Tuesday’s Tip – Cell Phone & Text Messaging

The weather was absolutely great yesterday, a perfect day for walking the boardwalk in Ocean City, MD with my wife Kim. But before enjoying the sun on my face and the sand between my toes I met with several other guys in youth ministry (the main purpose for our trip to OC). We were a group of “lifers” in youth ministry sharing and discussing what God does best through each of us. And it’s always great to network with other’s in the field to gain insight and ideas to further the Kingdom of God. From the smallest of ideas to the biggest.

During our lunch meeting the topic of cell phone texting among teens came into the mix and its amazing how quick teens can text each other and at times text more then one person at a time. For them cell texting, Myspace, Facebook and AIM are all part of their social network. Social networks that many adults and parents are completely out of touch with and don’t understand. Study finds 71% of them connect to a social net at least weekly. But rather than shake our heads and complain we can use this technology to get connected with our students as well as have them share their faith. That’s right, I said share their faith using their cell phones.

Now please understand…I’m NOT telling you its okay for your teens to be texting or receiving calls on their cell phone during church or youth group meetings. As well this article is not about the risks of internet use nor am I MySpace bashing. I am simply providing you free tips on how you can use the texting craze to connect with your teens.

• Challenge your teens to text you an entire verse. It may be the key verse for your weekly message. Set aside a specific time and day for them to text you then see who is the fastest at texting and will be dubbed the “textinator.” For the record during a challenge a teen texted John 3:16 to his youth pastor in seven seconds.
  
• This next idea is that rare time you will allow your teens to use their cell phone during your weekly meeting. After teaching a Bible study on sharing their faith ask your teens to hold up their cell phones, then challenge them to call (right now) one friend they know who needs Jesus and have them share their faith. They MUST do this without texting. This is where they will finally use their voice and speak into the tiny microphone (what a concept).
  
• To get your teens talking with you and your leaders…create a cell phone calendar. For example; on August 3^rd at 2:30 p.m., be the third caller to [insert youth leaders name here]. This will give you the opportunity to connect with your students and get them “talking.” I’ve even thrown in some incentives when I’ve used this idea. For example; be the third caller to Brian and he’ll take you out for pizza with one of your friends.
  

These are just some simple ideas we can use to get better connected with our students using the cell phone craze. But remember…as youth leaders you should never allow your cell phone or email to take the place of real conversation between you and a student. If you have an idea, I’d love to know. Leave me your comments.

Tonight we leave for some well deserved and over due vaction time camping with friends. I look forward to reading some of your ideas and posting a new article after I return home this Saturday evening.