draws full of odd files. Sermons, illustrations, youth ministry snippets from years past, resources...

This afternoon i finally filed them away.

Whilst i was avoiding that job, i printed this out. In it, the tenth commandment of youth ministry is to have fun and create memories.

This can be done in four main ways...

Repetition - Have a routine structure. Do things regularly enough that the teens can tell their friends what to expect. Let the memories of these experiences build over time.

Extreme Experiences - Almost the opposite of the above. Do things that are the most (whatever). The highest. The fastest. The scariest. The chocolate-iest. Do things that will cause those there to say "You think this is cold? I remember this one time..."

Relational and Emotional Experiences - Travel through life together. Be there when things are great and when things are lousy. Share each others joys and sorrows. This will both bond the singular relationships, but the group as a whole.

Mountaintop Experiences - Do things of significance. Intentionally give opportunities where those involved will be able to look back at the event/camp and say that they were changed by going and influenced positively by being there/the decision they made.

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