This past Wednesday night, we played a great game with our junior high students. I liked it so much, I wanted to share it here with you. Let me introduce you to, Bomb Squad!
When it comes to game time on Wednesday nights, leadership rotates among the leaders. We each take turns planning and leading games. This past Wednesday night, David N., one of our amazing leaders shared Bomb Squad with our students and it went over pretty well. I don't think this is an original game, so you've seen it in a book or on another youth ministry website, let me know.
Here's what you need...
General Game Play... The goal is for the students to deposit as many "bombs" into the other teams drop box as possible, within the designated time limit. The team with the most bombs deposited wins. Bombs are defused when a player is tagged on the opposing teams territory and the egg opened and the paper or candy is removed. Here's how we played Bomb Squad... Our students were divided into 2 teams of about 10 each. Colored bandanas were given to designate the teams. We divided the room in half with each team claiming one half as their territory.
We placed the large part of the paper box as the drop box. This is where students would drop the live bombs into at the far end of the other teams territory. The lids of the paper box served as the Pick Up area that held the teams live bombs. These were placed off to the side of a teams territory. On "Go" students tried to grab their live bombs from the pick up point, one at a time, and run them to the the other teams drop box without being tagged.
To defend the drop boxes, players can tag the opposite teams "bombers" whenever they enter the teams territory. Once tagged, the bomb is turned over and diffused. (Open the egg and take out whatever you have placed inside. Since we used Skittles, the students could eat the Skittle.)
We set a time limit for play. This helps to create some urgency for the students. We also assigned points for every bomb that made it to the drop box. (10 points each.)
Depending on how you want to play the game, you can do multiple rounds changing the variables. Play with only guys only tagging guys, or only girls can carry the bombs, or divide the team as bombers and defenders. You can also do a quick reset by adding more paper or candy to the eggs, or simply play till your supply is exhausted. We did not use all of the "live bombs" that had been prepared.
Have fun playing this one!
- jay PS - Special thanks to our amazing adult leader, Dave N. for bringing this game to our students!
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This past Tuesday night, we wrapped up our latest teaching series with our high school ministry. We used, The Least of These, a four week discussion on poverty, published by my friends over at YouthMinistry360.com! I love the materials that come out of YM360 for 2 reasons. 1. Excellent bible-based content. I know when I open materials from YM360 they will be biblically solid. 2. Easy to use with plenty of flexibility. YM360 has consistently put out great materials that are biblically sound. I love that I don't have to worry about content or do a lot of extra study. Each lesson is cemented in a biblical text that is explained and reliable. The explanations and summaries are super helpful in getting to the heart of the text. YM360 materials are easy to use. These complete lesson plans are super easy to use. Packed with ideas, questions, and content, each comes with tremendous freedom and flexibility to mix and match for the purposes and effectiveness of your group and context. The Least of These, is an excellent resource for discussing the topic of poverty and the Christian response. In a culture where students are more aware of world wide condition, our socially aware students are looking for what our response should be when we consider issues such as poverty and need. In their 4-part series, YM360, tackles the topic starting with God's thoughts on poverty leading to our response as believers. Where did poverty come from? And what does God think about those in need? From the Old Testament to the New Testament, the materials careful walk you and your students through verses that clearly present a god-sized view of poverty and how we are to move towards helping the needy. This is my second time leading students through the materials, and each time I have been reminded of our responsibility to care for those in need. For my students, it has been an eye-opener to the realities of our faith and the idea of serving others. This time round, I chose to use the materials in the leading up to our 30 Hour Famine. Now our famine has a greater backdrop for our response to poverty and the world-wide situation of need and ministry. If you are looking for a curriculum that deals with a believers response to poverty or would like to show students God's heart towards the needy, The Least of These, would be a great resource to consider. Note: The copy that I have is an older version of the the teaching materials. In the first weeks lesson, there are some statistics that are share to help paint the picture of poverty and need world-wide. I had to look up some more recent statistics an make a for changes to the lesson plans, but the changes were minor. Aside from week one, the materials are timeless. You can pick up a copy of the materials on the YouthMinistry360.com. (Which, by the way, is currently on sale at 70% off. Regular price, $49.99. Sale price, $19.99. But there are only 3 days left to order!) - jay *This was an unsolicited review of a resource that I have used with my student ministry. I have received no benefit other than the materials themselves. In no way was I compensated for my endorsement, favorable review, or usage by the publishers or any of their distribution partners.
Recently at our winter retreat, we played a game that I have been dying to play, Egg Roulette.
Jimmy Fallon, on the Tonight Show, plays this game with his guests. I have been wanting to do this with our students, but I waited till just the right time...our Winter Retreat. Here is the video from our game.
This was such a fun game.
There is some prep time needed. You need to get your eggs and hard boil the eggs you need. You will also want to have a drop cloth if you're doing this in a room with a carpet, and have some towels on hand for during the game. Other than the prep time, this is an easy and fun upfront game, ideal for your retreat or an evening worship gathering that has some a fun element programmed into it. Have fun with this one and be sure to video as much of it as you can. - jay
*The following is a repost of a blog written by Jay Higham. This repost is part of our attempts to move old blog post from our old, no longer in use blog. This post has been updated and new affiliate links added.
A while back, I started reading, A Man After God's Own Heart, by Jim George. I love it. It's a great devotional for guys. Filled with short, daily readings that get right to the point and challenge guys to step out and be a man after God's own heart, makes it super appealing. No deep or difficult theology. No complicated scripture readings. No dates or numbers at the top of the page reminding you when you miss a day or two. Just a couple short paragraphs and three to four sentence prayer, and your done. But don't go thinking that it's simplicity is lacking in effective growth. The old saying, 'sometimes less is more' is totally true. In this case, less is definitely more.
Available in both print and ebook editions, I know you will find spending a few short minutes each day reading, A Man After God's Own Heart, will be a great blessing for you! I downloaded the ebook version for Kindle so that it's always with me on my iPad.
Wives, get your husband something that you know he will use, order, A Man After God's Own Heart. Use the links below. - jay PS - I want to know if you've read A Man After God's Own Heart, or if you've ordered it. I'd love to hear how it has challenged you to be the man God created you to be! Share your comments below!
I have been blogging for a long time. I start way back in 2005, writing for fun, sharing ideas, talking about the family, and observing the church, ministry, and culture. Throughout the years I have utilized a number of platforms; Blogger, Wordpress, my own hosted websites. I have content in a lot of places.
But I've decided to try to bring some of those old posts that I really liked or that saw some traffic, back and consolidate everything so my content is more centralized. In doing this, it will also give me the opportunity to revise, update, and add to some of these posts; giving them a new, fresh, more relevant voice. One of the posts I am most excited to bring back is actually a 60 part series called, Youth Worker Tip of the Day! This daily series was originally created to become a stand alone blog, offering quick, help, practical tips for all areas of student ministry. I stopped at 60 because a of ministry change. But now, I want to give them new life, and add to the 60 with new tips. However, it probably will not be a "daily" tip, but a weekly post. So be watching for some new "old" content to hit the blog over the next couple of months. And be on the look out for the Youth Work Tips series. Hey, it's Friday, so I'm wrapping up the week with a shorter post! Hope you have a great weekend, and I'll see you back here on Monday! - jay
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AuthorJay Higham is a veteran youth worker of over 30 years; having worked with students in the local church and Christian camping settings. Jay is currently serving as the director of family ministry at a church, located in West Virginia. Jay has been married to Amy for over 25 years. Together, they are raising 5 kids, (4 boys and 1 girl). Jay is an aspiring author, blogger, speaker, vlogger, and social media junkie. He is passionate about student ministry, family ministry, and training youth workers to love and serve their students with passion and excellence. Archives
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