Susquehanna Conference:

Change is Coming!

By: Rayna Wilson

In January 2010, we had our first CCYM meeting with members of the Central Pennsylvania Conference (CPC) CCYM and members of the Wyoming Conference CCYM who will be joining together in June to form the new Susquehanna Conference CCYM.  This was a great weekend!  For me, one of the best things about the weekend (since I am a new Adult member to CCYM) was simply getting to know everyone.  There were nine adults and eight youth from CPC and four adults and eight youth from Wyoming.  For me, that meant getting to know fourteen new people - I can't remember the last time I met so many new people at once.  One thing that I think is noteworthy is the fact that I already have some difficulty distinguishing "CPC" people from "Wyoming" people.  The two groups really blended into one almost immediately.  From almost the first minute, it didn't seem to matter who had ridden in together, or who goes to school together, everyone just settled in and acted like they'd always known each other.  I can't describe what a comfortable weekend it was, just being there with friends! 

We had the typical getting-to-know-you games, learning names and sharing mostly random facts about ourselves.  We participated in some interesting leadership and team building activities.  I am not the biggest fan of low ropes course activities, being neither light nor flexible, but we did a lot of laughing and it was all in good fun.  Watching Warren, our director, not being able to talk for almost a half hour was a riot.  Some of the most verbal leaders were instructed not to talk, and it was wonderful to see the naturally quieter people step up and direct the group.  We played much less organized games like Sardines, and card and board games.  We watched movies and hung out and chatted.  I stayed up almost all night talking to my best friend, which I never get the chance to do anymore, and it was fabulous!  No injuries that I am aware of, only one illness - I'd say that in itself made the weekend a success!

Read more: Change is Coming!

 Warren's Top Ten Youth Resources

There are a lot of really good youth resources out there for people involved in youth ministry. The problem is that some of them are costly, not to mention that most people are very busy and don’t have time to read through all the resources out there. Over the years I have discovered a few resources that I go to again and again that really work. So If I could only have 10 resources to help me in youth ministry, these are the 10 that I would want.

10) The Book of Questions By Gregory Stock

A must have! Use questions in variety of ways: get to know games or discussions, on the road to keep students occupied.

9) Videos that Teach By Dug Fields and Eddie James

A must have! Use questions in variety of ways: get to know games or discussions, on the road to keep students occupied.

8) Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling Youth by Patricia and Keith Miller

Divided by subject this resource can help you with counseling as well as Discussion topics

7) Quick Crowd Breakers and Games for Youth Groups

More than 200 fun mixers that students will love. Broken down in the following categories: Partners Play, Team Tangles, Group Games and Just for Fun.

6) Talksheets- High School by David Lynn

Easy to use one-page, reproducible handouts that offer provocative questions in a compelling design that launch kids into deep discussions on issues that matter. Each book contains 50 programs and has been one of the best-selling discussion-starting series for Youth Specialties for years. Other titles include Psalms and Proverbs

Read more: Top Ten