YL Capernaum Everywhere

Ever wonder if what you're doing is making a difference?  Do you have those moments with your friends or in club where you think about how bad you are at this? Take a few minutes to watch this video , of a dad and his son in Chesterfield County Capernaum.  Be encouraged by his honesty, humor and stunning perspective of YL Capernaum.

A guest post by Stafford Craymer Our friends in Capernaum can experience the gospel in deeper ways when we consider engaging as many senses as possible during a club talk.  It's for this reason that visuals are so important for our friends.  When you have clear scripture, great visuals and an engaging talk that follows the YL talk progression- you're shooting for excellence in your club talk and honoring your friends, no matter where they are.   Here are some great examples of how to engage your friends senses during a talk... Jesus Healing Leper - Rub peanut butter or dirt on your hands and ask if kids would give you a high 5 or hug.  This is the way the leper felt, but Jesus went and touched him and changed his life. Jesus feeding 5000 - Get a TON of pizza boxes.  Have 1 pizza box on one side and a TON of others on the other side.  Ask if everyone could eat enough pizza from one pizza box.  Jesus took a little bit of food and fed a ton of...

Our friends love getting mail, especially  addressed just to them and not to their parents.  A few areas used this idea, combined with the good ol' club flyer idea, and mailed invitations to each of their friends for the semester of club.   They then used this idea of being invited in their first club talk of the semester.  The initial part of the talk was about invitations and the staff wrapped a giant piece of cardboard in wrapping paper to make a big invitation.  They then let the group create an invitation (who they wanted to invite, what kind of party, where and when it should happen).   After the initial invitation was complete, they read the story of the man by the pool and talked about Jesus' invitation to the man by the sheep gate (which they decided smelled like poop) at the pool.  They talked about how Jesus invited him to get well and have full life- right now, not something he had to wait for!  This set them up to create a ...

A guest post by Brad Mowry As a parent of a child with a disability,   I have become keenly aware of how people react when the see my daughter. Hannah is now fifteen years old and has cerebral palsy. She is nonverbal, non-ambulatory, and only sometimes responds visually with a smile, or with laughter or a moan. (She is also beautiful, but maybe I say that just because I am her dad.) When most people meet Hannah, or come into contact with our family, they aren ’ t sure what to say or how to act. So, most people ignore Hannah. Yes, that hurts, but we have become used to it. I am able to put myself in their shoes and I know that no one means any harm, but it makes me feel lonely for Hannah. She has six brothers who garner much of the attention in our family, and I wonder if she ever wants to scream, “ Hey! Talk to me! I am right here! ” Flash back to the summer of 2005. I was on assignment at Rockbridge doing program. On Day 4, Denny Rydberg came for a visit. On the morni...

What a great idea from our friends in Austin, TX.... for each club they sing the Banana Song as their last song.  When they do, they throw a slide up on the screen to announce the Banana of the Week- the slide announces which one of their friends gets to wear the banana costume and lead the song!

A lot of Capernaum ministries love hosting a theme club!  And our friends certainly love the chance to dress up. Check out these great ideas as you consider one for your friends! Art  Survivor  Neon/80's Bananas & Pajamas Superhero Jungle Crazy Socks and Hats Disney Ocean Circus  Tennis club at a tennis court There are many more ideas to pull from.  What great theme clubs have you hosted?  Add your ideas to the comment section below.  Feel free to email us to get practicals from the ideas listed above.

A guest post by Tim Teague It is such a privilege serving on the program team for a month in the summer at a Young Life camp.   It is one of my greatest joys being able to join a team of folks and hopefully offer laughter, games fun, music and skits, all for the sake of the Gospel.   Each assignment has its unique and special memories, but I can’t remember one being so unique and special as the week at Carolina Point serving Capernaum kids. Before the buses arrived Katie Harden, Ryan Eaton and I wondered how our friends with disabilities would respond to our goofy characters and attempts to be funny.   As we stepped on the first bus and saw the faces of our friends filled with joy and anticipation our concerns were quickly put to rest.   We introduced ourselves and   looked out and saw Jimmy, Haley and a busload of others laughing   as if we were the funniest characters they had ever seen.   Stepping off of the bus I was so overwhelmed with th...

An all time favorite of mixers for your Capernaum Club... Someone stands up front and announces the two options, while friends leaders and buddies switch to the side of the room that they prefer based on the power point screen. Use this one or feel free to edit it! Download the PPT here:   Cross the Room Mixer

Who doesn't love the chance to grab ice cream with their Young Life leader?! Print out these great certificates for your club and use them in the raffle or as game prizes.  Fill them out immediately so that leaders and parents can connect at the end of club to make a plan. Print your own here:   Ice Cream Certificates

Third Installment of Buddy Lessons... Welcome Home Intro Questions How do you think we can communicate the gospel to people with cognitive disabilities that function on so many different levels?  Is it possible? Do you think that there was anyone who ever said that they didn’t think you’d ever “get it” in terms of understanding the gospel? How did that perception get changed over time? Scripture Mark 2: 1-12 Jesus is speaking to a large group, when a paralyzed man gets lowered through the roof before him. Imagine how this man with a disability must have felt when… His friends decided to carry him to the house? The house was so full, there wasn’t even room outside of the door? They brought him on the roof? He was at the feet of Jesus after coming through the roof? He walked out of the room? He walked home with his friends? Why was it important for Jesus to talk to the man about his sin before talking to him about his legs? ...