110 Youth Ministry Ideas
Youth ministry is the ministry done in the name of Christ by youth. The LYO Board suggests these ways that youth can minister, and be ministered to:
Teach the Faith
1 | Offer Creative Bible Studies (like “Faith Lens”) | |
2 | Attend an event or go to the worship service of another faith then discuss the differences | |
3 | Sponsor special seminars: death & dying, human sexuality, teenage alcoholics, family relationship, the occult, war & peace | |
4 | Recall Reformation Day….find someone to portray Martin and/or Katie Luther and go at it | |
5 | Invite clergy from other denominations to explain the differences | |
6 | Bible trivia challenge | |
7 | Take youth out of school (or hold at school) for a lunch and Bible study | |
8 | Encourage male youth to start a Lutheran Men in Mission Bible study | |
9 | k | Perform the musical “To The Castle” by Jay Beech” |
Worship
10 | Develop youth leadership in weekly worship services, including lecturing, ushering, greeting, special music, communion assistants, sacristan, etc. | |
11 | Invite confirmed youth to serve as those who distribute Communion to shut-ins | |
12 | Bonfire communion service | |
13 | Put together a youth-led contemporary music group; use it in worship, and/or Wednesday night events or Sunday night concerts | |
14 | Hire a praise band and have a Christian music sing-a-long | |
15 | Develop a clowning ministry or a puppet ministry (dig out “Peli”). Such a group could be used for children’s sermons, Sunday school openings, VBS, nursing homes or travel to neighboring congregations | |
16 | On Good Friday, have a procession of youth through the streets carrying a large wooden cross | |
17 | On Good Friday, have youth perform Christ’s life for little kids. Move to different parts of the church for the different parts of Christ’s life (or just the passion story) — little kids love it! Be sure to have cookies and juice afterward for fellowship time | |
18 | Create a banner to present to the church | |
19 | Hold a 24 hour prayer vigil | |
20 | Organize a prayer chain | |
21 | Establish a Christian music library so youth can sample praise music | |
22 | Have a short worship and breakfast before school | |
23 | Invite youth to create a “how to & how not to” acolyte video | |
24 | k | Volunteer to have your group be a baptismal co-sponsor for a student Baptized at Bremwood |
Service
25 | k | If you’re a rural church, host youth from a city church for a weekend; if you’re a city church, host a rural church youth group for a weekend |
26 | Have Youth host a “Family Game Night” for families with younger children | |
27 | Host a Conference youth event like a lock-in | |
28 | Have a “Hike (or similar event) Against World Hunger” | |
29 | Organize a picnic and invite the whole community | |
30 | Sponsor an overseas Lutheran World Relief project | |
31 | Learn about “Stand With Africa” | |
32 | Create a Bible mural for your church | |
33 | Do trust exercises | |
34 | Role Playing | |
35 | Have youth lead arts and crafts projects night for younger children | |
36 | Hold a birthday party for the residents of a nursing home | |
37 | Hold an Easter Sunrise Service and breakfast for the congregation | |
38 | Have a pastor or youth sponsor a “roast” | |
39 | Raise money to help build or repair a school in a developing nation | |
40 | Visit the people who work at night, bring them some token of appreciation for their work: a police station, fire department, newspaper, hospital emergency room, bakery, all-night restaurant, end with breakfast | |
41 | Car wash | |
42 | Attend a servant event | |
43 | Attend Synod LYO events | |
44 | A “lock-in” (use students from the colleges or campus ministries of the church) | |
45 | Plan a worship service centered on the early persecuted Christians | |
46 | Kidnap your pastor; as ransom collect items for the needy | |
47 | Bring in guest speakers | |
48 | Pen-pals or key pals with other churches around the country or world to share ideas | |
49 | Make contact with a missionary | |
50 | Visit the sick and shut-ins with a mini youth service | |
51 | Start a youth group sports team; challenge other churches | |
52 | Hold a Bible story haunted house | |
53 | Rural churches can hold a petting zoo for children in town churches | |
54 | Go door-to-door with door hangers in your community or at a mission site | |
55 | Hold a “trick or treat” alternative All Saints Eve Party | |
56 | Adopt a family for Christmas | |
57 | Connect with a local charity all year long. Visit, raise money, and volunteer one time every month | |
58 | Adopt a grandparent | |
59 | Perform light chores and home maintenance for elderly |
Communication
60 | k | Write an article for your church paper and local newspaper on what your group is doing. Designate an individual(s) in charge of public relations |
61 | Create a youth ministry web page for your congregation or conference | |
62 | Create a youth ministry service group list | |
63 | Publish an article in your church newsletter each month highlighting a youth so that the congregation can learn about the activities and interests of the youth each month | |
64 | Publish a youth newsletter in your church and community | |
65 | Create a youth group symbol, silk screen it onto T-shirts for all your members, and wear them at youth gatherings | |
66 | Make a youth scrapbook and photo album | |
67 | Write a song/motto/rap for your group, share it |
Encourage Leadership
68 | Nominate a youth candidate for church council or another committee | |
69 | Send a youth as a voting member to the Synod Assembly | |
70 | Sponsor a youth leadership training event such as peer ministry or child in our hands | |
71 | Give a Spiritual Gifts Assessment and discuss the results | |
72 | Start a youth resources library | |
73 | Offer to serve on the board of the synod LYO | |
74 | Hold a “vocations” night | |
75 | Ropes Course | |
76 | k | Do a series of Bible studies on leadership |
Intergenerational Involvement
77 | k | Challenge the adults to a baseball, basketball or volleyball game |
78 | Offer to lead an adult Sunday School class on the topic of youth | |
79 | Youth group reunion: Invite all former youth group members | |
80 | Have a youth/adult combined mini-retreat for an afternoon focus on communication |
Fellowship is a Ministry, Too
81 | k | Hold an old-fashioned ice cream social |
82 | Hayrack ride | |
83 | Put together a talent show | |
84 | Canoe trips | |
85 | Back-packing | |
86 | Have a Frisbee tournament or go to a Frisbee golf course | |
87 | Roller-skating, sledding, and skiing | |
88 | Have an Olympics or “Anything Goes” Night | |
89 | Sponsor an Oktoberfest – a field day; plan games for participation of youth and adults; provide refreshments | |
90 | Taffy pull, popcorn party | |
91 | Road rallies | |
92 | Scavenger hunt | |
93 | Progressive dinner | |
94 | Play Sardines | |
95 | Parties (toga, or other themes) | |
96 | Have a “comfy chair game” night | |
97 | Hold a marathon (dance, monopoly) | |
98 | Hold a Film Festival | |
99 | Church scavenger hunt. With multiple churches, hold a scavenger hunt. Begin at one church (who is in charge of opening activities) and go from church to church with a camera needing to find certain things. At each church, stop for an activity planned by that church. | |
100 | Walk-a-thon, Bike-a-thon, Swim-a-thon | |
101 | Go on a camping retreat | |
102 | Have a bake-off, guys vs. the girls | |
103 | Hold a “Create a Junk Sculpture” festival | |
104 | Go Rock Climbing |
Connect to the Larger Church
105 | k | Visit a church-related college, campus ministry or seminary |
106 | Attend the ELCA National Youth Gathering | |
107 | Attend the Synod LYO Assembly | |
108 | Visit or ask for a visit from Bremwood of Lutheran Services in Iowa | |
109 | Visit the Synod office | |
110 | Visit the churchwide offices in Chicago |