What Your Games Might Be Missing

It was a lot of work for only a few minutes of fun, and even that was questionable. It was the first time I had passed on the responsibility of volunteers to plan, prepare, and facilitate a game for middle school students. They had pitched me the idea, and I went with it despite having a few reservations. But, I wanted to be hands-off, and so I backed off. I watched them for hours sticking pieces of paper with sins written on them into balloons that they then inflated. I observed them hanging those balloons from the ceiling of our youth room and watched with reluctance as they gave 30 middle school students plastic swords with scripture written on them.  And then I stood there in amazement as they instructed the middle school students to go and “strike the sin balloons  with the word of God.”

The teens were excited until they realized that even if a plastic sword could pop a balloon that most of them were too short of reaching the balloons taped to the ceiling. After 15 minutes, it was time to end it. GAME OVER.

I’ve had my share of game flops. It might seem like any old game works, but the reality is that it takes creativity, flexibility, and teamwork to make games a practical part of your ministry. As someone who loves having games a part of youth ministry, there are a few  things I’ve learned:

DON’T BE AFRAID TO GO CLASSIC

There are some classics like Simon Says (Large Group) or Two Truths And A Lie (Small Group)  that are easily dismissed, but the reason they are classics is that people still love them. It’s also important to remember that just because you’ve played a game a nauseating amount of time, it doesn’t mean your teens are tired of them (In some cases they’ve never played them).  When in doubt, go classic.

EMBRACE DIFFERENT PARTICIPATION LEVELS

As an extrovert, I love big room games, especially when it’s one where everyone can participate. I know that for some people, the idea of mixing with a large group leaves them in hives. Most teenagers like games; it’s just not every teen likes the same games. That’s not to say you should eliminate “All Play” games but give people the opportunity to opt-out.

Also, don’t be afraid to play games where only a few participate. Some enjoy the spotlight, and others want to observe. While you can’t please everyone make sure you don’t get stuck in the same routine.

GAMEPLAY IS A TEAM EFFORT

There are games when individuals compete in teams and times when they are on their own, but when it comes to planning, preparing, and facilitating a game, you need a team. When you have a group, you save time. You can ask others to help you with the cleanup, assembling the materials and setting up space. A team also helps you test ideas and work out any kinks that might prevent your game from going well. Plus, it’s more fun to create games with others.

TEST IT OUT BEFORE YOU GO LIVE

When you go beyond Rock, Paper, and Scissors and do something the requires technology or physical props, it’s crucial to know everything will work smoothly. There is nothing worse than wasting people’s time because you put the slides in the wrong order of your presentation, or someone forgot to unwrap the ping-pong balls. In other words, be prepared and have an idea of the outcome, or you’ll lose the trust of your teens.

There will be mistakes and failures when it comes to games; that’s a part of what makes them fun. However, it can be exhausting, and you won’t always be able to bounce back. Be intentional with your strategy and take the time to make games a part of your ministry that sets a teens’ mind at ease. Games should help your teens relax so that they can be vulnerable, open up, and hear God’s Word.

What are some of the essential rules when it comes to gameplay in your ministry?

Need some game ideas? Check out my friends at Download Youth Ministry for some ideas:

Download Youth Ministry