Top Seven Head to the Heart Confirmation Tips
Over the years, we have come to realize you can set yourself up for smashing success or smashing failure based on a series of critical factors. Give yourself a quick quiz and see how many you currently have in place and how many you need to work on.
Tip 1: Small Enough Groups
No more than eight people in a group, including the Guide. If you have more, you will never be as effective in meeting the pastoral care needs of your kids, and your program will struggle. If the ratio is one Guide to four or five students, you will have better results, and kids who feel cared for will invite their friends. Build your groups with growth in mind.
Tip 2: Hold a Leader Gathering: The Huddle
One of the easiest things to overlook is the leader gathering, something we call the Huddle. Don't overlook it. These gatherings are vital to building team, maintaining focus, and bonding your volunteers together. Recharge, celebrate, and have fun. Once a month, once every other month — do whatever you can manage. It will be a real shot in the arm to your ministry.
Tip 3: Junior Guides
If you have one or more high school helpers for every small group, you are setting yourself up for success and growing new leaders at the same time. Win/win.
Tip 4: Highs and Lows and Prayer
In the most effective Head to the Heart programs, the pastoral care needs of adolescents are woven directly into the educational ministry by sharing personal joys and struggles, then bringing them to God in large-group prayer. Kids may leave a class after Confirmation Day, but they don't leave the friends who have huddled with them week after week, shared their Highs and Lows, and prayed together.
Tip 5: Accountable, Safe Touch
Simple, safe touch can be a powerfully positive thing. Integrate these into every gathering:
Safe Touch 1: A high five, handshake, or special greeting from the Guide and group the moment kids walk through the door
Safe Touch 2: An opening touch game or activity ("Mess your neighbor's hair," etc.)
Safe Touch 3: Hands held in opening prayer
Safe Touch 4: Arms linked during small group prayer
Safe Touch 5: The blessing cross on every forehead before they leave the room
Tip 6: Teach Visually
If you are teaching primarily through lecture, you are not being the best steward of your time or your kids' attention. Lecture activates only about 5% of the human brain. A picture activates between 25 and 33%. If your Theme Event includes just one strong visual element, you will be much further down the road in getting your point across.
Tip 7: Music
Whether you sing camp songs with a guitar or simply have contemporary Christian music playing as kids enter the room, music matters. Young people live in the world of music. If you are not adding it in some way, you are missing a powerful tool.