Larry Overton – Student Pastor, 1st Baptist Dandridge, TN

Jeff Williamson – Student Pastor, Union Ave. Baptist

Memphis, TN

Recreation is… Relational

Ministry is about relationships. It is how Jesus did it. He preached, taught, and healed many, but at the end, the only ones that were around were the ones He built relationships with. Is there

anyone here that came to know Christ without a relationship with another

Christian.

Recreation is… Relational

The ParticipantsHow Many

Age

Dress

Intrests

Motivation Gender

Recreation is… Relational

The ParticipantsGroupRecreation should be inclusive rather than

exclusive; there fore, activities should always be selected or altered to involve potential players. The recreation leader should be sensitive to young or old, mobile or less

mobile, casual or formal dress, high or low energy levels and special needs of the

physically and mentally challenged.

Recreation is… CreativeRecreation fosters creativity. It challenges not only the

body, but the mind as well. Even the strategy of a game of cards can make a person think outside of the norm. Most people enjoy a challenge. All of us love to beat a challenge. Our job as a rec. leader is to find the balance between challenging the mind and body, and still providing an opportunity to achieve. Not too easy, not too hard. When creating an activity, keep some of the rules “open” enough for the participant to look for

out of the ordinary ways to be creative.

Recreation is… Creative

OccasionAtmosphere is important to the success of the event. It sets the stage through props and decorations and serves as a starter by

giving the first arrivals a beginning activity. It is also important that all participants be made to feel welcome, comfortable, and

included.

Recreation is… CreativeOccasion

Timing on the individual games is important, too. Games should be stopped at their peak,

rather than allowed to extend too long. Doing so provides the same participants

opportunity for further enjoyment of the same game at a later time.

Time

Recreation is… CreativeOccasion

1.The size of the facility2.Who is responsible for the set-up3.Who is responsible for the facility4.Is there an adequate power supply5.Is the space flexible for a variety of

games and activities6.Who is responsible for clean-up

TimeSpace

Recreation is… Intentional•Games are not just time fillers Don’t look at rec. as just something else you have to cram into your planning because you know your students want it.

•View it as one more opportunity to share with and learn from your students, we are youth workers we can make a lesson out of a broken piece of glass.

•By sharing an activity with your Bible study or retreat weekend, it gives the students one more way to remember

Recreation is… Intentional

•Lopsided recreation makes lopsided personalities. Rotate the leadership in the games so that one person is not able to dominate a group.

•Transitions should be considered when planning the order of activities. Transitions help tie the activities together and create a smooth flow throughout the event.

How To Choose

Recreation is… Fun

Recreation must be fun. Students are always looking for “Insane”

things to do. If we can provide a safe place for them to “go crazy”

maybe they will not feel the need to do it somewhere else.

Recreation is… Fun

It happens to all of US!In summary, here are a few key points which

may help you in situations where you feel “stuck.” Always keep calm. Always plan more activities than you will need for the time you are required to fill. This will eliminate most problems

of getting stuck in a middle of a game.

What happens when I get Stuck?

Recreation is…

Fun

Intentional

Creative

Relational

Larry Overton – Student Pastor, 1st Baptist Dandridge, TN

Jeff Williamson – Student Pastor, Union Ave. Baptist

Memphis, TN

www.intentional-insanity.com