Youth Ministry Resources for Sunday School or Bible Study Times
On the MC USA website there is now a list of 117 Bible/Spiritual studies for youth ministry. It can be found under the “Youth Leaders” section of (“Resources”, which is a tab at the top left of the home page for MC USA) The direct link is http://www.mennoniteusa.
What Activities have been meaningful / successful for your youth group in the past?
- Thirty hour famine
- Leading worship service at church
- Prayer groups within the group
- Panel discussion
- Retreats just among ourselves: Planning retreat, fun weekend retreat (cabin)
- Service trips: kids liked the service ½ day @ convention ’13 more than the waterpark
- Mystery meals
- Weekly (Wed. or Fri.) group activities that were only attended by a fraction of kids, but they say it’s been a good addition
- High/Sr. High Fall Party
Cookout/outdoor games- Monthly pizza/wings night
- Winter ski retreat
- 30 hour famine/lock-in
- Preparing thanksgiving food boxes
- Holiday Parties
- Hiking/Bonfire
- Mini-Golf
- Game nights
- Ethnic food night
- Visiting churches of different denominations
- Visiting the homes of congregation members and hearing their “stories”
- Uniting youth rally with area churches
- Disc golf at French Creek
What missions trips or other trips has your youth group been a part of that you would recommend to other groups?
- MCC’s Mennonite Resource Center-help check school / health kits, recycle paper, etc.
- Crop Walk
- To reading in conjunction with Hope of Nations (to highlight value of doing missions locally)
- Trip to Miami with MMN
- Center for student missions, Chicago/Washington DC: very intense, best if more older HS kids focus on experiencing homelessness and urban need
- Mission discovery- Mexico
- Convention
- SWAP (Serving With Appalachian People, MCC)
- Service at Laurelville, Deerpark Camps
- DOOR – Chicago
- Youth MDS
What fundraisers have been successful for your youth group in the past?
- Youth sponsored meal (Amish Turkey Roast, Spaghetti, Ham Loaf, Valentines Meal for adults, bread bowl/soup, potato bar, pig roast, outdoor church picnic)
- Carwash / bake sale
- Selling baked goods during church coffee time is a low energy way to raise funds
- Food stand at art show or public auction
- Yard sale or auction, where church donates things and bids, with proceeds going to youth group. Variation: youth are bid on and hired out for work
- Annual sale: wreaths, soup, baked goods…
- Trash pick-up at Intercourse Heritage Days
- Coffee House
