Posts tagged youth ministry
Free February Youth Ministry Lesson
Jan 31st
February Youth Ministry
February Youth Ministry Lessons. Yet again another sample free youth ministry lesson. Mix and match. Add your own ideas. Just don’t complain that running a youth group is too hard for you.
7:00-7:15pm Arrival
7:15-7:20pm Prayer
7:20-7:30pm Welcome
7:30-7:45pm Pictionary
7:45-8:05pm Pope John Paul II Video
8:05-8:25pm Pizza and Drinks
8:25-8:55pm Adoration
9:00pm Complete
7:00-7:15pm Arrival
7:15-7:20pm Prayer
7:20-7:30pm Welcome
7:30-7:45pm Charades
7:45-8:05pm Pope John Paul II Video
8:05-8:25pm Pizza and Drinks
8:25-8:55pm Adoration
9:00pm Complete
7:00-7:15pm Arrival
7:15-7:20pm Prayer
7:20-7:30pm Welcome
7:30-7:45pm Indoor Soccer
7:45-8:05pm Pope John Paul II Video
8:05-8:25pm Pizza and Drinks
8:25-8:55pm Adoration
9:00pm Complete
7:00-7:15pm Arrival
7:15-7:20pm Prayer
7:20-7:30pm Welcome
7:30-7:45pm Indoor Basketball
7:45-8:05pm Pope John Paul II Video
8:05-8:25pm Pizza and Drinks
8:25-8:55pm Adoration
9:00pm Complete
Divine Mercy Sunday
Divine Mercy Sunday is still far off, but start preparing your group for it. John Paul II had such an important role in the event. Take advantage of it.
Cold Outside
Games in the gym work best in the winter. Carry a stereo with an iPod in with you for music. I usually lead the games to keep them going fast.
Make sure you reserve the gym from CYO.
Adoration
At this point in the year, the teens usually understand adoration more and enjoy going on a regular basis. Many of the teens tell me how it is an important part of the night.
Pope Video
There are many great John Paul II videos. I like the made for TV movie (2005 on CBS). It works great a series of 20-25 minute clips over a 4 week series.
I usually start the video and end with commentary.
Popularity: 9% [?]
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...How to Attract Youth to Youth Group
Jan 30th
More Proven Marketing Tips for Catholic Youth Groups
Greece, Yea it was fun.
Let’s face it…Youth groups in the Catholic Church are usually small; however, here are some sure methods of bringing more youth to youth group. Try them and tell me how they work for you!
1. Speak from the Pulpit. Right after all the Masses in the Fall and Spring speak from the Alter. Short, 2.5 minutes long and simply say (very enthusiastic ((I always wore a suite) “ Hi my name is Jason Buck and I am the youth minister at (insert Church). I am very excited to invite all the youth tonight to come our annual youth group kick off night. It will be filled with food, fun, and faith. So if you like food, (insert a pause maybe a little laugh), fun, and faith (all with pauses) come on out at 7pm. We have a large number of youth from the parish who participate all ready. I will be in the vestibule giving out more information. Thanks and see you there.”
Collect names and email addresses.
2. Get rid of the objection. Never ask, “Do you want to come to youth group?” because the answer is always “no.” Instead ask, “Does pizza, sports, and a ton of young people sound like fun to? Ok I will see you at youth group tonight, insert name.” If they say no, say, “What don’t you like pizza or making new friends?”
3. Bulletin Announcements for the parents. When you insert a bulletin announcement make sure to tell how much fun your last event was and how much greater this one is. It is good for the parents and parish to stay informed about the youth group.
4. Posters with Pictures. Place posters in the vestibule of Church with pictures showing how much fun the youth group is having.
5. Go to School. Make friends with the theology teachers, help out with retreats, and make a little nitch. The school can send out your information and put you in contact with the teens. Remember you must offer something to the teens and teachers if you want something in return. Don’t forget the home school crowd.
6. Offer Incentives. With the group of 20 you have to create an incentive for each person to bring one more person. That makes 40. Double that you will be making history.
More Tips
1. Use zoho.com CRM to keep track of your youth group.
2. Create a website using wordpress.org or finding a youth to manage it.
3. Always collect email addresses
4. Don’t use myspace.com
5. Read articles and constantly update yourself. Don’t be an authority, just be informed.
Any of these tips could work for other parish ministry organizations. Just be like Jesus and go out to talk with people. If you have to, perform some miracles in His name.
Popularity: 16% [?]
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Social Networking Success for the Catholic Parish
Jan 28th
Social Networking, Catholic Style
This is a subject that scares everyone except the youth themselves. As St. Ignatius says, “You must enter through their door and leave through Christ’s.” I often hear how youth events are not well attended. Poor to nothing usually. Why commit so much hard work to something and have no one benefit?
When I asked Matthew Pinto what he thought a youth minister should do he said, “Be a Marketing Guru.” Go out and bring the youth in. Every successful salesmen knows the key to lasting sales is networking. They go to dinners, golfing, seminars, etc. How do you network with youth? They are online. Go online just like you would go golfing.
Sensitive subject
Many times I say social networking and people get scared or ancey. Yes there are problems, but with simple steps you can decrease them and reap the benefits. A little education goes a long way.
Here is what I do and have found works.
1. Investigate what the youth are using. (I have a sister in high school. I just ask her friends and watch her). Today they are using Facebook, Instant Messaging, Texting, and limited email.
2. Join in strategically. With Facebook all my friends can see what I post and I can notify them when I am doing something. They are forced to see my updates. So I put updates like, “Youth Group Tonight 7pm” “iTunes Gift Certificates Tonight Only at Youth Group.”
3. Tell them to text their friends as soon as they get to youth group. Make sure to text your leaders to remind them about youth group. Create an IM logon and your teens as friends. When you are away for Youth Group set your away message as “At Youth Group…See you There.”
Don’t be sacred, be educated
Staying up to date on technology is important because it can help you become more effective. I have seen the positive results with my own eyes. Do the research for yourself on sites like www.digg.com, www.facebook.com, www.zoho.com, www.ning.com, www.google.com/docs, www.cnet.com These are just to name a few they frequent almost ever other day.
What are you best ways of attracting youth to youth group?
Popularity: 2% [?]
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Ave Maria College – Another Real Catholic College
Dec 20th
Well, I thought it was about time to spread the love. Franciscan University isn’t the only Catholic college.
One night at youth group you could show all the Catholic college videos to the youth.
Popularity: 2% [?]
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Sign Up for Franciscan University Summer Conference
Dec 17th
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 8:00 AM
Don’t forget to sign your youth ministry group up for the best Catholic summer conference. Your teens will encounter the Lord and their lives will be transformed through the Eucharist, Mary, and Confession.
When you sign-up try and get a priest to go with you, don’t forget about chaperons, and bring has many teens as possible. Franciscan University does an incredible job at organizing this event. The hard part is getting your teens there. Once you get there it’s easy.
Popularity: 16% [?]
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...
Recent Comments