It's Boring
Want to take a guess at the excuse I've heard most often by teenagers who stop attending local youth meetings? It's two simple words: “It's boring!"
Granted, youth leaders aren't going to keep up with the creativity of YouTube and the internet, but there are a few creative elements which can be used in your youth meetings that will make a huge difference in the “boredom factor." Obviously, I'm not suggesting that you use all of these approaches every week. But the use of even one or two (on a rotational basis) each week would be a huge help in adding life to your meeting. Allow me to list a few simple suggestions.
But first, let me preface my words with one simple warning: None of these suggestions are “new." You have probably considered most of them many times over. But the bottom line is that we have to exert enough emotional energy to actually USE some of these approaches regularly, not just keep procrastinating them until “another night." (In other words, creativity will take a little extra work on your part, but I promise you that it will be well worth your effort.)
Use movie clips, tv clips or YouTube videos that relate to your topic. It's so simple to brainstorm with a couple of your teenagers and find a movie that could relate to your topic. Then connect with one of your students to do simple editing. Until I was able to add an amazing paid tech guy to my team, I used to just cue the movie clip to a certain spot (2-4 minutes) and turn it on. Simple as this approach might be, it invariable brings energy to the room.
Use one of your teenagers to give a monologue with appropriate music underneath it. At times I have written monologues myself and given them to students to “dramatize." Other times, I've started students with suggestions for opening lines and explained that I just want them to put into words what lots of other teenagers in the youth group are feeling on this subject. If you dim the lights during the monologue, put a cheap spotlight on the student, and play cool sound track music under them as they speak, you will have a home run for the evening.
Have a couple of your creative students write and perform a 5-minute drama segment that applies to your topic. Here's the great news...all you have to really know about your message is the main subject you're going to deal with. That's enough to get their creative wheels in motion. After you experiment with this a couple of times, teenagers will start coming out of the woodwork who are great at writing and acting.
Ask one of your students to share his own testimony that relates to the topic you are talking about. The more you keep “changing voices" throughout your evening, the less likely boredom will be.
If the truth be told, I think today's fast paced media has made all of us a little ADD. So rather than resenting the quiet “boredom cracks," you'll love the fulfillment of making simple changes. Remember, the worst communication method to use with teenagers is the one you use all the time. Your grandmother really was right..."Variety IS the spice of life."
Want to take a guess at the excuse I've heard most often by teenagers who stop attending local youth meetings? It's two simple words: “It's boring!"
Granted, youth leaders aren't going to keep up with the creativity of YouTube and the internet, but there are a few creative elements which can be used in your youth meetings that will make a huge difference in the “boredom factor." Obviously, I'm not suggesting that you use all of these approaches every week. But the use of even one or two (on a rotational basis) each week would be a huge help in adding life to your meeting. Allow me to list a few simple suggestions.
But first, let me preface my words with one simple warning: None of these suggestions are “new." You have probably considered most of them many times over. But the bottom line is that we have to exert enough emotional energy to actually USE some of these approaches regularly, not just keep procrastinating them until “another night." (In other words, creativity will take a little extra work on your part, but I promise you that it will be well worth your effort.)
Use movie clips, tv clips or YouTube videos that relate to your topic. It's so simple to brainstorm with a couple of your teenagers and find a movie that could relate to your topic. Then connect with one of your students to do simple editing. Until I was able to add an amazing paid tech guy to my team, I used to just cue the movie clip to a certain spot (2-4 minutes) and turn it on. Simple as this approach might be, it invariable brings energy to the room.
Use one of your teenagers to give a monologue with appropriate music underneath it. At times I have written monologues myself and given them to students to “dramatize." Other times, I've started students with suggestions for opening lines and explained that I just want them to put into words what lots of other teenagers in the youth group are feeling on this subject. If you dim the lights during the monologue, put a cheap spotlight on the student, and play cool sound track music under them as they speak, you will have a home run for the evening.
Have a couple of your creative students write and perform a 5-minute drama segment that applies to your topic. Here's the great news...all you have to really know about your message is the main subject you're going to deal with. That's enough to get their creative wheels in motion. After you experiment with this a couple of times, teenagers will start coming out of the woodwork who are great at writing and acting.
Ask one of your students to share his own testimony that relates to the topic you are talking about. The more you keep “changing voices" throughout your evening, the less likely boredom will be.
If the truth be told, I think today's fast paced media has made all of us a little ADD. So rather than resenting the quiet “boredom cracks," you'll love the fulfillment of making simple changes. Remember, the worst communication method to use with teenagers is the one you use all the time. Your grandmother really was right..."Variety IS the spice of life."
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