* Activities Index Christian Teens Candles of Prayer :One more verse of candles, then a repeat of the original first verse and the usually serene Presbyterians were clapping their hands and swaying back and forth. International Bible Treasure Hunt : Think of a cross between a Bible Trivia Contest and an episode of Indiana Jones searching for some missing archaeological treasure from the past. Two Truths and a Lie : Instruct each player to think of three statements about themselves. Two must be true statements, and one must be false. Movie Review:Pray : As a Christian “thriller” type film, this movie would serve as a great film for junior high/high school youth groups. The Lifeboat Game : Youth pick who will survive a lifeboat sinking. A time to reflect on making decisions and the value given to life. Finding Truth : Four road signs depict a traveler's journey and the self doubts he/she have to overcome. Christian Teen Movie Review: The Other Side of Heaven : "For three years I've lived with people who possess nothing yet they possess everything." These were the words of John Groberg ... Activity from Malaysia : "I STRONGLY suggest you try to get this movies and watch it as they were really beautiful and faith-lifting and encouraging." The Fruits of the Spirit: Note that some of the more difficult fruits,in the eyes of youth, are probably patience and self control. Determine which fruits are most common and why. The Rich Young Ruler : Activity that asks the question how to react to the command of Jesus to give everything that you own to the poor, then follow we are ready to follow Him. Trust and Prayer : Activity that encourages spoken prayer amidst youth and has been successful on several occasions with different youth programs. Ha Ha : Lot's of fun - an icebreaker we used with Spanish speaking young people in El Salvador, as well as with our own youth group. It has always been a great success. Jose Carlos, Christian Artist of Mexico City shares with us : An award winning Christian cartoon. Cross the Line : An icebreaker that gets young people sharing their experiences. Bombs Away : A game that tests our ability to trust.

Activities That Teach

c International Bible Treasure Hunt So how do we get Christian youth from Pakistan, the Philippines, Uganda and the United States together? At the cost of air fare nowadays we have had to decline the offer from Ulysses of the Philippines to join them, in their camp program. But there is another way: an International Bible Treasure Hunt. Think of a cross between a Bible Trivia Contest and an episode of Indiana Jones searching for some missing archaeological treasure from the past. In January 2009 youth groups will take an evening to search through their Bibles, as a group, to find ten distinct Biblical Treasures – and where they have been hidden. Word puzzles, simulated journeys through Biblical lands, collections of Bible verses, numerical/ logical reasoning calculations will be used to give clues to these treasures and their location. The treasure hunt is being developed by Tim Ferguson and youth groups are encouraged to sign up for this event. Currently three youth groups have signed up and we will be limiting the number of groups participating to ten on this first trial event. It will be held during a week in January during which the Treasure Hunt will be released on this website. Each group will pick an afternoon or evening to work on the hunt. There will be a maximum period of time to complete the Hunt – probably one and a half to two hours. More detailed rules will follow. Bibles, concordances, encyclopedias, Bible maps anything may be used but youth leaders, coordinating the event, cannot participate, except to gather the answers given and submit them to this website a week later. Upon grading the responses, recognition awards to the first, second and third place youth groups will be given. Each group will be asked to share, in a brief statement, what they learned during the event and what part of the event was most enjoyable. There will be no charge or fee required to enter the Treasure Hunt. More details will be offered as the Treasure Hunt is developed. Please e-mail Timferguson@christianyouthgroup.org to ask further questions, give suggestions and sign up. Return to Index

* Here's a great icebreaker from the state of Texas. Terry Carlisle of Texas shares with us the following activity. He has a website that can be accessed at www.tlcyouthservices.com. Terry has additional activities on his website for your perusal. Two Truths and a Lie This is a classic get-to-know-you icebreaker. Players tell two truths and one lie. The object of the game is to to determine which statement is the false one. Interesting variations of this game are provided below. This game is a get-to-know-you icebreaker. Recommended group size is: small, medium, or large. Works best with 6-10 people. Any indoor setting will work. No special materials are needed, although pencil and paper is optional. For all ages. Instructions for Two Truths and a Lie: Ask all players to arrange themselves in a circle. Instruct each player to think of three statements about themselves. Two must be true statements, and one must be false. For each person, he or she shares the three statements (in any order) to the group. The goal of the icebreaker game is to determine which statement is false. The group votes on which one they feel is a lie, and at the end of each round, the person reveals which one was the lie. Variations to Try: “Two Truths and a Dream Wish.” - An interesting variation of Two Truths and a Lie is “Two Truths and a Dream Wish.” Instead of telling a lie, a person says a wish. That is, something that is not true — yet something that the person wishes to be true. For example, someone that has never been to Europe might say: “I often travel to Europe for vacation.” This interesting spin on the icebreaker can often lead to unexpected, fascinating results, as people often share touching wishes about themselves. Thanks, Terry Editor's note: click here for Terry's highly recommended website for more activity ideas. http://www.tlcyouthservices.com Return to Index

* Movie Review: Pray Video Release: 3/24/2008                             Content Description: Reviewer: Candice Moore                       Sex: Teen girl kisses her boyfriend on cheek. Source: Video                                         Language: None although a girl calls her boyfriend a "jerk." Company: Cross Shadow Productions     Violence: Girl elbows guy after he sneaks up on her;                                                                girl hits her attacker in the face to get away. Writer: Matt Mitchell                              Drugs: None Director: Matt Mitchell                            Nudity: None Producer: Tiaan Kruger                           Other: Abduction; teenage themes: dieting, relationships Genre: Suspense               Runtime: 72 min.               MPAA Rating: Unrated               Starring: Audrey Battah, Bonnie Johnson, Chris Houldsworth, Lea Bonne, Jack Boston, Dave Ferrise, Josh Smith, Delvin Brooks Synopsis: High School friends Madison and Lacy enjoy an out-of-town Christian Rock Concert. After some eerie events at their hotel, the friends abandon their night of rest and decide to drive through the night back to their hometown several hours away. However, someone or something follows them home! Dove Worldview: As a Christian “thriller” type film, this movie would serve as a great film for junior high/high school youth groups. The movie has normal teenage themes while keeping up with the thriller aspect throughout the entire film. This is not recommended to younger children due to the “scary” feel of the movie and its slant toward teens. In the beginning of the film, it indicates that the movie itself is based on actual events, so this could be used as an educational movie to show teens the importance of praying; and that sometimes, God will be the only one you have to talk to, and God wants you to ask Him for help. The Dove Foundation happily awards the Dove Seal. Editor's note: click here for a Bible study that accompanies the film http://www.praythemovie.com/biblestudy/ Return to Index

1 ... The Lifeboat Game • The Lifeboat Game. A list of ten people is displayed. The list includes individuals such as: a pregnant woman, the president, a minister, a person about to find a cure for cancer, a ten-year-old child, a comedian, a fisherman, a sailor, and a reformed criminal who speaks to youth about the dangers of crime and the like. Youth are advised that these ten people are in a lifeboat and the lifeboat is sinking. It has been determined that only five can remain for the lifeboat to float. Youth are asked to write down which five they think should remain. One of the ten people on the lifeboat is identified as “yourself.” The votes of five are totaled up and the choice of the group is revealed. The matter is then opened up for discussion. Did the group, as a whole, make the correct choice? Why were the choices made? We did this event on January 27, 2008 with not only twenty six young people participating but fifteen adults. We did not include the president in our list and added a missionary doctor. Why don't you try this with your youth group. Here are the results we got from the event... The top six choices of the adults, then of the youth are as follows. All votes are for which five of the ten individuals should stay on the boat… 15 adults voted as follows: 10 Year Old – 13 votes … 87% Scientist about to find cancer cure – 13 votes … 87% Pregnant woman – 12 votes … 80% Missionary Doctor – 11 votes … 73% Fisherman – 9 votes … 60% Myself – 6 votes … 40% 26 youth members voted as follows: Myself – 21 votes … 81% Missionary Doctor – 18 votes … 69% Pregnant woman – 17 votes … 65% Sailor – 15 votes …58% Ten Year Old and Scientist (tie) – 14 votes … 54% One quick observation – the closest result is for the missionary doctor to remain. 69 per cent of the youth said yes and 73 per cent of the adults also felt he should remain. The minister – he got one vote (thanks to Danny Ermert) but Pastor John stated that he had filled out his list with himself off the boat. If anyone uses this, let me know how it went. Please write to: TimFerguson@christianyouthgroup.org. I would really like to hear your results and your thoughts about what choices your young people made. God bless you in all your youth activities. . Return to Index

Something new, something different: fresh, fun and effective ideas for youth groups Click here: Activities for Christian youth

2 ... Finding Truth FINDING TRUTH [This event was held on the third day of a retreat weekend. This web site does not allow for a detailed account of all of the retreat events. Thus, a summary of the first two days’ events is given with details on the third day event: a meeting that lasted about an hour and a half. Reference is also made to material found in the book, “Not the Same Old, Done-it-before Youth Meetings. For those, who have purchased the book, the study to be described demonstrates a different usage of activities found in the book.] Summary of Days One and Two: On these days of the retreat we completed a detailed study of the skit entitled “The Traveler” found on pages 255-258 of the book, “Not the Same Old, Done-it-before Youth Meetings”. During our discussions the group identified the roadblocks created by four road signs encountered by the “Traveler” in the skit. The following is a brief summary of this study. [See picture of map outlining the “Traveler’s” journey.] The first stumbling block on the traveler’s journey was a Stop Sign at which the traveler’s self doubts had to be overcome. We pointed out that it is all right to stop cautiously and check out if there are dangers around. If not, we must move forward on our journey. The Road Narrows Sign encountered led to the temptation to be insensitive to people as things became closer and closer to the traveler. When the road narrows, we become more aware of the surroundings and, in a sense, become a part of the road and its surroundings, not simply a person passing through. The Parable of the Good Samaritan helped us understand that as the road narrows and we become more aware of it, we also become responsible for those we encounter along the way. The third sign the traveler approaches is a One Way Sign and it tests his/her ability to overcome the temptations of conformity. We read the story “The Lemming Connection” by Alan Arkin which, in an entertaining way, introduces us to the dangers of simply “going along with the crowd”. The last sign is a Dead End Sign, the most difficult of all for any traveler. When encountering such a sign, the traveler must have great will power to overcome the finality of that part of the journey. This is not a temporary stop, only to start up again like the Stop Sign. Rather the Dead End Sign demands a reassessment of the journey and a change along the way while still pursuing one’s goals. Day Three: “Finding Truth”. We began by recognizing things already learned about truth. Much of this was learned the previous day via stories read and a movie watched, entitled “Amazing Grace”. Since most youth groups have had discussions about the nature of or definition of truth at one time or another, begin by linking things learned in the past to the upcoming activity. During our discussions of the “signs”, we found truth to include wisdom and justice but did not include pride, which tends to distort truth. During subsequent discussions we added the following to our description of truth: the need to be passionate about our faith, a peaceful disposition, courage to move forward on ones beliefs, a belief that we are all equal in God’s sight and a commitment to act upon our beliefs. A faith which is cerebral without displaying actions of reaching out to others is not the faith of a committed Christian. We then read read John 14:1-6 and noted that Jesus states that he is “the way, the truth, the life”. Ask youth what they think Jesus means by stating that he is “the truth”. This was a difficult question to truly answer without resorting to clichés. Have someone read John 8:31-32. Here Jesus states, “If you obey my teachings, you are really my disciples; you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” Now we asked a most significant question. Youth want to know how a man who lived 2,000 years ago sets us free and provides us with wisdom, a true sense of justice, peace and passion or any other description of truth your group has previously established. It is a fair question to ask. The answer needs to be more than intellectual rhetoric. It requires experiencing the presence of God’s Spirit. It is only in this experience that youth will truly comprehend how a man, who lived 2,000 years ago, can be “the truth”, who makes a difference in people’s lives today. For those who own the book, read “Walking on Water” found on pages 29 to 31. If you don’t have the book, read the activity “Trust and Prayer”, described on this activity page, for suggestions of ways to bring an awareness of the presence of God’s Spirit to your group. After we read “Walking on Water” at the retreat, many young people expressed a sense that they had actually walked on water both to the boat with Jesus in it and back to shore when he rowed away. Point out that this was not simply an exercise of their mind. They did not simply imagine it. Rather God’s spirit placed the confidence that this could happen upon their hearts. This is a most important point to make and use whatever skills you have to make sure the youth understand this. Once the presence of the Holy Spirit in the room has been established (because the power has been experienced), make the point that, just like we never thought we could walk on water, there are other things in life that challenge our faith. These challenges may seem overwhelming but … we just “walked on water”!! The Spirit that placed this sensation on our hearts will give us wisdom, courage and passion to accomplish these other seemingly impossible tasks. Nine of our young people went on a mission trip to El Salvador in August 2007. (See Mission Moments page of this website to learn more about this trip.) We asked how many of them, three years previous to the trip, could have imagined doing such a thing. No one responded positively. We pointed out that, when we have faith and let God’s Spirit lead, we accomplish things we would never expect to start much less complete. The movie we watched, “Amazing Grace”, was another example of where commitment to an action led to change almost no one thought was possible. Think of something your young people have done (like our trip to El Salvador) that was an unexpected accomplishment and use that as an example to help them recognize how God has worked in the life of the group. We concluded this segment by pointing out to our youth that, as long as we walk with God, more “El Salvador experiences” are going to appear. Then ask the question … while listening to the story, “Walking on Water”, did the young people find God or did God find them. The answer is clear – when we open our hearts to the Spirit of God, He finds us. (Revelation 3: 20 reads “ I stand at the door and knock; if anyone opens the door I will come in and sup with him and he with me”). Yes, we need to open the door but note: Jesus comes in to our hearts; we do not go to Him. Reiterate that this is not simply an intellectual exercise that is occurring. If it was, we could claim to have discovered or “found” God. But the experience of “Walking on Water” is one of opening ones mind and heart and letting the story take the listener to the moment of letting God’s Spirit into our hearts. When we do so, God finds us! We also pointed out that we, as Christians, were not made to do this alone (See Genesis chapter one) and that we, as a group of young people, would leave our retreat walking out on a new journey of faith together. We concluded with a candle ceremony during which eight of our young people volunteered to come forward and pray that our group would discover and be filled with the eight elements of truth discovered during the retreat: passion, peace, courage, equality, justice, wisdom, loss of pride and commitment to action. Each person prayed that the group would be filled with one of these. We concluded with the group saying The Lord’s Prayer and singing “Lean on Me”, affirming our commitment to support each other in our walk of faith. . [ I am aware that for those, who did not purchase the book, “Not the Same old, Done-it-before Youth Meetings”, that the description of this activity will demand additional creative planning. Nevertheless, I do hope these ideas are helpful. We had a successful retreat and pictures of some of the activities are on this page as well as the C.U.T.S. page of this web site. Please write to me at timferguson@christianyouthgroup.org and let me know if this event spurred some thoughts of your own that blessed your young people as much as it has blessed ours in Deer Park, NY.] If you are interested in reviewing the above referenced book... take a moment by clicking the below link. Not the Same Old, Done-it-before Youth Meeting (the book) Return to Index

3 ... Christian Teen Movie Review The Other Side of Heaven "For three years I've lived with people who possess nothing yet they possess everything." These were the words of John Groberg upon returning to the United States after having spent three years in the South Pacific on a small island of barely one hundred occupants. The movie " The Other Side of Heaven" produced by Walt Disney tells his story beautifully and honestly. Our youth group in Deer Park watched this movie on November 11th as a result of a suggestion of Julian Victor of Malaysia on this website -see below. Thank you, Jullian, for an excellent recommendation. The movie begins with 19 year old John heading off on a mission to the , to him and his family, unknown island of Tonga. An adventurous and unpredictable journey finds him landing at his mission field many days late and he is given his directive - "learn their language, build the kingdom". The movie depicts the differences in culture and language that lead to poor John inadvertently telling the native people that he comes to bring them "an outhouse." The movie honestly depicts the sacrifices made by all who enter the mission field. John leaves behind his one true love and their correspondence of committment and concern is displayed with the ever persistent question - will this love last a three year separation at this vulnerable time in these young people's lives? The movie depicts all of John's trials, tribulations and triumphs. At one point, after a tropical storm destoys all the homes, livestock and food of the island, John and his fellow islanders face starvation, John writes to Jean, "I don't know if I will be alive when you receive this letter... I have learned something difficult. There is a connection between heaven and earth. Finding that connection makes everything meaningful, including death. Missing the connection makes everything meaningless, including life". I recommend sharing this movie, based upon the actual memoirs of John Groberg, with your youth group. John is on a Mormon mission and his commitment to sharing the gospel and the love of God is a testimony for all Christians. At the end of the movie I asked our youth members - "How many of you could commit yourself, at age nineteen, to do this? Don't answer the question. Just think about it." Tim Ferguson, Community Presbyterian Chuch, Deer Park, NY Return to Index

4 ...Activity from Malaysia Praise the Lord! Nice to hear from you again and delightful to see how God used you all during the mission trip! Things here have been alright. And during Youth service, we twice watched movies in the church as an activity. I STRONGLY suggest you try to get this movies and watch it as they were really beautiful and faith-lifting and encouraging. The first we watched was 'Facing the Giant'. Its about how a man transformed a bunch of no-hopers (his baseball team) into a giant-killing team through Christ, and in the process, making the team more faithful and believing too, having prayers and praise with them. The second, which reminded me of your mission trip, was 'The Other Side of Heaven'. About a New Zealander sent to an African country for mission work for 2 1/2 years! But it was a very beautiful movie as well! I strongly recommend these, if you haven't watched already! :) Well God bless you and your ministry and hope to hear from you again! :) Victor ... thank you for the suggestion. We are going to look up those movies and have a movie night in Deer Park, NY and take time to recognize that Christian friends in Malaysia have been watching the same movies. Thanks. Tim If you would like to share some of your own youth group activities with Victor and all of us, please share your thoughts by writing to: TimFerguson@christianyouthgroup.org. Return to Index

5 ... The Fruits of the Spirit "But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self control. There is no law against such things as these." Activity: Purchase beads of nine different colors as well as wood spacers. These will be used to make bracelets, assembled on a bracelet chord. Most craft stores will have these items. The items can be purchased, when bought in bulk, for about $1.00 per bracelet. Before youth assemble the bracelet ask youth to solve the following word problems:

Puzzle OLEV KPZ ECAEP 16, 1, 20, 9, 5, 14, 3, 5 JHMCMDRR Make a mirror image of "Goodness" HFOUMFOFTT "Not others" - "To hold back" Last word Galatians 5:22 Solution LOVE(opposite alphabet - A=Z, B=Y, etc.) JOY (next letter in alphabet) PEACE (word spelled backwards) Patience (numbers reflect letters - 1=A, 2=B, etc.) Kindness (previous letter in alphabet) Goodness (mirror image) Gentleness (letter after in alphabet) Self Control (self = not others; control = to hold back) Faithfulness

Give the clues, one at a time, to small groups of youth on colored paper. Once a clue is discovered, each member of the group receives a bead or two of the same color as the paper to put on the bracelet. The successful group receives subsequent clues until the bracelet is completed (nine colors). If a group has a problem with a clue let them try a different word puzzle. The Galatians 5:22 clue is given last as it lists all the fruits of the spirit and could assist groups who had difficulty with some of the clues. Wooden spacers were also given to fill in empty spots between the beads on the bracelet. After all bracelets are completed, take time to remind youth that the colored beads represent different fruits of the spirit. Discuss the definition behind each of these fruits. Take a poll amongst youth members as to which of the fruits of the spirit they think they have and which need to become a part of their personalities. Note that some of the more difficult fruits,in the eyes of youth, are probably patience and self control. Determine which fruits are most common and why. Question: Do you (youth) know anyone who has all of the fruits of the spirit? Do you think there are many people who can claim to have incorporated all of these fruits in their lives? How about Biblical individuals? Jesus clearly was filled with the fruits. The Apostle Paul lists them in Galatians chapter five. From what is known about Paulís life was he filled with all nine fruits? Or are these goals for Christians to set for themselves? Remind youth that we find God when we open our hearts to him and let his spirit fill us. End the lesson with a prayer asking that Godís spirit fill each of us with these fruits. We would love to hear if this activity was useful to your group. Please share your experience by writing to: TimFerguson@christianyouthgroup.org. Return to Index

Looking for different activity ideas that are fresh, fun and effective for your youth program? Click here: More activities ... more activities!!

6 ... The Rich Young Ruler Read Luke 18: 18-27 and ask youth what they think of this command of Jesus to give everything that you own to the poor, then follow Jesus. Discuss to what degree this is possible today. How much "everything" is everything? Does Jesus simply mean something significant? Try this exercise with your young people. It is fun and there is lots to talk about when it is over. Get some play money like what you find in a monopoly game. Divide it up into differing amounts ranging from $15.00 to about $200.00 dollars. Have a different amount for each person. Put the money into envelopes and have the youth pick the envelopes randomly. Record the amount each youth has but do not make the amounts known to the group. Develop three or four scenarios that would require raising funds. In our group we had the following: Funds needed to pay the church's monthly oil bill of $1,000.00 as the church was having trouble meeting its budget. Funds to assist an orphan in a foreign country where an earthquake just devastated her home. Funds to support a local soup kitchen to pay for repairs to a broken water pipe system - cost about $,1,000.00. Funds to purchase a new audio visual projector to be used with computer programs for the youth group. Advise youth that the amount in their envelope is their monthly income. Ask them how much they would give to help with each of these projects. Record the donated amounts one project at a time. Analyze the results in the following ways: Which of the projects got the most support in terms of identifying the project that received the most donations. Who was willing to give the highest percentage of their funds for projects. Did youth with a lot of money give a higher percentage or did those with a lower amount give the higher percentage? Were there projects that youth were willing to give 100 percent of their funds for. After analyzing and presenting the statistical results there will be many topics that will arise for discussion. We completed our meeting by addressing the reality that most youth do not have large amounts of money to give to God's work but there are other things that can be given. We presented ideas of giving to the church (being an usher, choir member or reader in worship), mission (helping with local soup kitchen, giving a little extra for the orphan we are supporting) and for the group itself (cleaning the youth room, writing articles for the newsletter, assisting with the website). At the end of the session almost everyone volunteered to do something for one of these entities. We would love to hear if this activity was useful to your group. Please share your experience by writing to: TimFerguson@christianyouthgroup.org. Return to Index

7 ... Trust and Prayer Begin by presenting the following scenario. You have come to youth group and are facing a difficult situation and need someone to talk to whom you can trust. Ask youth to raise their hand if there is one person in youth group (not counting adults) whom you feel comfortable talking to. Then ask how many have two, three or four people they can so trust. Take time to discuss what makes people trustworthy. In our group the following were the most common characteristics mentioned: being a good listener, not being judgmental and having had a positive trusting experience in the past. Now play the game entitled "Bombs away" described in "Activities for Fun" later on this web page. Afterwards ask youth how they felt when their guide was not able to steer them successfully through the bombs. When did they begin to lose trust? Most of our youth maintained trust through the first error but the second time they stepped on a bomb they reported a loss of trust which increased if there were subsequent errors. Read Proverbs 3:5. Discuss how difficult it is to trust in the Lord with all your heart and not to depend on your own understanding of things. Now take time to ask youth to share one thing that they would like to see changed. The change reported could be about themselves, the youth group, their families, their school or the world. Point out that sharing such important things requires a trust in each other. As youth share their thoughts, take time to briefly discuss the requests made then record them. Ask youth to sit "Indian style" in a circle. Have some small candles available that can be held, one for each youth. Read the requests for change that have been recorded. Now advise youth that we will pray for these as follows. A youth leader will light a candle and pray referencing at least several of the recorded requests for change. Once the leader has completed his or her prayer, youth are invited to light a candle of their own and pray. The list of things to be changed is made available for those who need it. After a couple of candles have been lit extinguish the lights in the room. When we did this one of our youth asked, "Do you mean pray out loud?" and I replied "Yes, that is what trust is all about". Though only an eighth grader, he was willing to participate. When all youth, who wish to participate, have prayed, the youth leader should say a concluding prayer and then ask youth to see how their candles have brightened the room. Advise that our prayers bring light and hope to people. Extinguish the candles one by one noting the contribution each youth's candle made to overcoming the darkness of the room. We would love to hear if this activity was useful to your group. Please share your experience by writing to:TimFerguson@christianyouthgroup.org. Return to Index

Activities For Fun

8 ... Ha Ha "Ha ha" game. Youth stand in a circle. One youth is designated to begin. He or she turns to the next youth and states "ha" while staring into their eyes. There are no restrictions as to how to say "ha". It can be stated loudly, softly, drawn out, sung, anyway the speaker feels he can induce laughter in the listener. If the speaker or the listener laughs (even a little giggle), he or she is out. The recipient then turns to the next youth and states/sings "ha ha". The game continues to "ha ha ha", "ha ha ha ha" and finally "ha ha ha ha ha", before going backwards - four "ha's" - three "ha's" and the like. Continue around the circle until all but one person is left who, then, can be crowned "stone faced champion". The game is equally fun for those who have gone out as they watch their friends try to induce laughter in others. "Ha ha" is a good game to get everyone engaged and often can set the tone for active discussion afterwards. We would love to hear if this activity was useful to your group. Please share your experience by writing to: Tim Ferguson. Return to Index

9 ... Jose Carlos, Christian Artist of Mexico City shares with us ...