BECOME THE EXAMPLE THEY FOLLOW

Contrary to popular belief, staying up all night with teenagers, jumping on trampolines, driving bumper cars, playing basketball with a raw turkey, and chasing pigs no longer entice me. Yes, as you laugh, it is true I did each of those things. But let me be quite truthful... those things are not my idea of fun. Yet if you watched me participate in any of those activities, you would never guess I was not having the time of my life. It does not really matter if you think the activities your kids want to do are fun. Make yourself enjoy it. I cannot stress how vital it is for you to recognize the importance of teaching them how to cultivate their own sense of creativity and avoid falling into the trap of boredom. You must become the example they follow, not just in prayer and worship, but in planned events and outings.

If you stick around in ministry long enough, you'll build enough credibility that your trampoline jumping days may wind down. But the memories are so many that years later they still keep you laughing together. My "remember when's" include sumo wrestling events in the living room, the demolition of an old car, snow throwing parties, turkey basketball tournaments, and candle-light moments... Most of our creative ideas often become infamous activities and we turn them into long-awaited, stoic traditions.

Allow me to share just a few:

1. Among the many outdoor activities, turkey basketball has emerged over the years as a favorite. Every fall, I headed off to the grocery store to buy frozen turkeys and a box of plastic gloves. Picture in your mind person after person man-handling a frozen turkey. You guessed it. The inevitable happens. Cheering fans laugh hysterically as they watch the various parts of the poultry fly from one side of the court to another. I think I've played turkey basketball enough that I probably could shoot better with the awkward bird than an actual basketball. But through participating in this silly activity, we produced tons of laughter and always built bridges of friendship with the kids and gained credibility as their leader.
2. At one of our "fun activities" I actually broke my leg chasing a greasy pig, but I caught the pig! The things we dream up and actually do would overwhelm the minds of most normal parents, yet as I see hundreds of kids entering a real authentic walk with Christ and enjoying Christian friendships, I refuse to believe it is anything less than effective. I've learned the importance of this principle and allowed it to affect every aspect of my youth ministry approach.
3. When we built our first home, I requested an open entry-way and living area, with the intention of hosting large groups of kids. What I didn't realize is that the vaulted ceilings, along with a staircase leading to the balcony that overlooked the living area would provide the ideal setting for what later became one of our most renowned activities. One night I consented to having a trampoline brought into the living room, and allowed my furniture to be carried into the front yard. The kids loved having an indoor trampoline, but one bright individual needed more of a challenge, and proceeded to climb the stairs and there atop the balcony he jumped onto the trampoline. My mind reeled, as I imagined the overwhelming potential to incur a lawsuit, but as the chants for me to join in the newly found fun came, I buried my fears and made the jump. Thousands launched themselves off the balcony to the trampoline below during our 13 year stay in Illinois, and I know for many of them it was their first leap towards a relationship with Jesus Christ.