Speaking at a Retreat This Weekend?

This coming weekend, I will have the honor to speak to about one hundred students from Northern Colorado at their Winter Retreat. This retreat is unique because it represents students from 6 different churches and youth groups (in the same community) coming together to be challenged by the Word of God. What a great step toward unity between local churches and answering Jesus' prayer in John 17.

If you are not speaking at a Winter Retreat this season, I hope you have the privilege to do so in the near future. Never had this kind of opportunity before? Pray and ask God to open a door for you. Remember, it's never about you, but always about SERVING THE STUDENTS you are speaking to.

I would love to partner with you and serve your students by speaking at your upcoming event this year (if I am able and available).

To view a sample speaking video or for more information about booking, CLICK HERE...

FREE Illustration of the Month [Dating & Relationships Edition]

February is right around the corner.

This being the case, you may be planing a series on dating and relationships. Here is a list of the Top Christian Pick-Up Lines. This list can be used as an opener to a message or series on relationships. Great comedic timing is key to delivering this list in a humorous fashion. Be sure to run through it enough times during your message preparation to ensure that you have the delivery down. It is sure to get some good laughs from the students.

If you use powerpoint when you speak, you might try creating "someecards" (someecards.com) slides to add to the humor.

Enjoy!

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TOP CHRISTIAN PICK-UP LINES

1.  ”So last night I was reading in the book of Numbers, and then I realized, I don’t have yours.”

2.  ”Hey, I’m Will. God’s will.” (Tip: Your name should actually be Will)

3.  ”You put the “stud” in bible study.”

4. “Now I know why Solomon had 700 wives… He never met you!”

5.  ”I didn’t know angels flew this low.”

6. “I’m no Joseph, maybe you can help me interpreting the dreams I’ve been having about you?”

7. ”Is it hot in here or is that just the Holy Spirit burning inside of you?”

8. ”Is your name Faith? ‘Cause you’re the substance of things I’ve hoped for.”

9. ” How many times do I have to walk around you to make you fall for me?”

10. ” I didn’t believe in predestination until tonight.”

11.  ”Is this the transfiguration? because you are glowing.”

12. ” Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Gilead.”

13. ” Excuse me, I believe one of your ribs belongs to me.”

14. ” Let me sell you an indulgence because it’s a sin to look as good as you do.”

15. ” Me. You. Song of Songs: the remix.”

16. ” Is it a sin that you stole my heart?”

17. ” Want to practice speaking in tongues with me?”

18. ” What’s your name and number so I can add you to my “prayer” list?”

19. “I just want you to know, I’m praying for you… No, I’m praying “FOR” you.”

20. “Here’s my number… Call me if you need prayer.”

21. “I’m usually not very prophetic, but I can see us together.”

3 Ways to Alter the Opening of Your Message

After coaching countless youth pastors to help them become better communicators, one thing stands out as a common miscue that occurs to newbie and veteran youth speakers alike, THE WEAK OPENING.

Nothing will turn students off faster to your message than a weak open. You have about 20 seconds for them to decide whether or not they will listen to the rest of your message. What a shame to create solid, Biblical content, and then lose the students after the first 7 sentences proceed out of your mouth.

Here are 3 ways you can alter the opening of your message the next time to step up in front of a group of students to speak:

1. Jump right into a story.

Don't begin with the typical introduction, "Hi my name is [blank], welcome tonight (or tonight we are going to talk about blah, blah, blah)..." Instead, open in the middle of a story, "I could smell the stench of the sewage burning in both of my nostrils... (or whatever story opening you can use to draw them into the story you are telling).

2. Begin with a statistic and use students in the room to demonstrate it.

As opposed to opening with, "I'd like to share some startling statistics with you...." Try implementing some student interaction right off of the bat with something like, "I need this half of the room to stand up on their seats... (or whatever your percentage)... those of you standing represent..." You get the picture.

3. Whisper your theme.

Really. Try it. Open your talk by whispering (or talking quietly and slowly) the theme of your message. Students will be forced to lean in and focus to hear what it is you are saying. Imagine the next time you get up in front of a group of students you said (in a hushed voice), "Those who diligently seek the Lord, WILL (pause) find Him... When they seek Him will all of their heart (or whatever your theme sentence is)."

If there is a need for you to introduce yourself (or the message, or whatever), do so AFTER you have completed your opening. Try it. You will find yourself starting on much stronger footing and presenting your message with much greater connection than ever before.

Resonate (by Nancy Duarte) available for FREE online

Communication guru, Nancy Duarte, has made her Resonate material available online FOR FREE!

CLICK HERE to view the full electronic version of Resonate on Nancy Duarte's website.

To view a Youth Pastor's book review I posted on Duarte's Resonate, CLICK HERE.

You can also download a free interactive version for i-devices from her website BY CLICKING HERE.

Join the call with Josh Griffin on 2/13

Youth Speaker's Coach is excited to announce an upcoming Master Class in Communication with Josh Griffin, High School Pastor at Saddleback Church.

Josh Griffin is a high school pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA, and has been in full-time youth ministry for 15 years. He’s the author of 99 Thoughts for Youth Workers, 99 Thoughts for Small Group Leaders, and coauthor ofLive Large, Be Different, Shine Bright, with Doug Fields. Josh speaks a little, writes a little, Tweets a bit, and blogs a lot — more than 20,000 youth workers visit his blog each month. He’s also a father of four.

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

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE CALL!

Countdown: Top 14 Team-Builders for 2014 (#14)

As a youth communicator or youth pastor, it is vital that you have a few SOLID team-building activities in your back pocket. Whether you are preparing a short-term missions team, building student leaders, or just facilitating some fun at camp, you want team-builders that WORK and are FUN. Nothing is worse than pulling your group of students together for a "game" and then facilitating a BORING team-building activity.

Over the next number of weeks you will have the opportunity to view and download the 14 Best Team-Building Activities for 2014 (according to Youth Speaker's Coach) for FREE.

Here is Team-Builder #14:

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TEAMWORK & TEAMPLAY

GivaGeta Character Cards

THE BIG QUESTION ACTIVITY

Over the last number of years,I have used these oversized playing cards dozens and dozens of times as an icebreaking activity for both small & large groups. 

While they come with about ten different activities you can facilitate with them, there is one team-building activity I come back to again and again, "The Big Question." Each card comes with an icebreaker question, such as, "Tell me about your favorite story with food in it."

Here's how you play:

1. Begin by randomly distributing the cards so that each student has a card.

2. Have students partner up with another student in the room and each ask the question on their card to their partner.

3. Each pair of students answers each others' question.

4. Students then SWAP CARDS and find a new partner. Repeat steps 3 & 4.

5. Once students have mingled around for a while, bring the group back together and have each students share a fascinating fact that they learned about someone else in the group during the activity.

To find out more about Teamwork & Teamplay Givageta Character Cards or to purchase your own deck, head to their website. 

How Will You Grow as a Communicator this Year? [FREE GIFT INCLUDED]

2014 has arrived!

As you are setting personal, ministry, and life goals, take a moment to reflect upon how you will intentionally grow as a communicator to students this year.

Here is a FREE Evaluation Template that you can use to help narrow your focus as to which areas you need to grow as a communicator this upcoming year.

May God grow you exponentially as you pursue Him!

Happy New Year!