At a loss on how to increase participation in your group? Here’s some suggestions on how to multiply interaction from your community members.
https://anethicalisland.wordpress.com/2013/03/28/please-i-need-you-to-participate/
Bring on the Games
Games provide the environment for people and stories to come alive and feel at home. I’m a huge fan of games and I always try to have a few in the back of my head when I’m going into a group environment. Here is a link to 13 that seem fairly simple, but effective.
http://fervr.net/youth-group/top-13-youth-group-mixers-icebreakers
Sometimes Having a Smaller Group is Better
I hope this resource article below will be an encouragement to those of us who lead smaller groups of students or adults. Sometimes having a smaller group enables deeper relationship building and growth in ways that a larger group would never be able to offer. Ultimately I think this resource helps us do what 1 Corinthians 7:17 says from the The Message “Don’t go wishing you were someplace else or with someone else. Where you are right now is God’s place for you. Live, Obey, Love and Believe right there!”
http://www.tansquaredyouthministry.com/2016/07/rockin-youth-group-ten-or-less-students/
A Little Video Reinforcement
Sometimes all a youth group gathering needs to really get moving is a little video reinforcement. This article from youthministry.com has some great video resources. Use them as ice breakers, to bring home your Bible lesson, or to build community.
Hope you'll find some valuable resources here today!
https://youthministry.com/funny-videos-youth-group/
Community First Youth Ministry
"At the end of the day, I simply believe it’s high time for many of us to stop operating like the best first step to the faith is coming to a church service." -from the article linked below
As I've looked back on the students who seemed to be impacted the most by the Gospel message of Jesus, I've been particularly surprised at how many of those didn't come to a church service for years. The below article is a good reminder that perhaps we need to encourage our youth ministries to get outside the walls of the church to BE the church.
http://youthministry360.com/blog/stop-telling-teenagers-invite-friends-church/