Middle School Ministry Podcast

Sunday Morning Squirrels:This was the last week we had with our students who are in 8th grade. Next week we promote up and have a fresh group! I'm excited about it, but we needed to finish up strong!Jeremiah was our focus today. We reminded students that they are not too young to do God's will. We also spent some time praying for our leaving group of students.8th Grade Send-off:We circled up the 8th-grade students and surrounded them with 7th and 6th-grade students. We prayed over them all.We prayed for the students that they would:Lead even though they are about to be the youngest in their high school group.Serve and not let the older students be the only servants in the group.Live in such a way that points others to Jesus.Countdown Video:Girl Cries Like a Race CarThis is an old video, but we started our day by praying for students. This was a funny segue to get from our cry moment to the rest of the morning.Games:Did It FundI made this game. It's an "either-or" game about Kickstarter projects. Click the link to download!Name That TuneWe had our students come up on stage who had birthdays in August. It was a ton of fun for my students, but they struggled with the game. Maybe a different group would get it, but only the songs like "Jingle Bells" and "Happy Birthday" worked with our group.Songs:Burn Like a StarEven So ComeBible Study:This was our big send-off for our 8th-grade students. We talked about how God has a plan for Jeremiah, even though he was really young when he was first called. We reminded students that they aren't too young to do what God wants them to do!Main Idea:You're not too young to do God's willScripture:Jeremiah 1:1-10Resources:One month free Sidekick and DYM Gold Member Access: Click here!Talking Squirrels on Social:FacebookInstagramTwitterEmail

Your leaders' opinions of the trip matter!When you take leaders on a trip, you have the opportunity to ask them to be your "eyes and ears" for things that you might not be able to see because you've been working so closely on the details of the whole thing.Debriefing with your leaders is hugely important and can really help when you're either trying to change a big part of the trip or make it better next year!Here are some questions to think about:When is a good time to debrief? On the way home? One week after?What questions can you ask your leaders?What's the best way to record their answers?How will their responses shape your next trip?Mentioned on the podcast: DYM Community Facebook GroupGot a middle school ministry question?Email talkingsquirrelspodcast@gmail.comNeed student ministry resources?Check out www.downloadyouthministry.comDo you listen to the Podcast? Consider leaving a review of the podcast!Social Media:InstagramTwitterFacebook

Sunday Morning Squirrels:We've only got two weeks until we promote up the fifth-grade students into the middle school room and I'm excited! But that means we need to properly send off the eighth-grade students first! We started a two-week series called "Launch" which I'll put down below for you to download and make your own!It's always a crazy Sunday in middle school. Here's what we did!Countdown Video:Taco Bell and KFC Board RoomI like Taco Bell. My students give me a hard time (as they should) so this video just made sense.Games:Bird BirdThis was a fun elimination game from DYM. Easy to use and have students play!Disney CharadesOnce students were eliminated enough, we got them up on stage to play Disney Charades. It's exactly like it sounds. A movie name goes on the screen, the crowd acts it out and the participants have to guess. Very nice!Songs:AliveEven So ComeBible Study:Today we talked about Phillip and the Ethopian Eunuch (a guy who the king made sure he couldn't have illegitimate children with the queen. You're welcome). We talked about taking the next step in your faith, whether that's responding to Jesus, being baptized, serving, or sharing the Gospel with someone!Main Idea:Take the next step!Scripture:Acts 8:26-40Resources:One month free Sidekick and DYM Gold Member Access: Click here!Talking Squirrels on Social:FacebookInstagramTwitterEmail

Middle School Girls.Chances are half of your group is female. How do you take time to make sure they are ministered to on trips?Michelle and Ronald have a candid conversation about making sure you've got what you need to meet the needs of half your group when you're gone on a summer (or really any) trip!Here are some questions to think about:Did you buy pads? You should.Do you have extra clothing options for emergencies?Have you prepped your female leaders to help out in a crisis?Are you able to know things without letting on you know things?Mentioned on the podcast: DYM Community Facebook GroupGot a middle school ministry question?Email talkingsquirrelspodcast@gmail.comNeed student ministry resources?Check out www.downloadyouthministry.comDo you listen to the Podcast? Consider leaving a review of the podcast!Social Media:InstagramTwitterFacebook

Sunday Morning Squirrels:Woo!This Sunday I've got someone teaching for me and it's their very first time in front of middle school students! I'm super pumped. I helped him write his talk, he gave it to me sitting in a chair in the middle school room (not awkward one bit) and then he watched himself after we recorded it.The rest of the day, was pretty normal/crazy with games, announcements and fun!Countdown Video:How Captain America Should Have Returned the StonesThis was a fun video! Clean and I think it's been long enough to show End Game Spoilers. Cool.Games:Testing Your Self-ControlThis was an ice breaker game that was pretty funny. Just lots of questions about certain scenarios to get students talking!CLUMPS Summer EditionQuick and easy all play game! A number and an action comes up on the screen and students have to do it!Songs:Let It be KnownHere as In HeavenBible Study:Ben did a talk on anxiety. It was awesome! Really connected with our students and it was great to have another voice in their lives!Main Idea:Jesus came to free us from sin, including our anxiety!Scripture:Philippians 4:4-8Resources:One month free Sidekick and DYM Gold Member Access: Click here!Talking Squirrels on Social:FacebookInstagramTwitterEmail

Summer usually means summer trips!What trips have you been taking? Michelle and Ronald talk about the trips they've been taking, the reasons they take them, and how they recover!Here are some questions to consider!What trips do you take during the summer?How do you rest after taking a trip?What tips do you have for taking trips with middle school students?Mentioned on the podcast: DYM Community Facebook Grouphttps://www.canva.com/https://unsplash.com/https://pixabay.com/Got a middle school ministry question?Email talkingsquirrelspodcast@gmail.comNeed student ministry resources?Check out www.downloadyouthministry.comDo you listen to the Podcast? Consider leaving a review of the podcast!Social Media:InstagramTwitterFacebook

Sunday Morning Squirrels:We're back from our mission trip and I'm ALMOST recovered! It was a really great trip with students coming forward with a lot of brokenness. There's definitely some more unpacking that needs to happen over the course of time, but for now we're still rocking our series "Pause" from DYM. I made some tie ins to what happened at the mission trip but we'll do a deeper dive soon.Now on to the Sunday!Countdown Video:Fail VideosI made like, three of these in advance of the mission trip because I knew things would be tight. Here's another for you to download!Games:Slang Game 19th CenturyChoose which side of the room game. Really funny and my students got into it!Guess Who Vol 2This wasn't a win with my students, but maybe they just don't now popular people? I don't know. Give it a shot with your group and find out!Songs:Let It be KnownGood Good FatherBible Study:PAUSE is a four-lesson series that deals with the importance of pushing pause in order stay to connected with God. In this fast-paced world, busyness and self-reliance can get in the way of seeking God to meet our built-in need for rest.Main Idea:The World tells us to fend for ourselves, but God calls us to depend on Him and others.Scripture:Romans 12:1-8Resources:One month free Sidekick and DYM Gold Member Access: Click here!Talking Squirrels on Social:FacebookInstagramTwitterEmail

Youth ministry means designing things!Whether its parent newsletters, emails, social media posts, or slides for teaching, you're going to be designing things!Even if you're not great at it, there's lot you can learn from looking at other ministries and why design matters!Here are some questions to consider!What are your favorite free design resources?Who can you get to design things for your ministry?How can you design in "batches" to save time and energy?What ministry will you consider to look at as an example of what you can do?Mentioned on the podcast: DYM Community Facebook Grouphttps://www.canva.com/https://unsplash.com/https://pixabay.com/Got a middle school ministry question?Email talkingsquirrelspodcast@gmail.comNeed student ministry resources?Check out www.downloadyouthministry.comDo you listen to the Podcast? Consider leaving a review of the podcast!Social Media:InstagramTwitterFacebook

Sunday Morning Squirrels: It’s definitely still summer! We leave on our mission trip this week but Sunday is still coming!We’re doing a DYM series called “Pause” and it’s been great! Check it out!Countdown Video:Fail VideosPeople falling down. It’s always funny. This is a fun and clean video. Download and us!Games:Rank ThisWe had rows compete against each other in this fun game. Super easy and fun!IndependanceWe had the winning row come up and play this. Three hints for students to guess the type of dance!Songs:Burn Like A StarBible Study:PAUSE is a four-lesson series that deals with the importance of pushing pause in order stay to connected with God. In this fast-paced world, busyness and self-reliance can get in the way of seeking God to meet our built-in need for rest.Main Idea:We are never too busy to spend time with God.Scripture:Luke 10:38-42Resources:One month free Sidekick and DYM Gold Member Access: Click here!Talking Squirrels on Social:FacebookInstagramTwitterEmail

Vacation Bible School is a staple in many churches! Whether you call it VBS, do it at night or in the morning, there's probably something going on in your children's minister for your kids during the summer!The question is, how can you get your middle school students involved in serving? Most of them have either JUST promoted out of elementary or are still not far from it, so can they really be helpful?Michelle and Ronald talk about how their middle school students serve and how awesome it's been!Here are some questions to consider!Would your church be cool with students serving in BIG roles during VBS?How does your children's pastor feel about students serving?What roles could you assign to students?Why is this something you want for your ministry?Mentioned on the podcast: DYM Community Facebook GroupGot a middle school ministry question?Email talkingsquirrelspodcast@gmail.comNeed student ministry resources?Check out www.downloadyouthministry.comDo you listen to the Podcast? Consider leaving a review of the podcast!Social Media:InstagramTwitterFacebook