Program Ideas
Gospelling Program
SU’s gospelling programs are planned around the 5 C’s (Connect, Context, Content, Consider, and Consequence), and the material used each year includes everything that you need to start preparing your program. It is designed to engage children, teens, and their parents through opening the Bible in creative ways, and relational evangelism through community.
Team outline and Mission program
It is important to have a program for your team – a daily timetable and a weekly outline for your mission. Each mission will have its own unique lay out to the day and to the week, but the essentials for a community mission will be common.
More ideas for….
Bible stories don’t have to just be read of out the bible. Rewind has some ideas, but there are even more ways of presenting the bible.
Drama is an effective way of sharing the gospel with larger groups of people, connecting with all ages and stages.
Family events are a great way of involving the whole family in your mission. Remember that kids are part of families, and parents often appreciate participating in family activities. Think creatively about how you share the gospel with families. For example, a family carnival.
Games are a significant way of building community and relationship with people. On the website there is a list of nearly every game under the sun! Check it out!
Songs are one of the most effective memory aids, and like all aspects of an up front program, with some preparation it’s not hard to do them well. Make use of the SU Song CD, Click; it has words, music and backing tracks for lots of mission-appropriate gospel songs. Silly songs are fun too, and are a great way of engaging with kids.
Follow up is really important! The value of mission contact can be greatly increased if a relationship formed during mission is maintained throughout the year. However there are things to be careful about which you need to bring to the attention of your team. These include: appropriate ways to contact a child, the appropriate use of social networking sites, respecting the role of the parents / guardian in the child’s life, the inappropriateness of a male mission leader contacting a female participant. This year SU has updated its policy regarding social networking sites. There is a document for you to read and also one to give to your team. Facebook especially plays a significant role in how teens and young adults communicate with each other. It is vitally important that we use these sites in appropriate and safe ways.
Drop in Centre
Drop in centres are aimed at providing a safe place where people, primarily teens and young adults, can come and hang out. A Drop in centres is a place where relationships and community can be built, and where you can have a more formal ‘upfront’ presentation of the gospel, such as a team member talking upfront about what difference being a Christian makes. The space can include, snacks, games, activities, bean bags, dance mats, pool table, table tennis table, foosball, a NYE party, poker night, arm wrestle comp, chai tent, trivia night, talent quest, Wii.
Program Ideas and Activities
In a Theos or SUFM teens context, activities can be community building and provide resources for the camp site. They can include anything from sport competitions such as a 3 on 3 basket ball comp, beach volley ball or soccer, random acts of pancakes, free BBQ dinner, henna tattoos and hair braiding, movie nights, red faces or open mic nights, stump a Christian panel, sand sculpture comp, athletics comp.
Live Music / Stage
Music is a large part of today’s culture and is often a comfortable way to express emotion amongst peers and strangers. Live music or a stage can be a focal point for the night. It can be an accessible way to present the gospel, either through the form of lyrics or by the artist sharing their story. Having program participants perform is also a way of empowering and encouraging them to be involved in the community and to share something of themselves also.