Campaigners: Location Location Location

Before I knew anything about Real Estate I was told: Location is everything. I now own 2 homes and only "kinda" bought into that philosophy. However, I am certain that good Campaigners are spawn out of a similar theme. 

Have you ever tried running a good Campaigners in a bad location? Sometimes you dont realize it is bad or good until you have given it a shot.  We would think a Coffee shop might be a great spot. It leads to a "talking environment." People feel comfortable there. But, if a girl needs to share that she feels uncomfortable with her body will she do so sitting next to the guy with the beard and glasses who smells like he hasnt showered in over a week. Probably not. Plus, your only option to pull out a guitar and sing worship songs requires you to use a mic and and have "Smelly Cat" (a Friends reference) in your set. 

What about a house where you walk in and it looks as if you just stepped back in a time machine. The only place you see this furniture is at grandmas house or at a museum. Rule of thumb: if it looks like a museum then people will act like its a museum. Quiet. 

I can go on forever on places which may or may not work (I have seen Campaigners at each of the above locations. I have just found them to be a little more inconsistent on how well they are run based on the surrounding environment. If you are having Campaigners there now and it is working then more power to you). 

Here are a few rules that I live by when selecting a campaigners location...

1) If you dont feel comfortable then kids wont feel comfortable.

2) Have campaigners in a place that is fun. If you are bored then kids will be bored. 

3) Be consistent. Consistency produces comfort. If kids are comfortable then they are more likely to share. 

4) It is 98.7% important that the family who's house you are at removes ALL possible distractions while you are meeting or sharing: pets, other kids, themselves, TV, music, etc. 

Location. Location. Location.

I would love to hear some of your best Campaigners locations. 

Campaigners: Be a Teacher and Go DEEP

Leading a Campaigner lesson might be one of the most difficult things you do as an "up front" leader in Young Life. Why? First, and most importantly, there is an assumption that you (THE LEADER) know the scripture WITH MORE DEPTH then the kids whom you are teaching. 

If Club talks are focused on kids who care about Jesus the very least, well Campaigner talks should challenge and engage the kid who cant get enough about Jesus. I think way too often we give our kids a little bit of the weak sauce when it comes to Campaigner messages. 

Giving a Campaigner talk requires tons of prep. You dont want to talk about the woman caught in adultery and give the same info that you would give to non-Christian kids during a Club talk. What is new in this story? Go deeper with Jesus. Answer the who? what? where? when? why? questions. There will be studding and re-reading the passage(s) over and over again. Let the LIVING WORD reveal something to you. God can do miracles, but let God speak to you over time, dont prepare the day before the talk. 

The talk prep is not over once you know what you are going to say, you now need to prepare some good questions. THIS MIGHT BE THE MOST DIFFICULT PART.  Who wants to answer the question: Does Jesus love you? NOBODY. Dumb question. If questions are too easy people wont answer because the answer is too obvious. However, if the question is too difficult people stay quiet so they dont say a wrong answer and look stupid. Also, personal questions are hard to ask. Try to ask the question: Why do your friends (or people in your school) not care about Jesus and not Why do you not care about Jesus in your life? 

These are just a few helpful hints to how to give a great campaigners talk. My encouragement: MAN UP. CHALLENGE KIDS. CHALLENGE YOURSELF.