Best Practices
Ideas
Try The Rhyme Bible by L.J. Sattgast for introducing major stories of the Bible in an engaging manner.
Paint a portion of the youth room or office with magnetic paint. (Hint: you will have to paint over it with your wall color.) Use this as a place for “magnetic poetry,” fun pictures, and announcements.
Wii Bowling Night with Youth and Older Adults. Go to a local assisted living home and have your kids bring their wii set up, projector, etc. for a night of intergenerational fun!
Glow Stick Pictionary (idea probably came from Deb Guess): crack a glow stick, turn off the lights, and have your youth spell words or draw pictures with the glow sticks.
Devotions
D65.org
Good online daily devotional. Great for youth and youth workers. This site is created and produced by Passport, Inc. and is sponsored by the Youth and Young Adult Ministries of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Three Prayers for the Youth Worker (.doc)
Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study by Presbyterian Distribution Services
Recreation
50 Ways to Use Your Noodle
by Chris Cavert and Sam Sikes
ISBN 0-9646541-1-3
50 More Ways to Use Your Noodle
by Chris Cavert and Sam Sikes
ISBN 0-9646541-5-6
Recreation with Dance, Movement, and Music
by Glenn Q. Bannerman and M. Neil Pugsley
ISBN 1-57895-026-0
Guide for Recreation Leaders
by Glenn Q. Bannerman and Robert E. Fakkema
ISBN 1-57895-023-6
Group Magazine “Try This One” Sections
Links of Interest
PC(USA) Youth Ministry Quick Sheets
Have you seen the new Quicksheets from the Office of Ministries With Youth? Quicksheets are simple, singular, ideas and articles, focused on the essentials of youth ministry, written by veteran educators, youth workers and professionals. And they’re FREE! Check ‘em out.
Congregational Ministries Publishing Curriculum for your Congregation
PC(USA) Youth Ministry Resources
Great for PC(USA) youth ministry resources and events!
Youth Specialties
Youth Specialties gives a discount to all paid members for the PYWA resource of the month and for YS conferences. If you are a current member, you should have received a coupon code.
The Thoughtful Christian
When ordering 3 or more curriculum pieces from thethoughtfulchristian.com, PYWA recieves a 10% kickback!
Annual Recreation Workshop
The Annual Recreation Workshop is held at Montreat Conference Center the first full week of May. ARW is an amazing five-day expereince of the arts, recreation, and creative Reformed worship. Resources for Wednesday Night Suppers, retreats, intergenerational events, and more can be found on their website.
Making Worship Real
by Aimee Wallis Buchanan, Bill Buchanan, and Jodi B. Martin
Family Based Youth Ministry
by Mark DeVries
ISBN 0-8308-1396-9
The Playbook
by Don Washburn, Kenny Shackelford, and Roger Maness
ISBN 0965832805
The Godbearing Life: The Art of Soul-Tending in Youth Ministry
by Kenda Creasy Dean and Ron Foster
ISBN 0-8358-0858
Believe It or Not Bible Studies for Youth Ministry
by Group Publishing
Contemplative Youth Ministry
by Mark Yaconelli
ISBN 0-310-26777-3
Growing Souls
by Mark Yaconelli
Wild Truth Bible Studies
by Youth Specialties
Submit your own best practices in Youth Ministry!
