101 IDEAS FOR OUTREACH & EVANGELISM IN YOUTH MINISTRY, Compiled by Phil Stone, Bible Study/Church Administration Team Leader, Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Email: pstone@bscnc.org.

   1.  Sponsor a video game (Nintendo/SEGA/Play Station or similar) tournament for younger youth.

   2.  Poll adults for teens they know, who are not currently involved in your church's youth ministry.

   3.  Ask youth to survey the block they live on for prospects.

   4.  Compare list of recreation participants to Sunday School rolls.

   5.  Watch school announcements for newcomers.

   6.  When a youth is hospitalized, flood them with visits.

   7.  Visit High School campuses at lunch time (with permission).

   8.  Hold an annual "Youth Appreciation Day."

   9.  Do a telephone blitz to update Sunday School information on absentees and prospects.

  10.  Ask young adults if they know any babysitters that are not involved in a youth ministry.

  11.  Mingle at the mall with your youth, meet their friends.

  12.  Get involved in your school's drug & alcohol prevention programs for adolescents.

  13.  Review Chapter 5 of "Youth Sunday School for a New Century" to help your teens identify prospects.

  14.  Ye olde video party.

  15.  Poll parents to see if co-workers have youth aged children.

  16.  Enlist drivers for youth trips so you can spend road time visiting with teens.

  17.  Learn to "banter" with teens, this light-hearted fun can lead to more serious discussions later.

  18.  Create a working relationship with school guidance counselors, most beneficial in times of crisis.

  19.  Spend time discipling teens one on one or in small groups.

  20.  Invest time in training other youth workers, in order to multiply your outreach & evangelism efforts.

  21.  Substitute teach at local public and private schools.

  22.  Discover where teens are employed and drop by while they are working . . . If it's appropriate.

  23.  Ask youth about exchange students who may be interested in attending your group's activities.

  24.  "Gift Bag" to be delivered to the home of guests after they visit-- fix up a bag with a soda, candy bar, an "ec" magazine and a Sunday School Learner Guide.

  25.  Be sure to have some sort of registration at every social or recreational event, listing teen's name and phone number.

  26.  Network with other youth workers in your area.  This enables you to work together to reach more teens.

  27.  "Pop Visitation"--Make a doorknob hanger with pertinent youth information.  Hang it around a soda, drop it off at their home.

  28.  Create a "Youth Outreach Visitation Packet"-- include a flyer about youth activities, student book, Living with Teenagers magazine, and so forth.

  29.  Satellite Sunday Schools-- a couple of adults in out-lying areas can start an Outreach Bible Study in their home.

  30.  TV Telethon-- 8:00 p.m. - 8:00 a.m. -- Youth must bring a guest to attend, include lots of board games and snacks.

  31.  In the Summer you can hold your meetings outdoors-- Tailgate Bible Study in the parking lot.

  32.  Volleyball extravaganza-- beach balls, water balloons, and so forth.

  33.  Human Scavenger Hunt -- List could include: Blonde, straight A student,  Someone who just got a traffic ticket, and so forth.

  34.  Ye olde Kidnap Breakfast, warn the parents, and go get'em!

  35.  Rent a racquetball court and have your group play walley-ball.

  36.  Offer to make wake-up calls during finals, or for special days.

  37.  Appoint leaders in your youth group to make specific contacts.

  38.  Rake-N-Run-- Fall service project, pick-up trucks, tarps, rakes  and plenty of teens - identify widows, etc that need help.

  39.  When possible, on a home visit to meet a "new youth" take a youth  member from the same school or neighborhood.

  40.  Power Bands-- colored beads used as a witnessing tool.

  41.  Heaven Wall-- using photos from yearbooks, challenge youth to put pictures of kids up who need Christ.

  42.  Summer Pool School - incorporate a Bible Study at the pool.

  43.  Holy Rollers - Roller blade or skateboard through neighborhoods  handing out flyers publicizing an upcoming event.

  44.  The video camera gives you numerous opportunities to make your kids instant celebrities-  commercials for your meetings and so forth.

  45.  Big Screen TV events-- Super Bowl, World Series, etc.

  46.  Lights Out time at camps and retreats can be a great time to share about God's love.

  47.  If morning is not your time, maybe a "Pizza Kidnap" would help you round up some new teens.

  48.  Watch newspapers for youth accomplishments, sports, choir, honor rolls, then drop the teen a note with a clipping.

  49.  Polaroid, or audio cassette scavenger hunts can draw a crowd.

  50.  Don't underestimate the significance of remembering birthdays.

  51.  Show up at their ballgames, recitals, and so forth.  Get parents to help inform you of these events.

  52.  Back-to-School-Burger-Bash, a The-Last-Blast-Before-Summer's-Past, or a Back-to-School-Breakfast.

  53.  Youth Witness Training-- train your teens to effectively share their faith through their own testimonies ---- incorporate Student FAITH materials in your training.

  54.  Lifesaver night-- do games with lifesavers candy, then talk about what we were "saved" from, "saved" for, and so forth.

  55.  Share copies of "ec" (eSSENTIAL cONNECTION) when you meet teen prospects.

  56.  Big time Balloon Blow-up-- using helium balloons create balloon bouquets for recent guests, deliver and invite them back.

  57.  Participate in your churches weekly visitation program, and take two or three teens out for a soft drink, ice cream, or yogurt.

  58.  Plan an annual trip to a theme park or water park, use these as outreach times by offering cut rates to those who bring guests.

  59.  Would you believe . . . a tie dye party -- have youth bring their own shirts, and tie dye them.  They'll have a blast.

  60.  "Encouragrams"-- drop kids notes of encouragement.

  61.  Host a "Ping Pong Night"-- play a dozen different games using ping pong balls and variations on ping pong.

  62.  In the Summer months, a "Mud Bowl" event can be a great way to get kids together, include eggs, flour, oatmeal, and so forth.

  63.  "Babysitting Ministry"-- can help teens reach out to adults and raise funds for other outreach events.

  64.  Invite prospects to a night of miniature golf & batting cages.

  65.  If your youth choir, drama, or puppet team performs in public settings, be sure you have flyers to distribute, about your group.

  66.  Hold a "Read the Bible Through" marathon-- from the pulpit, adults and youth sign up for half hour slots.  This takes 3 and one-half days.

  67.  "Blizzard Blast" play Summer Games in snow-- for refreshments  have Dairy Queen "Blizzards" or something similar.

  68.  Recruit and train "Care Group Leaders" in your youth S.S. Class.

  69.  Take youth to camps like "Centrifuge," "MissionFuge," & "World Changers" where they will be challenged to live evangelistic lifestyles .

  70.  Hold a "Root Beer Float Soak" with games like, belching contest, use baby bottles, etc.

  71.  Provide parenting tips for parents of your teens. 

  72.  Communicate clearly with the pastor & others who visit in homes, let youth Sunday School teachers know if there are youth prospects.

  73.  Hold a hayride, bon-fire, in honor of new group members

  74.  Contact a "Youth Specialist" from another church or your association for assistance with reaching youth in your area.

  75.  "Shovel & Run" like Rake & Run-- Just add snow!  Shovel the driveways and walks of the elderly and prospective youth.

  76.  Reach out to the adventurous youth by sponsoring a campout, day hike, backpack, or float-trip, include daily Bible study.

  77.  Rent public school gymnasiums occasionally for group activities.  It's not very expensive and involves just a little paperwork.

  78.  Have youth create "License Plate" greetings & invitations to send to absentees and youth prospects-- MISN U,  and so forth,

  79.  Cooperate with Para church groups.  They often look for churches with youth ministry programs to plug kids into.

  80.  Be sensitive to special needs groups in your area, blind, deaf, mentally retarded, and other handicapped teens.

  81.  Visit with former youth Sunday School teachers or youth minister to locate potential prospects who may have "dropped out."

  82.  Don't assume your kids know how to make a guest feel welcome.  Do some role plays.  Then discuss and prepare your teens for guests.

  83.  Utilize "Cliques" in your group, and do events that target those groups; for example . . . cowboys, jocks, musicians, etc.

  84.  Christmas Caroling-- find that area of town where everyone is driving to look at the lights, ask homeowners permission to carol.

  85.  "Nail Down the Truth"-- promote a talk or meeting of the same name by mailing nails pushed through postcards with information.

  86.  Penny for your Thoughts-- Mail out letters with a penny attached, asking youth to bring ideas on how to promote an outreach event.

  87.  Get involved in team sports, leagues, get to know the participants invite them to your activities.

  88.  Working with computers-- Your teens are often as knowledgeable about megabytes as you are.  Get together and see what they can do.

  89.  Go with your kids to a local secular record store, you'll discover "where they are at" and you'll probably meet a friend or two.

  90.  Get teens involved in a craft, encourage them to invite friends who might also enjoy that craft.

  91.  Have we mentioned a thoughtful letter?-- It's almost a lost art!

  92.  PRAY-- I mean everyone.  Involve your group in praying for specific teens who need to know Christ.

  93.  GO FISH-really!-- Take them fishing, but don't forget to drop a hint or two about being fishers of men!

  94.  Become an authority on one or two hot youth topics (drugs, suicide, etc.) and make yourself available to speak to teen groups in your area.

  95.  When meeting teen's friends have a few jokes or one liners ready, leave them wondering, "Who was that guy?"

  96.  Send out goofy, bogus maps to members who haven't been to church in a while to help them "find their way back."

  97.  Send kids an audio or video cassette message inviting them to your next meeting or event.

  98.  Older students could offer to tutor younger students.

  99.  A youth breakfast/get together before school.  Encourage youth who ride with other kids to bring a whole carload.

 100.  Publish a simple "Roster" with everyone's names and numbers-- provide plenty of space for "New members."

 101.  Finally, showing interest in whatever they are "in to" and being available to spend time with them will show that you care.

 Note:  Sources for this compilation include:  "Ideas for Reaching Youth," by Knierim, Vickie; Craig Fry; and Bob Metcalf (Convention Press, 1992); Idea Books (Youth Specialties) and Group Growers (Group Publishing)