• Try to understand that the cat is from Venus, and I am from Mars.
• I will try to leave the cat alone, once in a while.
• I will no longer be beholden to the sound of the can opener.

Christmas is coming soon and many churches are planning Christmas activities.

• Small Groups or cell groups plan Christmas party fellowships
• Sunday School classes or Bible Study Members plan Christmas parties
• Various church groups plan activities as a Christmas Outreach

Back during the dark days of 1929, a group of ministers in the Northeast, all graduates of the Boston School of Theology, gathered to discuss how they should conduct their Thanksgiving Sunday services. Things were about as bad as they could get, with no sign of relief. The bread lines were depressingly long, the stock market had plummeted, and the term Great Depression seemed an apt description for the mood of the country. The ministers thought they should only lightly touch upon the subject Thanksgiving in deference to the human misery all about them. After all, there was little to be thankful for.

Click here to find out more

Fathers are a voice of wisdom.

• My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, “You’re tearing up the grass.” “We’re not raising grass,” Dad would reply. “We’re raising boys.” ~Harmon Killebrew

Book of the Month Special: Creative Holiday Ideas

CREATIVE YOUTH IDEAS RECOMMENDED eBOOK OF THE MONTH:

Creative Holiday Ideas

319 page e-book Includes more than 200 ideas for common holiday activities.

It Contains:

• 43 New Year’s Day Ideas
• 46 Valentine’s Day Ideas

http://twitter.com/youthideas

I’ve recently created a Twitter account. I’ll be using this twitter account as a “news flash” / “news wire” for information, stories, ideas, and other things I am interested personally as someone who works with youth both in secular and faith based situations. It is something new for me so I am not sure how everything will eventually work out, but I see great potential in this platform to impact youth and those who work with them.

I’ve had several people ask me if I am on “Facebook”… (www.facebook.com)?

Yes I am… I have also set up a special group on “Facebook” so we can mingle and get to know each other a little better….

You can join the group by following the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=517892333&k=541YQZV5WWTB4ALAQE34

People have been asking me about how to find me on facebook, Twitter, and other social media websites.
Here are some places you can also find me:

Say hello and tell me you visited my website.
www.facebook.com/kensapp
www.twitter.com/youthideas
www.twitter.com/youthideas
www.flickr.com/kensapp

Some of you have asked to know a little more about me, so here it is:

Ken Sapp: International Youth Specialist

For almost 20 years, Ken Sapp has worked with thousands of youth from around the world as a mentor, a teacher, a basketball coach, and as a youth specialist. He has touched the lives of young people from many nations including USA, England, Scotland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, Korea, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, and others.

I have included my most creative youth ideas from almost 20 years of youth ministry with teens from around the world. The youth ideas are grouped according to categories and include my favorite youth games, creative teaching ideas, youth devotions, children’s sermons, illustrations for youth sermons, object lessons for children and youth, and youth ministry training resources. (P.S. The creative ideas are great for children’s ministry and young adult ministry too)

We’re truly thankful for a great year. God certainly has a way of blowing our minds when we yield ourselves to Him!

Looking for some ideas on things to do for New Year’s Eve with your youth or even with your family?

Check out some of these ideas from the Creative Youth Ideas Website:

• New Year’s Eve Pictionary: A classic game of pictionary with a New Year Theme

Here’s wishing you a Blessed Christmas!

A lot of youth workers and people from all walks of life have been asking me for a very comprehensive Christmas Party Checklist in PDF format that they could immediately download and use to plan their Christmas Parties right away. At this time of the year there are office Christmas Parties, School Christmas Parties, Church Christmas Parties, Family Christmas Get Togethers, and many other Christmas activities. It sometimes seems like everyone is having a Christmas Party.

Creative Youth Ideas Christmas Collection!

All the Christmas ideas are in our easy-to-read format. There’s a searchable index, an intuitive contents page, detailed descriptions of the games, ideas, and activities, re-printable worksheets for some of the more complicated ideas, and over 200 ideas in total!

The streets here in Singapore have really been busy with one major event about to explode into action. If you haven’t heard about it by now, it’s the first time this little island nation I call home will be hosting an international sporting event – the 2010 Youth Olympic Games. Not only is it the first time we’re hosting something this big, it’s the first Youth Olympic Games to be held ever!

The end of the 2010 FIFA World Cup is just around the corner.

Who do you think will win in the final soccer match of the FIFA World Cup?
Will it be Spain or Netherlands that takes home the 2010 soccer World Cup title?

Announcing…

We hope you’ve had a great start to your summer vacation, I know we have! We’ve been working hard to see how we can support you during this season. We know you’ll probably have your hands full with upcoming camps and planning how you can fill the hearts and minds of your youth with activities that will engage them physically and spiritually to truly enable them to worship God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength!

Here’s something special for my subscribers in the USA
and also
something special for those in other countries.

1. THOSE WITH A MAILING ADDRESS IN THE USA

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the church
Youth leaders were panicked, left in a lurch.
The Youth Christmas Party, was one day away
And they hadn’t decided, what to do or to say

Need more Ideas for A Fall Festival or Halloween Alternative?

In this instantly downloadable 300 page ebook you’ll not only find ideas for your Halloween and Autumn Events, but also for other familiar holidays.

Click here to find out more

WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?

Jesus first asked the disciples, “Who do others say that I am?” It was easy for them to answer because it required no conviction, no commitment, and no risk. But then he follows that question with another, “Who do YOU say that I am?”

I have recently added a new section to my website for active learning situations. They are primarily group learning situations involving an activity and a debrief. The activities may be games, similations, problem solving scenarios or even adventure recreation. The key to success is a good debrief. I have tried to expand the applications to focus on four key areas: Business, Personal Life, Spiritual Life, and Relationships. There’s a link in the right column or click on the link below. Take a look and give me your comments.

Mother’s Day is around the corner and Creative Youth Ideas has lots of ideas for your special mother’s day activity or event.

There are ideas for a Children’s Sermon on Mothers Day and illustrations and stories for a sermon to mothers or youth talk. There are also some great Mother’s Day games and other ideas for that Special Mother’s Day event.

Thanks for your patience with the recent inactivity as I had to make a trip from Singapore to the USA to attend my father’s funeral. My Father is now with the heavenly father. The world has lost a great and compassionate man, but my father has gained the riches of heaven!

I just noticed that you guys broke through to over 5 million hits today.

Wow! I never expected that this little effort of one guy’s love for youth would become so popular and be visited by so many people from around the world. Last time I checked the website had visitors from 205 different countries. That’s almost every country in the world… (One big country still missing is Greenland. Does anyone have a youth pastor friend in Greenland you want to recommend the site to?)

Here’s wishing everyone a blessed Christmas!

May Christ shine in your hearts the whole year through!

In appreciation for your support of the Creative Youth Ideas website I want to give you a very practical Christmas gift.

Announcing…..

“Once Lost, Now Found: Creative Scavenger Hunts”
http://www.CreativeScavengerHunts.com

On any given day, there are hordes of people going to the Creative Youth Ideas website looking for Scavenger Hunt Ideas. In fact, it’s one of the most searched for phrases people type into the search box on my website.

Pagan holiday or Evangelistic Opportunity? The decision is yours….

Rather than debate the issue, I am going to provide some things that could be done as part of a Christian alternative either as a family or as a church or youth group. (For the rest of you, many of the ideas involving pumpkins and other things could also be used at Thanksgiving or any time during the year for that matter.) And many of them are VERY evangelistic in nature!

Father’s Day Games

Searching for Dad
Use this as a Father’s Day game or for a father child event

Who’s father?
Creative game idea for Father’s Day or a Father-Child event.

Father’s Day Relay
A Father’s Day Relay Game Idea

This year, Mother’s Day is on May 11th, 2008.

Are you looking for some Mother’s Day ideas for your children’s or youth activities? Maybe a Mother’s Day illustration for a youth talk?

It’s hard to believe, but last night Creative Youth Ideas rolled over the 3 Million hits mark! Thanks to everyone for your encouragement and allowing me to be a part of your ministry to Children, Youth and Adults. It’s hard to believe that this dream, started on Thanksgiving day 2005, now 2+ years later is being used around the world by so many people.

Check out the Creative Youth Ideas Easter Collection (Second Edition)

Easter games and icebreakers, Easter Children’s sermons and object lessons, Easter devotionals and illustrations, Easter and Humor! There’s a bit of everything in the collection making it great for your Church Easter event or for an Easter Party!

Are you looking for ideas for your Valentine’s Day Party or event?

Listed below are just a few of the ideas you can find on the Creative Youth Ideas website. You can find a few Valentine’s Day Games and Icebreakers as well a couple Valentine’s Day Object Lessons!

Get the CHRISTIAN EDITION for
“Icebreakers Ahead: Take it to the Next Level”

This is the same exciting book offered at
www.CreativeIcebreakers.com
but it has ADDITIONAL Ideas for Christian Youth Leaders.

It also includes MORE THAN 350 scripture references.

Want to see what topics are covered?
Click here for the table of contents

We’ve been keeping it under wraps for a while now. You’re probably wondering why you haven’t heard from us in a while. Christmas is fast approaching, why haven’t I heard hide or hair from them? Where’s all the Christmas entries I have come to expect year after year. Truth be told, we’ve been working ourselves silly to perfect an already wonderful resource in your (electronic) library.

Thanksgiving holidays has passed, though a thankful heart continues throughout the year. Now comes the Christmas Rush…. Do yourself a favor and slow down a little and take some time to enjoy the season as we celebrate the birth of our Savior.

wow… just realized… it snuck up on me…. Sunday the site rolled over the 2 Million Hits mark… wow! Thanks for making this ministry worth the efforts!

with YOUth on my heart
Ken

With October comes Halloween. While there is often debate as to whether we as Christians should participate in a holiday with pagan roots, others use this as an opportunity to provide Christian alternatives like a fall festival, a harvest festival or a carnival. You can read more about the debate here:
A Christian Response to Halloween?

New eBook published with 52 of the world’s most popular icebreakers!

My new eBook, found at
http://www.creativeicebreakers.com
not only provides 52 of the world’s most popular group icebreaker activities, but also includes lesson ideas and questions to smoothly transition into discussions about issues common to most groups.

Just got back from a nice long holiday in Phuket…. Cheap and fun. Will be posting some new teaching ideas soon!

With YOUth on my Heart,
Ken

If you are looking for ideas for Valentine’s Day parties or events here are just a few of the ideas you can find on the Creative Youth Ideas website. You can always search for love among the ideas, but here are a few more games and teaching ideas you can use:

Here are some of the Mother’s Day ideas already available at www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com:

• Top 10 Sayings of Biblical Mothers
• Mother’s Day Games
• Sock Guess
• Famous Biblical Mothers
• Mother Says
• Mother Child Trivia
• Mother of Who?
• Guess the Mother? or Child?
• Are You My Mother?

There are quite a number of Father’s Ideas for Children and Youth at the www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com website:

Father’s Day Illustrations

• A Father’s Influence
• Old Testament Men Trivia
• When God Created Fathers
• Father’s Are Wonderful People
• The Origin of Father’s Day
• My Father

The Christmas and New Year holiday has passed and for many people, now it’s time to think about those Easter events and parties.

• Planning an Easter Party for Children, Youth or Adults?
• Do you need creative game ideas for your Easter event?

The Thanksgiving holiday has passed and now it’s time to think about Christmas.

• Planning a Christmas Party for Children, Youth or Adults?
• Do you need creative game ideas for your Christmas event?
• Would you like some heartfelt devotionals to usher in the Advent Season?

Today is Thanksgiving and I have much to be thankful for! I am thankful for all of you that make this site worth all the effort. I am thankful for all the lives you touch! I am also thankful for my friends here in Singapore.

May God Bless you all this Thanksgiving!
Ken

Creative Youth Ideas is 1 year old today!

Thanks for making us part of your ministry to youth!

Ken

Have you found Creative Youth Ideas helpful in your ministry to youth or children?

If so, why not share it with others. If you have a youth ministry related website and would like to exchange links, drop me an email.

You can Include one of these graphics: linked to www.creativeyouthideas.com

I’ve started an online photo site at www.kensapp.com
I plan to use it for several purposes:

1. As a place to put photos of my friends and family
2. As a place to put photos of myself so that you can get to know me and to keep in touch with my friends and family!

During the month of November many people in the United States are beginning to turn their attention toward Thanksgiving. There are a host of game ideas, devotions, and other creative ideas for Thanksgiving on the “Creative Youth Ideas” website…. All you need to do to access them is to type “Thanksgiving” into the search box or just click here

I’ve recently signed up with technorati so that the entries are listed with them. These makes it easy for you to add this website to your favourites in technorati. You can see my profile here:
Technorati Profile

There are quite a few creative ideas for Father’s Day on the website. Some are listed below:

Father’s Day Stories
Build Me a Son
Dream Car
Poem for Moms and Dads
My Father
The Origin of Father’s Day

Father’s Day Games
Father’s Day Relay
Searching for Dad
Who’s Father?

Looking for some Creative Easter Ideas for your Easter Party or event?

Easter icebreakers! Creative Teaching Ideas! Easter Children’s sermons, Easter illustrations and Devotions and MORE! Get more than 80 creative youth ideas for Easter in the Creative Youth Ideas Easter Collection.
Or just visit www.CreativeEasterIdeas.com

Announcing a new easier to remember address for the Mobile edition of www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

You can now access the mobile edition on your pda or mobile phone by going to

Mobile.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

If you have avantgo installed on your pda or mobile phone its easy to add Creative Youth Ideas.
* The most recent version of avantgo allows RSS feeds as channels.
* Older versions allow you to “Create Personal Channel”

HERE’s HOW!

CLICK HERE!

Or go to AvantGo and log in.

Click here to find out how you can immediately download more than 200 of my best Christmas games, Christmas illustrations, Christmas activity ideas AND MUCH MORE in a useful ebook for only $24.97