If you’re in youth ministry, then an app that you can run off your computer and use a projector or flat screen is almost a basic need in most youth rooms these days.  Even if you’re just using your laptop for 3-4 students to have some fun, I found a sweet website the other day and grabbed a couple of apps that i’ve had some fun with.

It’s a website called digital stache and it has some great resources.

GAME SHOW, SPIN THAT WHEEL.
You pick up to 15 topics or  prizes or whatever you want and put them in the wheel.  Hit spin and game on.  I love that you can ask it to drop a prize once one has been hit, so you never hit the same thing twice.  This is a super helpful feature if you’re using it for questions or a crowd breaker and don’t want to do the same thing twice.

We sometimes have people make the spinning motion by the screen and then have someone hit the button in the back and it looks like they are spinning it. You can even jack with someone and press a button where it mocks you for not being a strong enough spinner.  Super fun.

Only downside I’ve found is that if you’re using it for topics or questions, you can’t have more than 3-4 words before they fall off the edge of the screen as the font doesn’t auto adjust very well.  But besides that, GREAT app.

GAME SHOW SCORE KEEP:
This app let’s you keep score on a big screen between 2 teams. It comes with several backgrounds to choose from and then a few more you can buy for a couple bucks.  I grabbed the guys vs. girls background and we’re definitely gonna use it during our dating series this year. Super fun and very easy!!

GAME SHOW, Ready Set Go.
This is a FREE app and it let’s you customize your countdown clock for even up to an hour.  Awesome resource for nothing.

There you go.  They have some other stuff for music and such on their site, but this stuff was what i needed. If you know of other sites and stuff that you use for youth ministry games, by all means, feel free to share it in the comments.

On Saturday morning I got the privilege of listening to Ken Blanchard, the leadership guru and author of the now infamous leadership resource, “The One Minute Manager.”

I went at the invite of Tic Long and got to spend some time with several of our staff and elders listening to this man in his 70’s spew life wisdom and experience like he’s made of the stuff.  Which after an hour of sharing, I concluded he is.

Here’s some nuggets from him.

“Humility isn’t thinking less about yourself, it’s thinking about yourself less.”

“Profit is not the reason you’re in business.  Profit is the applause you get for doing a job well.”

These two videos killed me this week.

My oldest son TJ made his first ever iMovie for a small group announcement in Encounter to a ridiculous rap song by “Krispy Kreme” that I had to listen to 47 times on the way up I-5 with he and his buddies this summer.  Totally cracked me up.  Not bad for his first swing at a video- much less a music video.  Enjoy….

And this “professional” one from Rhett and Link -my favorite youtube channel- just killed me.  You should so subscribe to these guys.  Freaking hysterical.   I thought this was the funniest thing I’ve seen in forever and so worth using for some dating series in the future.  Epic Manliness at it’s best.  Ha ha.

I have a five kids.  One of which is Jake.  He just started fifth grade. So, we re-started our weekly afternoon trip to Joe’s place after we took a break over the summer. That’s not the place’s real name.  It’s just what we call it. I honestly don’t even know the name of the coffee shop cuz Joe is the owner and the only thing we ever call it is Joe’s… or maybe Java Joe’s.

Other than, “When are we going to restart our meetings after school again?”, the only other question Jake kept repeating to me was, “Do you think Joe will be there?”  Joe is like a crazy uncle to my kids or something.  

So over a blended shake and a cookie, I asked Jake how his world was going and he said a bunch including the following:

REGARDING FIFTH GRADE:  “Fifth grade is hard.”

REGARDING MATH:  “You don’t even do math Dad. You have Pam do it all for you.”   (Ha… he got me there.  Pam is my part time admin and all she does almost exclusively the financial stuff and event money recording.  I hate math and budgeting.)

REGARDING THE PRINCIPAL:  “He turned my school into a prison.  We now have gates on the school.  Birthday’s can only have healthy snacks and no cupcakes.  You can only buy ice cream on Friday’s.  It’s a prison.”

REGARDING GIRLS:  “Why do they paint their toes? This is a waste of time and money. I accidentally stepped on some girls toes today.  She got really upset.  She should just wear tennis shoes or something.  Or at least close toed.  You know you had to wear closed toed shoes to summer fun camp this summer.  Really, why do they paint their toes?”

REGARDING CHECKERS ON MY IPHONE:  “I don’t want to play. You always win.”

REGARDING THE RANDOM QUESTION GAME ON MY IPHONE HE LOVES: “Um, are you making this stuff up or is that what it really said?”

REGARDING TYPING:  “I’m not very good at it.  Can you help me type my paragraph tonight.”

REGARDING HIS NEW 5TH/6TH GRADE ROOM AT CHURCH:  “It’s sick.  I want to play guitar. We need indoor soccer balls.”

… love that kid. 🙂

HANDS DOWN… Best parenting move I’ve ever made.  WITHOUT QUESTION.  Regular one-on-one bonding meetings with my kids.  LOVE and cherish these times.

and HANDS DOWN… best moments I’ve ever had with students as a youth pastor are the, the one-on-one conversations with students.

If you’re a parent or you’re a mentor to teens or you coach or teach or whatever… let me remind you to set aside some time and connect one-on-one.  My experience says the dividends will be immeasurable.

If you have a large group program sometime in your week or weekend like we do, then you know that one of the most challenging and yet critical places to put a volunteer is just in the middle of a bunch of students.  The most tempting thing for adults in this situation to do is to sit together in the back. 

To that end, here’s some training tips I suggest and give to those who sign up to be a large group adult volunteer.

INVEST TIME:  Come as early as you can, stay as late as you can.  Lots of times, the best conversations can be had before the service begins and after it’s over.

SPREAD OUT:  Spread out from other adult leaders.  Don’t sit in groups larger than two of you.

BE HABITUAL AND CONSISTENT: Try to sit in the same area each week- teens are creatures of habit and you’ll find it’s easier to get to know them by sitting in the same place- they will likely do the same thing.

MINGLE:  Initiate Conversations.   Remember students are not looking for a hip adult- they’re looking for one who genuinely cares about them.

KNOW A FEW: Don’t try and know everyone.  The goal is not to be the most popular leader or to know the most number of students so you can care for them all, just strive to care for a few.

LOOK FOR THE MISSING: Of those you do know- Look for who is not there and follow up with them.  Make it a priority this week to call, e-mail, or send them a post card.

INVITE: Ask the students about the events we have coming up.  Find out if they’re going.  If they need to sign up- go with them to do that.  Discover if they are in a small group and if they’re not but are interested in one- try introducing them to a small group leader who is there today.

BE AN ACTIVE OBSERVER.  If you see someone who is crying- talk to them.  If they came in soccer clothes- ask how the game was or when they play next.  If they look lonely- sit by them.  If they look normal- find out why they aren’t.

HAVE FUN:  Games or crowd breakers are your chance to laugh with students and have some good clean fun.  Be a kid again.

MODEL IT:  Don’t expect students to do what you’re not.  Don’t forget to take notes and turn in your Bible and sing and put down your cell… you get the picture.  Model good learning skills.

DON’T QUIT WHEN THE PROGRAM ENDS:  When you have sat with a student for an hour and they’re heading to the parking lot- go with them.  If they drove- you’ll discover what kinda car they drive.  Students love to talk about their cars.  If a parent is picking them up- never underestimate the power of that relationship.  Introduce yourself and say hi.  Thank them for entrusting their student to us and remind them how much we appreciate their willingness to drive to make it happen.  Without them- they wouldn’t have been there today.

PRAY AND PREPARE: Come prayed up and prepared.  Set a goal for yourself regarding your role with students.  What is the next step in your effectiveness.  Pray and act on it.