What are gross games in youth ministry banned for this youth leader’s program? Learn the reasoning behind this no-gross policy.
A TV show that revolutionized youth ministry games was “Minute to Win it.” These types of games are simple to set up and have a predetermined amount of time. Plus, students love playing them.
The best part about those games? There’s no shame! If a student can’t win, they don’t have to walk back to their seat feeling like a loser. The games are easy enough that anyone can do them. Yet they’re hard enough that no one can really do them.
Before that, another game show sparked many youth ministry game ideas. And now that show, “Fear Factor,” is returning to television. New host Johnny Knoxville (of “Jackass” fame) replaces Joe Rogan (now of podcast fame). But I strongly urge you not to use any games related to that show.
I’m not against “Fear Factor.” I used to love watching the original version. So don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying youth pastors and kids shouldn’t watch the show.
Instead, I believe gross games in youth ministry are a huge threat.
Why I Nixed Gross Games in Youth Ministry
When I was in 7th grade, we played a youth group game with four teams on one side of the room. On the other side were four grocery bags. One at a time, one person from each team ran to the bag. Without looking, they had to reach in, pull something out, and eat it. Items ranged from a candy bar to a jar of baby food or pickled pig feet. Then students had to run back across the room.
Other gross games in youth ministry involve overeating. For example, students have to eat as many Twinkies as they can in a minute. But one Twinkie they receive is full of mayonnaise instead of cream filling.
I’m sure you’ve heard of more disgusting games. What I’ve seen, especially in middle school, is a real threat to ministry.
For a while, I had planned on writing a post about this topic. My greatest encouragement came last night after middle school youth group. Afterward, one girl came up to me and said, “Thank you for not making us play any gross games. I never came to Middle School Mayhem because the first day I went in 6th grade, I had to bob for pigs feet. I don’t feel embarrassed playing your games though.”
Already I had been committed to never playing gross games in youth ministry. Now I’m committed to alerting others . Why? I honestly believe these activities are extremely damaging to our ministry to students.
The Danger of Gross Games in Youth Ministry
1. They are damaging because of their very nature.
When we play these games and ask for a volunteer, we are asking for someone to come up and be laughed at while they get very uncomfortable. No community-building is happening, except for a community of students laughing at the contestant.
For already-shy kids, this can be an extremely painful experience. As my student expressed last night, it might make them not even want to attend youth group.
2. They perpetuate the myth that youth ministry is just a bunch of silly games.
A lot of students at our church don’t come to our youth group. I’m working on boosting involvement. But I know one thing that has kept them out is the image of “Just fun and games” of many programs.
If I sent my own child, who returned and said “I don’t feel well, we played dodgeball with fish tonight”? Then I’m not sure I’m ever letting my kid return.
Call me crazy, but I just don’t see any benefit to playing disgusting games. I’d love to hear one if you have one. But for me, gross games in youth ministry serve as nothing but a threat to real ministry. In our program, we will never play them.
What are your thoughts about playing gross games in youth ministry? Do they have any role, or have you banished them, and why?
