what to look for in a youth volunteer

Youth Pastors and Youth Leaders running a youth ministry find out pretty quickly that their vision and desire to reach and impact youth cannot be accomplished alone. The volunteer team of a youth ministry becomes their most prized possessions. We all know the feelings and emotions felt when one of our leaders cannot make an event, when someone we count on is not available, or when a valued, gifted leader leaves our team. There is a sense of loss, but we bounce back quickly knowing God is ultimately our source and supply. It’s His ministry after all!

Even though God will make sure we have what we need, talented, committed leaders don’t come easy; and when they do, we hold on for dear life! Even though we thrive off of the availability of volunteers, we want to always make sure that the ones we get are quality. Not just anyone is “anointed” to work with youth. So how do we know when we have stumbled upon a jewel in a youth leader? Below is a list of seven key qualities to look for in a potential leader for our teams.

(Excerpt taken from “Middle School Ministry Made Simple,” by Kurt Johnston) Because we’re often desperate for help, men and women who lead youth ministries often take anyone who is breathing and willing to help out. Actually, as long as they’re breathing, we’ll take ‘em! We tend to worry about the willing part later.

I learned a lesson early on in my ministry career. When it comes to volunteers, quality is better than quantity. Having fewer of the right type of youth leaders is always better than having more than the wrong type. If you aren’t asking this question, let me ask it for you: “What do I look for in a youth volunteer? What type is the right type?”

In our ministry, we’ve made a list of seven key qualities we look for in a potential youth volunteer.

1. Spiritual Maturity – Because of the unique nature of this ministry, we look for volunteers who have strong character and are willing and able to answer the tough questions that youth ask. Unfortunately, many churches think the youth department is the perfect place for the young, immature leader to “cut his teeth.”
2. Sower Mentality – We’re looking for people who understand the fact that youth ministry is a process and that we won’t always see immediate results. The world is full of Christians who were exposed to the gospel in middle school/junior high, but didn’t become believers until later.
3. Fun – We’re looking for adults who don’t take themselves too seriously. We want leaders who can laugh at themselves and see the fun in everyday living.
4. Contagious – There needs to be something about each leader that attracts students.
5. Patient – Short-tempered, easily frustrated leaders do more harm than good.
6. Affirming – We live in a world of put-downs and sarcasm. Youth students need to feel affirmed, loved, and accepted.
7. Likes Teenagers – We’re looking for volunteers who don’t just love teens/youth…they actually like them!

teaching teens how to deal with peer pressure

Lesson #1
Today, we are going to discuss and learn about peer pressure. I am sure that we are all familiar with this term,
but hopefully we can take the time to really find out what it is and how it affects our lives everyday.

First, who can tell me what a “Peer” is?
Peer – one belonging to the same group, especially based on age and grade

Now, let’s define “Pressure.”
Pressure – the application of force to something by something else that is in direct contact with it

When you put those two words together, you get “Peer Pressure!”
Peer Pressure – A peer, someone belonging to your group, putting pressure, or force, on you to behave a
certain way.

Talk it Over
Anyone and anything that you hang around for any significant amount of time influences you in some kind of
way.

• Name a TV commercial that you have seen that made you want to purchase what it was selling.
• Name a book that you were reading that made you want to try what you read about.
• Name an authority figure in your life that influenced you to do something good that you normally would
not have done.

Let’s read about an example of this in the Bible. Let’s read Acts 2:1 – 15, 40 – 41. Peter was able to
influence the entire crowd by the words that he spoke. The crowd thought that the people that were praying in
tongues were drunk, but Peter shared with them all about the power of God and the Holy Spirit, and many
believed and got born again and baptized after he spoke.

This is an example of how we can be influenced by what others do and say around us. Next time we meet, we
will learn more about how we are sometimes influenced to do negative things and ways we can overcome bad
pressure from our peers.

Lesson #2
Topic – Bad Peer Pressure
Today we are going to talk about “bad” peer pressure. Does anyone have an idea of what we would consider
to be bad peer pressure? (Let a few children give examples).

What is it?
Bad peer pressure would be one of your peers influencing you to do something that is wrong or something that
you do not want to do. Has this ever happened to anyone?

Sometimes it is hard to make decisions on our own, but, it gets even harder when we have others influencing
us in a bad way. Let’s look at an example of this in the Bible. Jesus had just been taken into custody before
His crucifixion. Let’s read about what Pilate did in Matthew 27:11 – 26.
Pilate knew that Jesus was an innocent man, but he let the crowd persuade him into letting Barabbas go
instead of Jesus. We all have done this at one time or another – allowed someone else to pressure us into
making a decision we knew was wrong. How can we avoid this in the future?

1. Choose Good Friends – You should want to choose friends that desire to make good decisions. If
you are hanging around people that want to do what is right, most likely, you will do what is right too!

2. Practice saying “NO!” If you know you are about to be in a situation that may put you in the position
of doing something you don’t want to do, practice how you will say no before you get there. When you
are by yourself, play out how you will address the situation. For example, if you know someone is
going to try and make you lie to your parents, you can practice your response by saying something like,
“You know, I lied to my parents before and it didn’t turn out too good. I think I will just stick to the truth
this time.” When you practice this alone, you are more prepared when you have to face it in real life.

3. Be the “Leader of the Pack!” – Most of the time, if you are in a group of kids and there is someone
trying to influence others to do something wrong, there are more kids beside you in the group that don’t
want to do it. If you stand up and say, “No, I think I will pass,” you will empower other kids to do the
same, and they will probably follow you! What a leader you will become!

Lesson #3
Topic – “Peer Pressure Traps – Self Image and Acceptance.”
Peer Pressure Traps
Even though we learned ways to overcome bad peer pressure, there are some traps to negative pressure that
we can put ourselves in if we are not careful. Sometimes, the things we feel and do make us more vulnerable
to sway towards the leading of a more negative crowd. Let’s learn about some of these traps today.

Bad Self Image – What is a self image? Our self image is how we see or view ourselves. When we have a
bad self image, this makes us more likely to sway to the thoughts and opinions of others in order to feel
accepted. Your self image includes things like1
• What you think you look like
• How you see your own personality
• What kind of person you think you are
• What you think others think of you
• How much you like yourself or you think others like you

If you feel bad about any of these items, then you may look to others to validate who you are by going along
with the things they want to do. This does two things to you:
1. Continues to make you feel bad about yourself
2. Keeps you from developing into the person God has designed for you to be

Let’s see what the Bible has to say about this. Let’s Read Psalm 139:12 – 16. As you can see, when God
made you, He made you wonderful. There were no mistakes. What you look like and your personality is how
He fashioned you.

When you don’t feel good about these things, then you look to others to make you feel good about them. This
can lead you to making poor decisions – ones that you would not normally make if you were alone. Here are
some things you can do to improve your self image.

Focus on what you do well. Find out what it is you excel in and direct your interest there. Develop that talent
or skill; get involved in activities that allow you to utilize it. Maybe you like playing an instrument, singing,
drawing, acting, dancing, sports, etc. Find a class or a group that you can become a part of. This will make
you feel better about yourself and put you around others that appreciate what you do!

Work on what you don’t like. If you don’t like the way you dress, your weight, your hair, etc, are there things
you can do to work on these areas? Can you talk with your parents about getting different clothes that better
suite your style but fit in the family budget? What about your mother helping you out with combing your hair in
a way you like better? If you want to lose weight, maybe talk with your parents about things you can do as a
family to help you achieve your weight goals. There are always things you can do to help build your
confidence in yourself. You just have to be willing to do them!

Don’t compare yourself with others – be who you are! You cannot achieve what God has for you in life if
you spend your time comparing your gifts, talents, skills, and looks to someone else. God created you for His
purpose and He cannot use you if you are trying to fulfill someone else’s purpose. Decide to like who you are.
Decide to focus on your strengths and abilities. Let God unfold how He wants to utilize them in His kingdom
and how He can use them to bring you happiness and fulfillment in your life!

Click here for a pdf version of this post.

questioning the norm

Beyonce says go to a club, have a “drank” and get a new man when your boyfriend’s “actin’ up.” Apple Bottoms jeans can look so fly that you forget the name refers to a sexual body part. And sex may look so fun and exciting on Gossip Girl that you forget about STDs, a broken heart and pregnancy in real life.

So what am I saying? Throw out your CDs and clothes, and never watch television? No. But I’m encouraging you to be careful. These things are so “subtle and crafty,” just like the devil. The music and television shows seem harmless, but the effects of it coming in contact with your Spirit day after day can lead to your downfall. And that’s why Examples Youth Ministries (XYM) is here. We encourage you all to rise above your peers and be filled with knowledge to make wise decisions. God says “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” We won’t allow your destruction! Through our events and programs, we are committed to being your mentor, motivator and friend.

And this includes reminding you of all things that can steer you away from spiritual growth and a promising future. Single Ladies by Beyonce is just one example. But how many times have we become so energized with the Lollipop beat that we sing along with Lil Wayne, who is making a request for sexual favors? He’s nominated for eight Grammys this year. I encourage you all to start questioning the norm, because it’s not always right.

Apple Bottoms clothing provides style for curvaceous women. But when boys start to look at your “apple bottom” because it’s plastered on your back pocket, what do you do with that attention? Think about those T-shirts that reveal clever sayings like, “Juicy” or “Your boyfriend likes me.” I want you all to consider how these words can affect the way you see yourself and how the opposite sex sees you. Words have power. The Bible reminds us that life and death is in held in the tongue.

Sometimes sin isn’t as blatant as a lie or murder. It can be so “normal” in our daily routines that we miss it. It could be lacking faith that you will pass a test, or fear of telling a boy “no” because you want him to like you. I know Hip Hop kind of took a beating in this letter, but it is having an affect on our young people, whether it’s positive or negative. I hope to have many more discussions on this topic and more with you all. Just simply chilling out when you’ve been hurt by a boy may not make a hit record, but I guarantee it’ll do better for your Spirit than having a “drank.” In the meantime, stay in the Word, get informed and be careful ladies.

Stay encouraged,

Teresa Sewell

choices

Guys, take a second and think about all the things you have done today. You probably woke up, took a shower (or not), got dressed, went to school, then came home and played a video game. Without realizing it or not, you have made hundreds of choices from the time you got up until now. And, for the remainder of the day, you will continue to make choices concerning your life. Choices (especially those you make) are the most important things in your life and they affect so many areas of it.

One of the most important lessons you can learn about choices is that they build upon each other and lead you to an outcome. Think back to those days when you played with Legos. You picked up one block in the set and it didn’t seem to be anything more than a block. Then you started to put it together with other blocks in the set. When you started, you may have had an idea of what you wanted to build or you may have simply just put blocks together until they turned into something. However, over time, you built a house, car, spaceship or some random thing that you had no idea what it was.

Now, think about your choices as those Legos, each choice you make representing one Lego Block. The choice may look simply as a choice at the moment, but it is actually going to be used to build something – your life. As you go through life and continue to make choices – whether it’s a good or bad choice – they are being put together like the Legos to build your life.

Even as a teenager, you want to get an idea of the type of life you want to build. The worst thing would be to grow up without this idea and your life has then turned into “some random thing that you have no idea what it is”. So, what do you want your life to become when you grow up? Think about that for a second. Then realize that to get there, you simply need to make choices that will build that life.

As you go on with the rest of your day, think about the choices you are making and how they will help build your life. Then choose to make choices that will build the life you want.

Apprentiss White

lukewarm christian

Teaching Teens to Decide Wholeheartedly to Live for God

What does it mean to be “lukewarm”? Let’s read Revelations 3:14 –16

OBJECT LESSON
Have a cup or small bowl of ice, a mug of hot water, and a room temperature mug of water. Have a volunteer come up to help you demonstrate the below.

When you think of being lukewarm, you think of something that is somewhere in the middle. Put your hand in this cup (the cup of ice). What does this feel like? OK, now put your hand in this one (the hot one). What does that feel like? OK, now feel this one (the room temperature one). Would you say this one is hot or cold?

When you are a lukewarm Christian, you are not “hot” enough to be living entirely for God, but not “cold” enough to say you are not a Christian.

When you try to mix the two, you only cause confusion in your life and in the lives of those around you! How do you know if you are lukewarm?

When you are lukewarm, you tend to only do the Word when it is easy, convenient, or comfortable for you. For example:

1. When you are around other Christians
2. When you really need something from God
3. When you feel bad about something
4. When you need some money!
5. When you are in danger or in trouble

Some questions to ask yourself to find out if you are lukewarm:

o When you are around certain people, do you forget about doing the Word and being pleasing to God?

o When you don’t feel like doing the right thing according to the Bible, do you just blow it off?

o When you hear the Word, does it feel like it really means something to you right then, but later or in a day or two you go back to doing the opposite of what you heard? (James 1:22 – 27 talks about being a forgetful hearer of the Word).

So, if all of this is coming too close to describing you, what are steps to take to turn this around in your life? How do our hearts become good ground for God’s Word to flourish and grow?

o First, make a decision to do the Word. Believing “in” God is not enough. The devil believes in God! You have to make a decision that you are going to do your best to live like the Word instructs you to live. (James 2:19 – 20 says that our faith without works is dead).

o Make sure you are attending church and getting fed the Word of God. You should find a church that teaches you the Word and how to live it.

o Spend personal time in the Word – every day! Get a daily devotion book, go online to find teen Bible Study Lessons (log on to www.examplesyouth.org!), buy a Teen Study Bible that makes the Word easier to read and understand. Whatever it takes, you have to begin studying and reading the Word on your own. Going to church once or twice a week is not enough to sustain your life in God. The world is coming at us 24/7. We’ve got to combat it with putting God’s Word inside of us.

o Pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17, Psalm 5:1 – 3). Praying throughout the day as well as setting aside time to pray.

o Hang out with other kids that believe the Word and desire to live it.

Once you are doing those steps, here is what happens when we decide to seek God with your whole heart and not settle at being lukewarm (Revelations 3:17 – 22):

o You are now empowered to be successful in everything you do.

o You are now able to see and understand things you normally would not have been able to. Things you did not know how to fix, problems you were having with your family, at school, with a friend, etc. – your understanding will become clearer because you are now aligning your heart with hearing from God and His Word on how to live your life.

o You are no longer living subject to the world and its ways. When you are not living subject to the world, you are not subject to the results of living a worldly life as well. Broken relationships, sickness, lack and poverty, failure. God wants to direct us in our lives so that we are not subject to the curse of the world, but to the blessings of life and life more abundantly (John 10:10)

Click here for a pdf version of this post.

pass the hat

MATERIALS NEEDED:
Two hats (can be plastic top hats or regular hats)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Place the group into two circles or two lines – can be an inner circle and an outer circle. The lines or circles should be divided evenly. If you end up being one person short in one line/circle, then someone will have to go twice.
2. The first player in each circle has a hat on his/her head. The object is to pass the hat round the circle or down the line without using their hands. They can use ANY other body part, but not their hands. If they use their hands, they have to give the hat back to the person before them and try to pass the hat again without using their hands. (The kids will get pretty creative with how to pass the hats!).
3. The team which passes the hat round the circle or down the line first without dropping the hat our using their hands wins the game. You can play more than once.

deal or no deal

This is a variation of the popular TV game show that can be played with your youth group. I played this game with a group of kids and they really got into it. Our highest dollar amount to win was $250 and our lowest amount to win was $.50. Our first winner won $.50! It was great. We felt so bad we ended up giving her $50 just for being such a good sport.

MATERIALS NEEDED:
Cash money or whatever you are playing for (other variations could be candy bars or other treats, small prizes, etc.), poster board, cardstock, tape.

ACTIVITY SETUP:
Place the dollar amount (or candy bars or whatever your group is playing for) in descending order on a large piece of poster board. When I play, I use 22 spots on the board with dollar amounts ranging from $.50 to $250.00. If you have a large dry erase board or chalk board, you can save resources and just draw a playing board there. If you want a playing board that you can use over and over again, use stronger material – you can even use a piece of wood and paint it, creating a long-lasting board.

On pieces of cardstock, put the dollar amounts in random order, one dollar amount per sheet. Then, on the other side, number the cards from 1 to 22 (or however many spots you have on your board).

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. The contestant will call out the numbers of three cards to pull. A leader will pull the cards one at a time and display the dollar value on the back of the card (i.e. $5.00, $15.00, etc). The teacher will then cross that dollar amount off from the board (or if you are playing with a permanent board, you can use something to cover the dollar amount up with).
2. After choosing the card, another leader will act as the “banker” and will make a money offer to the contestant to try and “buy” their card from them. The goal of the banker is to try and give the contestant the least amount of money possible. The banker cannot offer more than the highest amount of money that is not crossed out on the board. The goal of the contestant is to walk away with the most amount of money possible.
3. The contestant will then either take the offer the banker has given – DEAL – or chose to keep playing – NO DEAL.
   2nd Round – Open three cases
   3rd Round – Open three cases
   4th – 7th Round – Open two cases
   8th Round and Over – Open one case at a time
4. If the child gets down to just one card left, they will have the choice of keeping their original card or switching out with the last card. The dollar amount on the back of the card they choose is what they win!

sticky nose relay

MATERIALS NEEDED:
Creamy petroleum jelly, cotton balls, paper plates, paper towels, table, bowls.

ACTIVITY SETUP:
Place the table in the front of the room. Place the paper plates with cotton balls on them on the table – one plate for each team.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. You can play this game as teams or individual contestants. If you are playing as teams, recommend small teams of two, no more than three contestants on a team.
2. Coat each contestant’s nose with petroleum jelly.
3. Each team member will take a turn to run to the table, place their nose in their team’s designated plate of cotton balls, and see how many cotton balls they can get to stick on their nose – NO HANDS.
4. They then must return back to their line and place their cotton balls in their teams bowl. They cannot count any cotton balls that fell to the floor while walking back to their line!
5. The team that finishes the above first wins a small prize, BUT, the team with the most cotton balls in their bowl all wins a Grand Prize.

plastic wrap relay

MATERIALS NEEDED:
Small rolls of plastic wrap.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Choose contestants to make teams of two. One person is the “wrapper” and the other is the “wrappie.” If you can, maybe choose teams out of each grade represented in the room – this will create some hype in the room and the kids will cheer for their represented grade.
2. Each team will race to wrap their respective “wrappie” in plastic wrap. You should set a time limit – like three minutes or five minutes. Also, buy a small enough roll of plastic wrap so that they can reasonably finish the task in the given time period. (I made the mistake of buy LOOOONG rolls of plastic wrap and it took the kids forever to wrap each other! It was great though!!! Hilarious).
3. If your time ends and no one has finished wrapping their “wrappie,” then you can either have them stop and see whoever is closest to the end of the roll (you can put each teams roll side by side to see whose is the smallest) or you can let the game go on a few more minutes if the crowd is still into it (they may be cheering for their friends, classmates, etc.).
4. Whatever team finishes their roll first or whoever has the smallest roll at the end of the time wins a prize.

leader training

Examples Youth Ministries offers training of/for Youth Leaders of churches and ministries. Our training includes:

• Leadership Development
• Youth Bible Study Development
• Small Group Discussion Development
• Alter Ministry/Prayer Room Training
• Youth Leader Volunteer Orientations
• “Ministers” Development and Training
• Volunteer Recruitment
• And more!
• Click here for a list of tools and resources that are freely available for downloading!

If you are interested in Examples Youth Ministries assisting you with any of the above, please fill out the form below and we will be in touch with you.

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