Ready-to-Go Service Projects

Practical service-learning project ideas for youth groups who want to serve, guidelines for organizing meaningful service experiences, and tips for connecting service to heart changes. Reproducible handouts and lesson plans for youth group study time and/or special events. Easy for a youth leader to scan for good fits with various youth groups.  Ideal for Middle and High School youth pastors and volunteer leaders for youth groups of various sizes. Interest in service-learning is growing every year. People want to make a difference, but they're not quite sure how they can have a genuine impact. They want to help, but they're not sure where to start. Youth groups are serving but not necessarily experiencing the potential richness and depth of personal/spiritual growth that is possible when the service-learning process is enacted. With limited service-learning knowledge and structures, the work is very challenging, time consuming and less effective than desired by most youth pastors. This tool will give youth pastors a vivid picture of how youth groups can make a difference in their local communities, how to identify meaningful service projects and how to help acts of service transcend into heart changes in their young people.Outline 1. Hands Requested: God's call to serve (scriptures, stories of youth volunteers impacting the world for Christ...)  2. Hands Equipped: Recognizing our God-given unique skills, talents, passions and personalities to serve (including check-box surveys and lists) 3.Hands Needed: seeing the world's needs. Topical sections (hunger, aging, education) will include verses, project ideas and resources for further study.  4. A Place for YOUR Hands: Finding your fit  5. Keys for your hands: Elements of great service projects (including community need, youth voice, orientation, meaningful action, reflection and celebration)  6.Hands Reaching Out: Tips for engaging your congregation in service  7.Hands in Service: Leadership tips for service projects (planning, liability, supervision, roles...) 8.Hands Shaping Hearts: Ideas for reflection  9.Resources for Helping Hands Saylor, Ann is the author of 'Ready-to-Go Service Projects', published 2008 under ISBN 9780687492275 and ISBN 0687492270.