Youth Ministry Games
Are you struggling to find new and inventive games for your Christian youth group?
Sometimes, you don't need to find something new, but just rework the best of the old!
However, read on for helpful suggestions and some game ideas...
When are you playing this game?
It may sound strange, but if it is at the start of a meeting you may need something
that is flexible, so people can join in as they arrive. If you are inside, perhaps a
quiz game with questions/pictures on the wall, so people can be given an answer
sheet and start playing. If outside, make sure it is something that can expand as
people arrive and doesn't rely on teams of even numbers too much - even 'Simon
says' can work, or "Tree, hedge, ditch" (lifting your arms in different directions, trying to
catch people out - tree=arms up, hedge=arms out to the side, ditch=arms down. It
gets confusing as you call out a different word to the action your arms are doing eg.
"Tree" when your arms are out to the side. The players should follow the leaders
words, not his actions).
What is the aim of your youth ministry game?
Is it an icebreaker? Is it to support a point from your talk? Is it to make them think
about issues that arise which you will then discuss? I believe that most secular
games can be adapted to suit your cause - you borrow an existing game, but
change the name, the theme, the presentation to suit your purpose. I am not
talking complicated here! If talking on Joshua, your game may be an adaptation of
'Tumbling Towers' etc. Identifying the purpose of your game will clarify the type of
game you need.
Icebreakers
If you want and icebreaker, your aim is for people to interact and start to relax
- it should be quick to explain and implement as you don't want anyone to feel
uncomfortable.
There are various knee-slapping rhythm type games where they clap their knees to a
rhythm and call out numbers or names to identify the next person to have a go. If you
like noise, give each person an animal, or vehicle, or something which can be
identified by a particular sound - if you give several people the same, they have to
identify those in their group by the sound they make.
You can put stickers on people's backs and they have to find out who they are by
asking other people questions.
Or you can do a 'wall' quiz with pictures or questions on display around the room, and
everyone wanders around completing their answer sheet. You can give multiple
choice questions if you prefer. This is a great activity if people are arriving at different
times.
If you prefer a quieter approach try these two -
a) Each individual thinks of three original facts about them (eg I have met the queen, I
went the same school as a famous news presenter, I represented my county at
football etc) but only two are true. The rest of the group have to guess which 'fact' is
untrue. This is a good way of introducing a new group to each other, and also
learning something new about everyone.
b) Each person writes a question beginning with 'why' on a piece of paper, and then
an answer beginning with 'because' on another piece of paper (the question and
answer don't have to be related). The pieces are redistributed randomly with each
answer going with a different question. This is good for some laughs!
Some indoor activity games with two teams -
Form a single inward facing circle with the two teams making opposite halves. Pair
up opposite members of each team with someone about their size and height. There
are several games you can play with this kind of arena:
Tail tag - two opposing members each have a 'tail' (long piece of ribbon/fabric)
attached to their back (or tucked in the top of a jumper or trousers). The opponents
must try to grab each others 'tail' to gain victory, while they also try to duck out of the
way to avoid getting caught.
Waiter, waiter! - the two opponents each have a tray held underneath with one hand
and a rolled up newspaper in the other. The aim is to knock the opponent's tray off his
hand with the newspaper, however things are made more difficult as each person can
only hop.
The chocolate game - go around the circle giving each person the name of a
chocolate (have a list of about 5 and then repeat it as you go around - mars, snickers,
milky way, hersheys, smarties etc). When you call out the name of a chocolate, eg
'mars', those individuals stand up, and run around the outside of the circle back to
their place. The last one back to their place is out, and has to sit facing outward from
the circle. The winner will be the only remaining player facing inward. You can call
several of the chocolates to run around at one time, and you can call out 'all the
chocolates in the box' when everyone has to get up and run around. This can dissolve
into mayhem!
What you don't want...
You need to ensure that you are not embarrassing anyone who can't handle it,
that new people feel comfortable, that everyone understands what they are being
asked to do, and that you have timing in mind so that the end is clear. Also, be
aware that girls and boys feel comfortable about doing some things the same,
but many things differently! Observe - boys may be happier to bond effectively
with activity centred games, and girls may prefer 'chat' centred games. That is
not a golden rule, but it is worth remembering during your youth ministry game!
The young
always have
the same
problem ,
how to rebel
and conform
at the same
time. They
have now
solved this by
defying their
parents and
copying one
another.
Quentin Crisp
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Youth Ministry Games
Building relationships with God and Young People
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