Youth Ministries Get Creative with October Activities

Each month, the National Youth Ministry team comes up with a theme. Local ministries are encouraged to use these themes as a guideline and expand upon them in ways that are relevant for their community. The theme for October was “Inspire,” and each community used their own creativity and perspective to bring it to life for their local youth.

Worcester, Massachusetts

In Worcester, MA, 40 high school students and young adults participated in the annual Camp Aurora Cleanup and cleaned up the campsite that they use for summer camp each year. “High school students from all over New England joined together and were able to reconnect with each other,” said youth pastor Tamami Okano.

Along with the cleanup, the staff engaged the participants with thoughtful activities taken from the Youth Ministry website. A few of the staff shared about how they had once felt something was holding them back from connecting to the Heavenly Parent. Afterward, each high-schooler wrote a letter to God to share how they were doing. Following this, everyone found a partner and shared their letter and then found a quiet place to pray out loud for each other. The students then posted their letters onto the walls so other people could read them and write words of encouragement and support with sticky notes. The activity ended in a group prayer and a giant group hug!

Tamami expressed how moving the experience was for everyone. “Because of the bonds of heart and spirit that all of the kids have created over the years, they were able to easily become vulnerable and share honestly with each other. There was no hesitation in sharing in pairs or with the entire group because kids knew they could trust one another. The kids supported each other through many hugs and lots of heartwarming words of encouragement. Many youth noted that it was really refreshing and just what they needed at this point in time. They were grateful to have brothers and sisters who they could talk with about their relationship to God.”

The event was a welcome check-in point between the group’s two major workshops: Camp Aurora in the summer, and the New England Winter Workshop. Tamami noted how inspiring it was to see some of the older high school students make an effort to reach out to their younger brothers and sisters. “I felt as if it showed the extremely impacting effect youth ministry can have on youth’s life of faith.”

Elizabeth, New Jersey

Hak Ja de Sousa, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, shared how her youth ministry used the theme Inspire. “I decided to add sub-themes to every month to help decide on what education would be, so this month, our sub-theme was ‘Ownership.’ Our education topics were: Creating a Belief System, God’s Heart, and Relationship Goals with God.”

Activities were primarily directed toward inward reflection, building a relationship with God and establishing an identity as Unificationists. The group participated in fundraising as a way to practice humility and to express gratitude to elders.

Hak Ja shared, “Through focusing more on discussion this month, youth group members were able to create steps toward making their faith more intentional and practical. It became a lot easier for people to open up about their life of faith, and how they struggle identifying with it.”

The youth have expressed a great desire to learn more about their own faith and how to practice it daily. The group plans to continue to talk and explore the subject, and connect with each other on even deeper levels.

Washington, D.C.

Emaculate Mungye of Washington, D.C. also used online tools from the Youth Ministry website this month. A spiritual style quiz, prayer circle, and reading on God were all a part of this month’s activities. Each activity gave the youth a different degree of inspiration.

Emaculate expressed what a positive experience it was for participants. “Some of them essentially poured their hearts out during our discussions and it made me realize how much they sometimes need a forum to let their hearts out, a forum we were able to provide with this activity.”

It was a powerful and valuable event where the participants were able to gain some knowledge and get inspired. “I believe the kids were inspired enough to be comfortable to share some of their personal and family struggles or difficulties,” said Emaculate. “The activities were of great value to the youth.”

Bowie, Maryland

Sasha Drost and Josh Hunter head up the Youth Ministry team in Bowie, Maryland, and used the theme to focus on “inviting God.” Through their programs, they focused on ways to relate with God, as well as experience what it means to invite God into different areas of their life.

The two main programs were a middle school program and a high school program. The middle school program, DASH (DAre to SHine), focused its youth night on the theme of bringing God into different parts of their life, including school, home and relationships. After a discussion, the students created invitations to God. Their messages invited God into specific events for the upcoming week, ranging from a homework session to a sports game and a family night.

The high school program, Word Up, offered the youth multiple activities to invite and make time for God. Some of these activities included praise and worship, reflection, scripture reading, meditation and tai chi. The month was full of wonderful opportunities for growth, exploration and reflection.

Sasha reflected, “Our discussions and activities allowed everyone to find their own specific preferences in ways to invite God into their day, ultimately enhancing their personal relationship with our Heavenly Parent.”