Kia ora, Hello to every one involved in youth ministry in Aotearoa. We are in a season like no other. From midnight 24 March we are moving into Covid-19 Alert Level 4. As anxieties build and things change so rapidly can we start with a quote from Farid Ahmed A Christchurch shooting survivor and... See more

As the church adapts to these extraordinary times, when we can no longer gather in person, we are navigating and exploring new ways of connecting. Even though your youth group may not be meeting in person, our young people still need opportunities to stay connect with one another, and receive input... See more

Most young people don’t see the internet as something they engage in; rather it is a vital part of everyday living – like electricity is. Phones aren’t a luxury in their minds but an essential part of life. Here are some questions that may be helpful in helping young people consider their... See more

Friday the 15^th of March was a very sad day in our nation.  Many of us are struggling even to know where to start in processing the brutal murder of so many of our Muslim neighbours.
Our interdenominational national youth leaders have put together this simple resource to help you... See more

The end of the year is a great opportunity to say thank you to your leaders for all they have done throughout the year.
Here are some ways to say a big 'thank you' and to help them know how much they are appreciated:

• Have them over... See more

A 10 course buffet of ideas to help your church services inspire and enthuse the youth - through visuals, involvement, prayer, worship and more.
Vibe
How does the room look and feel?

• Is this a youth friendly space? Is it comfortable and inviting? Is it warm? freezing... See more

How do you transition kids into youth group? How do you transition youth into young adults ministry?
A new year is beginning. We find ourselves hoping and praying that as term one begins, the new kids will just rock on up to youth group or turn up at our small group. We hope that it will just... See more

What are the key elements of a youth group? The team of youth staff in Wellington have identified these seven practices as being integral to youth ministry in their diocese.

1. Tribal Identity: Ensure you have a group culture and that everyone knows they are part of your... See more

A fun and engaging way to cover many basic safety issues with your youth leadership team. Include it in a full safety training session or just spend 20 minutes on it over the next few leaders meetings.
How to use this video:

1. Play the video, asking leaders to spot the safety... See more

20 practical ways to engage and excite young people with the Gospel...
Nelson Anglican Youth have come up with twenty simple, practical and honest ways that will get people excited about engaging with teenagers and the gospel.
1. Start with who you have.
Invest into the young people... See more

Prayer is one of the foundational practices of the Christian faith. Praying with a group of other believers is one type of prayer that can bring great blessing and encouragement to everyone involved.
Some main barriers to ‘group prayer’ are:
Shyness: many people are very shy when it... See more

A Simple Method for Studying the Bible One on One
It can be quite daunting meeting up with someone to look at the Bible together, especially if you have never done it before. However, even if you have never read the Bible with someone else before, it is possible to mine the riches of the... See more

The heart of a good study is the questions and personal study of the passage by the leader.
 
Well Beforehand:
Be well familiar with the passage; study it yourself, maybe using these notes.
Come up with a 'Big Idea' - a 1-sentence summary of what you think the passage is... See more

Whether you're planning a special youth event, service or camp, here's a step by step guide that will help your event run smoothly and take your youth to the next level.
1. Prayer
Prayer is an essential part of the planning process. It's easy to forget to take time to pray when we're... See more

1. Atmospherics: Set up the room well before young people arrive.


2. Check-Ins: Have a fun activity that gives everyone a chance to say their name and/or share something interesting. (See Community Builders)


3. Run a game (model positive interactions,... See more

Sarah West shares the approach she has used with her youth group to help them develop a passion for praying together.
Modelling: Keep it Simple
If the youth pastor and/or youth leaders are praying long and complex prayers, it can put a silent pressure on the youth to conjure up ‘fancy’... See more

Doing talks using the Hook, Look, Book, Took approach.
‘Talks’, ‘God-spots’, ‘devotions’, ‘up-fronts’ - whatever you call it, youth leaders often feel nervous about doing Christian input well on your main youth group night.
The ‘Hook, Look, Book, Took’ model is a pretty... See more

In a small group young people are given the space to grow in a more intimate setting. Small groups have the potential to create lasting connections with other people in an atmosphere where honesty and vulnerability is encouraged.
Physical environment
While small groups should be able to... See more

10 Tips on starting a youth group. These are not hard and fast rules, but this is the approach that the Diocese of Christchurch found worked well when they started 11 youth groups.
1. Have your "five loaves and two fish"
Just as Jesus needed “five loaves and two fish” to start with... See more

Every youth group faces it at times – disruptive or distracting behaviour, inattentive young people, or failure to follow basic safety principles. Below are some tips on how to get the best behaviour out of your young people and how to deal with them when things start going awry.
Firstly, a... See more