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A youth worker’s top ten tips for assemblies:
1. Have one key point on what Christians believe from the Bible that you teach in lots of different ways. Repetition is great. Repetition is great. ‘Christians believe...’ is fine. ‘You should believe...’ or ‘This is the truth...’ are not fine.
2. Script what you are doing, especially at the start and especially if you are working in a large team. If people are not willing to follow a script, you don’t want them on the team. They are a liability and eventually they could destroy everyone you’ve worked to build up. Your reputation is vital. Even script prayers. Compare, ‘Let’s all pray. Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for us...’ with, ‘I’m going to say a prayer for us now. Dear God. Thank you for what we have learned today that Christians believe Jesus died on the cross for people. Please bless this school. Amen.’
3. ...but don’t use a script. Learn it. You cannot engage the young people well enough with a script.
4. Practise every bit of what you do. Make sure it runs smoothly. Remember that any interaction time is especially challenging in terms of staying on message, so practise that too. If you ask the question, ‘What happened to Jesus?’ and someone says, ‘I don’t believe any of this because I’m an atheist.’ What do you say next?
5. Don’t involve young people (even children who you know are Christians) in anything that demands an overtly spiritual response - instead encourage people to think about what you have said. So asking questions is fine, ‘What are some of the problems you see in the world?’ or ‘What do you worry about?’ But not, ‘Repeat after me. Dear God..... sorry for my sins....’
6. Make it multi-sensory. Props are great. Short, carefully selected video clips are great. Music is great.
7. Dress code is smart casual. You’ll feel awkward if the children are told to tuck their shirts in as they come into assembly and you’re looking like you just slept in your clothes.
8. Take good care of your admin. Arrive in plenty of time – 15 minutes is not too long. Make sure you have time to set up any props or a laptop and projector before the young people start coming in.
9. Keep positive communication open with school staff. Proactively solicit staff feedback. Speak positively about school staff. Avoid sarcasm.
10. Before you start, ask what time you need to finish. Then finish on time.
http://www.freedomchurch.cc/porn-scars
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/porn-on-the-brain/4od
AMG 1 – Esther
http://marshill.com/media/esther/jesus-is-a-better-king
www.chrsitianaidcollective.org
Recipe for AMG
food - http://www.food.com/recipe/upside-down-maqloobeh-87832
