Here's a FREEBIE resource from Josh Griffin...

If you missed out in the Cohort call yesterday, you missed Josh giving out a Download Youth Ministry FREEBIE. Here it is:

Put this product in your cart:

http://downloadyouthministry.com/shop/11-vs-the-world/ 

And use promo code: ilovematt to get it for FREE!!

COUNTDOWN: Top 14 Team-Builders for 2014 (#12)

#12 on the list of the Top 14 Team-Builders for 2014 is one of the most solid, get-to-know-you, strengths-based activities on the list. It works great with newly-formed short-term mission teams, student leadership groups, or smaller-sized youth groups.

THE PARTY 

Team-building Activity

The Party is a fun, low-risk icebreaker that helps set the tone for positive team 

dynamics. It's also a good activity to use if a group has been working together for some 

time and needs a refresher on what people can contribute and how the group can work 

well together. The simplicity of this activity allows it to be used with a wide range of 

ages, from older to younger teens, and it's fun for teen mentors to use when working with 

younger groups. 

TARGET CONCEPTS: 

Recognizing individual strengths of group members, understanding others, and group 

warm-up. 

DESCRIPTION: 

Students write their strengths on small slips of paper, put them into balloons, and blow 

up the balloons. One by one the balloons are popped to reveal what each person brings to 

the party. As the group learns about the unique talents each person has to offer, the 

information is transferred onto a large white banner so people can see all of their 

strengths together. 

GOALS: 

1. To identify how a new or existing team can work together. 

2. To learn how individual members view themselves as part of the group. 

3. To learn how to recognize strengths in order to get the most from every member of 

the group. 

MATERIALS: 

-Giant Post-It Note, butcher paper, or large banner paper. 

-Markers. 

-Masking tape. 

-Medium-sized balloons, several per person. 

-Pens for each person. 

-Several slips of paper. 

-Toothpicks for popping balloons (or have students sit on them to pop them). 

PREPARATION: 

On the banner paper, draw several balloons. Hang the banner on the wall in a 

location where it can be seen by all. Clear an area in the room where the group can sit in 

a circle with a space in the middle for a pile of balloons. 

ACTIVITY: 

1. Have students to sit in a circle. Pass out pens, paper, and balloons to each person. Set 

up a scenario, something like this: 

"You've all been invited to a party. It's like pot-luck, but instead of bringing food to 

share, you're bringing yourself and the strengths you believe you contribute to this group. 

For example, you may be a creative thinker, or very organized, or able to keep others motivated. On the slips of paper, write down the strengths or talents that you bring to the 

party. Once you've written these down, carefully put them into your balloons, blow them 

up, tie them off, and put them in the circle." 

2. Allow 5-10 minutes for the teens to complete this activity. 

3. When everyone is done, designate one person to pick a balloon from the pile, pop it, and read the slip(s) inside. 

4. After a slip has been read, ask the author to step forward, share a little more, and then write his name and strength in a balloon on the banner paper.

5. This person becomes the next to pop a balloon from the pile. 

DISCUSSION: 

Discuss how the group can use the information they've gained from hearing everyone 

share their strengths. Consider discussion questions such as: 

1. How can what you've learned from others be used in the future to improve the way this group works together? 

2. Are there any people who you think overlooked one of their strengths? Who? What is the strength? 

3. How can you make the most of the strengths and talents of group members and still allow everyone a chance to try new things or use new talents? 

4. Imagine the group was going to assign official jobs for each member. Based on the strengths people shared, what roles do you think people should have? 

5. Is the group missing any strengths? What are they and how can you build them? What if you can't? How can you overcome not having certain strengths or prevent the lack of them from becoming a group weakness? 

WRAP-UP: 

If possible, keep the banner hanging in the room for further meetings. It can remind members of everyone's strengths and guide them when trying to determine who is the best person for a team task. If space doesn't allow, have a teen volunteer to type a summary sheet of the strengths people bring to the party and give everybody copies to keep in their journals or notebooks. 

FREE Illustration of the Month [VALENTINE'S DAY EDITION]

Here is the FREE Illustration of the Month... Just in time for Valentine's Day!

This month's free illustration comes to you courtesy of Tommy Oaks. I first heard Tommy present these "10 Questions to Finding God's Best Person to Marry" at a youth conference over 10 years ago. I have been using them ever since when speaking to students on the topic of dating & relationships.

Enjoy:

-----------------------------------------

TOMMY OAKS' TOP 10 QUESTIONS

Who is God's Best for Me?

1.    What do I want most of all? (make a list)

2.    Is this person of the opposite sex?

3.    Is this person single?

4.    What does their heart look like?
          What do they talk about?

          What do they spend their money on?

          Do they idolize you?

5.    Are they a Christian and glad of it? (2 Corinthians 6:14)

6.    Do they worship? Are they zealous for God?

7.    Are they a hard worker? Or are they a whiner?

8.    Can they talk with you about the Word of God?

9.    Are they fun to be with? Or are they a life-sucking vampire?

10. What happens when you pray about them? Does God say yes?

HERE IS THE MESSAGE AUDIO of how I present them (like an airport metal detector), in helping students answer the questions, "Who should I date? Who should I marry?"

FREE Communication Training with Josh Griffin in 2 Days!

Youth Speaker's Coach is excited to announce an upcoming Master Class in Communication with Josh Griffin, High School Pastor at Saddleback Church this Thursday, February 13 at 5pm/4pm/3pm/2pm (ET/CT/MT/PT).

About Josh Griffin

Josh is the High School Pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. He's a prolific blogger and has had the #1 blog in youth ministry for several years running. He's written several books and is one of the co-founders of Download Youth Ministry. He's been in the trenches of youth ministry for 20 years. You can view Josh's blog by clicking here...

Join in on the FREE conference call with Josh on Thursday, February 13 at 5pm/4pm/3pm/2pm (ET/CT/MT/PT).

HERE'S HOW TO JOIN IN ON THE CALL:

1. Dial the call-in number on Thursday, February 13 @ 5pm/4pm/3pm/2pm (ET/CT/MT/PT).

           Call-in #:  (530) 881-1212

2. Follow the prompts and enter the following Meeting ID:

           Meeting ID:  699-356-436

3. Take copious notes and be ready to ask Josh your questions!

You can call in with a landline or mobile phone, log-in online (with VOIP) or with the Start Meeting App for your smart phone or tablet. For more information or to download the free conferencing software, CLICK HERE.

The Clues to a Great Story [INFOGRAPHIC]

Based on Andrew Stanton's TED talk, here is an Infographic based on The Clues to a Great Story.

The original infographic can be found here.