Why did this youth leader ban gross games in youth ministry? He believes these activities are extremely damaging to our ministry to students. Learn the reasoning behind a policy of no gross games.
A TV show that revolutionized youth ministry games was “Minute to Win it.” These types of games are simple to set up, with a predetermined amount of playing time. Plus, students love 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. 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 have nothing 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 pigs’ 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’d planned on writing a post about this topic. My greatest encouragement came last night after middle school youth group. 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 committed to never playing gross games in my 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 gross games and ask for a volunteer, we’re 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, it might make them not even want to attend youth group.