Let's be real. The real reason we sell all those doughnuts, do all those carwashes, and boil all those hotdogs is for the MOMENTUM we get building up to, during, and after the conference weekend with your group! And to be honest, that's one big reason why I do what I do for the other groups that come. The tough part is, like a filled baloon, MOMENTUM deflates slowly. I believe that the conference weekend changes people on a personal level, but I also believe it has the ability, through the works of the Spirit, to be a time where God shifts an entire group into a new level of commitment to their collective cause in their place of ministry.
Here are 7 things I recommend you do (as the leader) to keep the balloon as full for as long as possible. Who knows, by the time they finally come off their high of the conference, you'll be loading them into the vans and buses for summer camps!!
Hope this helps!!
1. Record Video testimonies (or live testimonies) and use only 1-2 each week verses one BIG sunday night service or wednesday night. If you space them out, the students you will be using will be forced to hang on to their testimony much longer than a couple days. This will also remind those that went of what they witnessed.
2. Whatever "THE" worship song is that struck a chord with your youth group, take it home with you and begin to use for worship or pre-service time.
a. 5 Seconds by Canton Jones - we played this song in our pre-service music and I had dozens of kids and leaders come up and ask who that was. Use it to start your services out as well. It will remind them of the conference atmosphere.
b. Show Me the Way/I Call You Jesus - USE them in your worship time with your kids. Not every single week. But maybe for the 1st month after the conference and then rotate them in ocassionally.
3. Designate a once a month shabbach T-shirt DAY. Let them wear it to school that day and then to church that night. It will remind them of what God did the night they purchased that shirt for a while. email Cathy at productsales@shabbach.com and purchase extra shirts and gear to give out during each of those monthly services.
4. Display a HUGE group Pic and/or collages of the weekend at the entrance to your youth area. I would encourage you to let some of the pics be funny (for relationship building) and some to be of your kids worshipping and crying, etc (for a reminder of how they pursued their relationship with God.)
5. Have a few follow-up "Hotel room hangout" nights. Encourage your chaperones/staff to take a night once a month or so and have a sleepover or a couple hours to hang out and reestablish the fun they had in the hotel rooms. Who knows, this could be the birthing of your small group ministry!!
6. Encourage your group to target 5 kids in your group who did not go this year and force them to make plans now for next year. This will give them something to DO with the relationships they HAVE. It's the Great GO!Mission not the Great Suggestion.
7. Anytime a "Shabbach" speaker or minister is close enough to drive too, take your crew and SHOW up to what they are doing. This isn't about another church or "following" a preacher, it's about YOU making sure your kids don't LOSE what they got. Be selfish. If somone is bringing in one of the Shabbach people relatively close to your area, take full advantage of not having to pay for the opportunity. But hey, if you have the budget to play with and you KNOW your kids will value the experience, you pay the price (or join forces with a couple churches) and facilitate the opportunity for other groups close by to link up with. They'll thank you for it.
Do you have any other ideas your group uses taht could benefit other leaders with regards to keeping the BIG "MO"???
Comment them.
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