Comments on: This One Time…

By: Tony Dennis

Tony Dennis — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 23:58:14 +0000

I was youth pastor for more than 10 years after 13 years of being a children’s pastor. I did to series based around toilet bolls and gross games. Often drank things from a blender or bobbed for goldfish. Some had purpose, others didn’t (except to have a blast and give them something that they still talk about to this day. Today I am associate pastor. Most of my worship team grew up in my youth group and are solid in their faith. In the end, the purpose was seeing kids see church as a fun place, a loving place, and ultimately come to Christ. It worked. It’s not the “Right” way and I don’t believe there is one. Lets just reach people and make sure no one gets too hurt in the process. 🙂 Thanks for your article!

By: Tony Myles

Tony Myles — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 18:17:29 +0000

In reply to Erin. This is great, Erin! I really admire how you have set up your activities with intention while also space for life. Way to go!

By: Erin

Erin — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 18:33:06 +0000

I have never been willing to do games like this. I think there is more harm in them than help. I am really picky about the games I choose, both from a content level (no guns or ‘killing’) and from a embarrassment or awkwardness level. So I never have them eat something gross. I find it cruel and unnecessary method of having fun. Students face an inordinate amount of peer pressure in the real world and pressure to “oh, c’mon, don’t be a wimp” kind of ‘hazing’ in sports and other organizations that they belong to. I don’t want to be a purveyor of that kind of ‘fun’. I have used “Never Have I Ever” and my students (even sr. high) have spent 45 minutes laughing and falling between chairs as they scramble to change places. It’s a game that allows them to get to know each other better and have fun. We play sardines. We have snowball fights (with marshmallows). We play games that are mildly competitive but not brutal. We work hard to be a safe place and have our youth group be a kind of “sanctuary” from the world, where students are respected and encouraged by others, where they know their friends “have their back”. It makes a difference and my students have said as much. We may not have 200 kids come, but we have students carve out two hours of their week to be at youth group week after week. That speaks volumes. Youth ministers need to really think about why they are doing these games. Is there another way they can have students 1) come 2) bring a friend 3) talk about it for weeks to come 4) come again without it being gross or humiliating? Put your mind AND heart into it. I know you can come up with something great.