Any youth pastor knows there must be some element of fun in our ministry. I work mainly with Jr. High and they not only need fun but they also need a chance to get up and move. So here are some of the games I use that our students have enjoyed. Games can take on many purposes, so I’ve outlined a few here. Maybe you can even use one tonight.
Game to Help Students Mingle
“Speed Dating”
Create a list of questions that are open ended (Tell me what your dream vacation would be…, Tell me what you would do with $10,000…) and put them on a card, numbered. Set your room up with chairs facing each other about 2 feet apart so that students will sit facing each other but have enough room to hear their own conversation. Put the card on one row of seats. Ask the kids to sit anywhere they choose. Those that sit in a chair with a card will ask first while their partner answers. When the partner is done answering the asker then answers the same question. After a designated time have those not sitting in a chair with a card move over 1 seat. The asker asks question number 2. Continue until your out of time or out of questions.
Game to Release Some Energy
“Shuffle Your Buns”
An oldie but a goodie. I remember playing this in High school and our students still love it today. Set the chairs up in a tight circle with 1-2 extra chairs thrown in. 1 person is “it.” They need to try to sit down in an open chair. Everyone else is sitting in a chair and has to scoot, slide, shuffle their buns to block the person from sitting down. If the person gets in a chair they pick the person to the right or left to be “it.” On a side note, try to have sturdy chairs. We’ve “broken” our share. Hopefully you’ll have no “injuries” like below. J
Game for Leadership Building
“Blind Square” (or triangle or whatever shape you want)
This is a quick, but effective teambuilding activity.Supplies:1.) As many blindfolds as you have team members2.) 1 large rope, at least 40 feet in length (depending on the number in your group)Simply blindfold all your team members and throw a rope on the ground next to them. Tell them to make a square, using the full length of the rope. They cannot take off their blindfolds until you instruct them to. There are many ways to follow this up to teach some leadership skills. It’s just great to see who takes charge, how they organize the corners, if one person facilitates from the middle, etc.
Game for Illustration Sake
“Powerpoint Game”
If I’m ever in a bind for a game, I pull this out. It’s customizable and can fit with anything. Simply make powerpoint slides with questions and answers on them and have your students work together to answer them or have them pick a corner as their answer and if they are wrong they are out. You can buy these pre-made or you can make your own (better yet have some student make one). Useless trivia, questions about your message that night, topic questions…you name-you can make it.
Our ministry loves to take a break from the monotony of ministry and so we’ll throw a game in to help them stay engaged, relaxed, comfortable and release some energy. Hopefully you’ll be able to use these sometime in your ministry. For more ideas come to Ignite and attend the session that’s all about games.
Game to Help Students Mingle
“Speed Dating”
Create a list of questions that are open ended (Tell me what your dream vacation would be…, Tell me what you would do with $10,000…) and put them on a card, numbered. Set your room up with chairs facing each other about 2 feet apart so that students will sit facing each other but have enough room to hear their own conversation. Put the card on one row of seats. Ask the kids to sit anywhere they choose. Those that sit in a chair with a card will ask first while their partner answers. When the partner is done answering the asker then answers the same question. After a designated time have those not sitting in a chair with a card move over 1 seat. The asker asks question number 2. Continue until your out of time or out of questions.
Game to Release Some Energy
“Shuffle Your Buns”
An oldie but a goodie. I remember playing this in High school and our students still love it today. Set the chairs up in a tight circle with 1-2 extra chairs thrown in. 1 person is “it.” They need to try to sit down in an open chair. Everyone else is sitting in a chair and has to scoot, slide, shuffle their buns to block the person from sitting down. If the person gets in a chair they pick the person to the right or left to be “it.” On a side note, try to have sturdy chairs. We’ve “broken” our share. Hopefully you’ll have no “injuries” like below. J
Game for Leadership Building
“Blind Square” (or triangle or whatever shape you want)
This is a quick, but effective teambuilding activity.Supplies:1.) As many blindfolds as you have team members2.) 1 large rope, at least 40 feet in length (depending on the number in your group)Simply blindfold all your team members and throw a rope on the ground next to them. Tell them to make a square, using the full length of the rope. They cannot take off their blindfolds until you instruct them to. There are many ways to follow this up to teach some leadership skills. It’s just great to see who takes charge, how they organize the corners, if one person facilitates from the middle, etc.
Game for Illustration Sake
“Powerpoint Game”
If I’m ever in a bind for a game, I pull this out. It’s customizable and can fit with anything. Simply make powerpoint slides with questions and answers on them and have your students work together to answer them or have them pick a corner as their answer and if they are wrong they are out. You can buy these pre-made or you can make your own (better yet have some student make one). Useless trivia, questions about your message that night, topic questions…you name-you can make it.
Our ministry loves to take a break from the monotony of ministry and so we’ll throw a game in to help them stay engaged, relaxed, comfortable and release some energy. Hopefully you’ll be able to use these sometime in your ministry. For more ideas come to Ignite and attend the session that’s all about games.
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