6. Go green.
Jump on the green bandwagon and plan a Recycled Party. The twist is that you use nothing—NOTHING—that’s brand new. Kids must wear clothes purchased from a local thrift store and bring decorations left over from previous parties. Serve leftovers. Play only games you’ve played before. Lead a short, ancient devotion from a giant in the faith such as C.H. Spurgeon. Make a punch out of all the leftover drinks from your church kitchen. Have fun with this youth group kickoff idea!
7. Focus on great beginnings.
This idea works best for smaller groups. Invite kids to bring their favorite (appropriate) DVD. When they arrive, tell them you’ll watch the first 10 minutes of every movie. At 09:59:59, hit the eject button and slide in the next one. (If DVDs aren’t an option, ask kids to text or email you their favorite movie ahead of time. Then line up short YouTube scenes and play them one after the other.)
After the mashup fun, plan a short youth group kickoff devotion. Center itaround the themes in the first two chapters of Acts—the “great beginnings” of the church.
8. Hold a crack-of-dawn vigil.
This is a great youth group kickoff idea for smaller groups. Tell parents ahead of time so they know this is coming. Gather your adult leaders for a pre-dawn invasion. Then show up at kids’ homes an hour before sunrise. Give them 30 seconds to find shoes and grab a jacket. Next, meet at a park or tall building. Watch the sunrise, read the Creation story in Genesis, and then go out for donuts.
9. Challenge seniors to set the bar.
Youth ministry kickoff ideas are important for welcoming new kids. First impressions matter! So review photos and find pictures of your seniors when they were just entering your ministry. Send them each a picture with a “Remember When?” note. Compliment their growth in Christ. Tell them, specifically, how you’ve seen them mature. Then ask them to remember their crucial responsibility as role models for new members. Ask seniors to lead by example.
10. Go missional!
Beforehand, ask for donations from your congregation to fund a special start-of-school-year outreach project. Then get kids in trios and drive half to a local Wal-Mart and the other half to a local Target. Give each group $20 to spend on school supplies. Donate your haul to a low-income school or homeless shelter. Challenge kids to compete in categories like “Most Creative Use of a Dollar” or “Who Bought the Most for $20.” Tell store managers what you’re doing, and maybe they’ll offer a discount.
This article about youth ministry kickoff ideas originally appeared here.
