The Indiana Blood Center is offering a great opportunity for youth to get involved in local mission and contribute to saving lives in Indiana.  The project is called Save a Life, Ride A Roller Coaster, and it is a contest designed to encourage local church youth groups to sponsor a blood drive this summer season, a time that is particularly challenging for area blood supplies.  All the group has to do is schedule and sponsor a blood drive between June 1 and July 17, recruiting family, friends, and congregation members to donate.  The group with the greatest participation in each category (based on number of youth participating) will win tickets to King’s Island Amusement Park for each youth and sponsor.  For more information, check out the information sheet from the Indiana Blood Center (Indiana Blood Center Promo ,  Indiana Blood Center Promo (Word)).

If you work with youth in the state of Indiana, there is a great and free webinar on Wednesday, March 31, sponsored by IYI (Indiana Youth Institute) called Renew You.  If you’ve ever felt worn out in your work or ministry, or you’re feeling a little tired now, or you know you can’t keep up the pace of life you’re now living, this free workshop will explore ideas for renewing and rejuvenating your life and work.  Details are below.  To register, click here!

When: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 – 10:00-11:30 a.m.

Cost: Free for Indiana youth workers, non-Indiana youth serving fee: $30

Presenters: Tom Plake and Janet Wakefield

Small church, big church, lots of youth, a handful of youth – the following 3 ideas will have a tremendous impact on your church’s ministry with youth regardless of your ministry context.  (Note:  these are not new ideas nor can I claim them, but I share them as immediate impact ideas for any youth ministry.)

1.  Weekly breakfast for youth with the preaching pastor: Whoever preaches weekly in your church should have breakfast before school once each week with a small group of youth from the church.  Talk about their views on the previous week’s sermon and let them speak into the sermon preparation for the coming week.  Knowing their input is valued, youth will pay more attention to the sermon, they’ll feel a sense of commitment, and with their reflection and input the messages will become more relevant to their life, context, and culture.

2.  At least one youth contributing in worship leadership every Sunday: Our youth are ready to share their faith stories, to lead, to worship not simply with other youth but in the life of the congregation.  Just as Paul equipped and empowered Timothy, you need to give youth the opportunity to lead.  Ask a youth to share a 3 minute faith testimony.  Invite a young drama student to perform a character monologue.   Ask your music students to provide special music.  Make the commitment to every Sunday!

3.  Provide a faith conversation resource for families:   Every Sunday give parents a faith question or Scripture verse to talk about with their youth during the week.  I recently talked to a neighbor who was so excited because his church started giving parents homework – short Bible passages for conversation with their family and then something to look for in the world to apply the passage each week.  (For example, last week they had the good samaritan story and were instructed to find something during their TV watching that week which exhibited a good samaritan story.)  Yes, families are busy, but they just need a place to begin the conversation and a little incentive.