What are some ideas for super fun activities for church junior high youth groups?

Question

I go to a really new Christian church and we want to start up an awesome youth group!

Answer 1

Loosen up and play "Spin the bottle".

Answer 2

In my Awana's youth group (7th-8th grade at the Baptist church), we did field trip outings. One girl's dad owned a nice boat that we took out on Lake Michigan one day. Another time, we went to another kid's summer cottage, and went swimming, then had a camp fire and roasted marshmellows.

At Christmas, we hand painted glass bulb ornaments, then went to my Great-Grandmother's nursing home, and sang carols to the residents, and gave them each an ornament.

We did one that stands out the best, though, in my mind. Someone knew of a tiny island on a small lake about an hour away. We got there around 6pm, and split into groups for a kind of king of the mountain game. The island was small, uninhabited, and was wooded, so there was lots of play space. We stayed there doing that until dark, then again, had a campfire on the shore and roasted hot dogs & marshmallows.

We went to a water park one time, too. Most of the activities we did only cost the gas money to get there, and the church covered that. We'd pack our own meals, etc. For the ones that cost money, such as the water park, the church paid half, and the kids who went paid half.

We also had sleep overs with several chaperones. Boys & girls together, but not innappropriatly.

I know one of the churches around here started a Christian Rock band with the youth members, which helped teach them how to play insturments. They also do teen dances.

We did large picnics, too, at the end of the school year. We'd bring in things like frisbees, and a volley ball net, and water balloons, and play games, give out awards based on who learned the most bible verses that year, and who had perfect weekly meeting attendance, etc.

We also helped out with the younger Awana's classes from time to time. The way Awana's works is sort of like Sunday School, only it's held on Wenseday nights, and you can go from the time you start school. You are seperated by grade, and do crafts, learn verses, and put on skits, and what not.

The Junior High group met at the same time, 6:30-8pm every Wed evening, but we did similiar things for the most part, but it was more laid back & relaxed. We didn't earn badges that I recall, but we did do bible study things.

I would recommend having weekly meetings, and doing things like learning new verses, talking about how those verses translate into today's culter & life, and maybe split into smaller talking groups.

We did one thing where we'd each talk about a problem we'd had over the past week- it might be a fight with a parent, or a school assignment we didn't understand, or even peer pressure. It was like a small support group for us, so we could talk through the problems.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Get together a bunch of arts and crafts supplies to make name tags that express who you are .... the sky is the limit

then explain what you made and why

We did this as part of Church workshop about creative problem solving there were some wacky things made

great music playing in the back round would be good too

Answer 4

My youth group is freaking awesome. Anways... heres how we do it-

1.) start out with a random game
2.) sing new worship songs- ex: Jeremy Camp, Something Like Silias
3.) Message from the youth pastor
4.) end with a couple more songs.

I could give you my youth pastors e-mail if you want. He might be able to help.

God Bless

Answer 5

at my church/youth group
they took us to a midnight bowling it was really fun we danced to music and won cool prizes
they we went back to the church and completed a Lock in at are church and just ran around the rest of the night

Answer 6

Bowling, roller skating, Christmas caroling, car washes, laser tag, serving in a homeless shelter (with adults and if you are old enough), collecting groceries for the local food bank, volunteering for Christmas in April or Habitat for Humanity, donating your services to the elderly members of the church (lawn mowing, house painting, trimming bushes, weeding, etc.) In order to have super fun activities you must also include service to those in need. "Feed my sheep" comes before all the fun stuff.

Answer 7

I don't really won't to hurt anybodys feelings, but my idea as I have experienced would be fasting and praying. That is a better feeling than people realize. Jesus told his disciples the reason they couldn't heal one place in the Bible is he said;" This kind come only by fasting and praying. Don't feel like I'm trying to be smart. I just want young people to know the the teachings of Christ. Try it secretly and he will reward you openly. Want you try? Once again, I know this is not what you were wanting to hear, but I just wanted to share my, probably unwanted, idea. It will be much more rewarding. I hope not to offend.

Answer 8

In my church, we use to have spaghetti dinners for the parishioners. We had so much fun and really enjoyed interacting with each other and the parish at large. We also had "lock outs". Those were cool. We would lock ourselves in the parish hall for one whole weekend and focus on activities and scripture and just trying to stay awake!

Answer 9

Check out The Source for Youth Ministers at http://www.thesource4ym.com/ You will find lots of ideas for ice breakers and games.

Answer 10

we did a video scavanger hunt..that was so fun..then there is where u go around to houses to exhange stuff..to start with like a coat hanger and your group has to go to a house and ask the people to trade you for something either bigger or better than your hanger..they dont get their item back and while there u invite them to your church..group back with the best item whens and maybe some new people will show up at church too