Imagining the Best of Yourself

When I was young, I was severely bullied and picked on as a young person. It deeply affected me in ways that I just now understand. When I see young people being bullied or thinking less of themselves for whatever reason, there is a part of me that hurts inside. As I grew up and went into ministry, I vowed that if I ever got the opportunity to work with young people that I would do my best to put a stop the ridicule and the bullying and look for ways to let those awkward young people know they were unique and special children of God.

Recently, on the show "America's Got Talent" a song was featured by Kirk Franklin entitled “Imagine Me.” While I had never heard this song before it was amazing! Kirk Franklin, a contemporary Christian gospel artist, writes in this song about how we should view ourselves, pulling from his own personal experience of self-doubt, abuse and neglect. As I listen to over and over to this song, I have imagined all of the young people who experienced themselves as "less than." Below is a Youtube link to the song. I highly recommend you use it in your young People's ministry to highlight the fact that regardless of how we might feel about ourselves, God sees us at someone unique and special that God created and loves.

Prayer Wall

Here’s a great idea to help decorate your youth or young adult space/classroom and bring an emphasis to the power of prayer in our lives as Christians. Make a prayer wall.

Use one wall or part of a wall in your room or space. Get some butcher paper and attach it to the wall and decorate the center with scriptures or graphics having to do with prayer.  Throughout the year, have your youth or young adults write up prayers or celebrations. Others can write encouraging comments alongside the prayers. Whenever you meet, encourage people to take a look at the prayers on the wall and to incorporate them into their daily prayer life. You can keep the prayer wall up for multiple years or put a new one up each year.