“Jeanne Mayo has lived this book. She really knows her stuff.

Jeanne is energetic, enthusiastic and is absolutely in love with

kids and Jesus. Her passion for and knowledge of youth ministry
will inspire you on every page.
Jim Burns
President, YouthBuilders/HomeWord

“No one in the youth ministry world combines powerful insight

with practical strategy better than Jeanne Mayo. Follow her sage
advice in Thriving Youth Groups and you’ll experience a youth
ministry miracle—an immediate boost in both the quality of
your ministry and the number of teenagers impacted by it. This is
a must-have book.”
Rick Lawrence
Executive Editor, GROUP Magazine

“Practical, helpful advice from someone who’s been there and

stayed there. This book is a must-read for anyone who’s looking
to build an enduring youth ministry.”
Josh D. McDowell
Author/Speaker

“Jeanne Mayo’s call for youth ministries to provide hospitality, a

genuine welcome, sincere relationships, and a sense of belonging—
and then to let Christ move the hearts of our young people—is a
gentle reminder we all need to hear. She provides wonderful, real
life examples and step-by-step processes for fostering effective peer
ministry. This is a valuable resource!”
Robert J. McCarty
Executive Director,
National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry
Loveland, Colorado
thriving youth groups Secrets for growing your ministry
Copyright © 2005 Jeanne Mayo/Youth Leader’s Coach
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever
without prior written permission from the publisher, except where noted in the text and
in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information,
email permissions at [email protected], or write permissions, Group Publishing,
Inc., P.O. Box 481, Loveland, CO 80539.
Visit our website: group.com
To learn more about Jeanne Mayo’s ministry, visit: www.youthsource.com
Credits
Editor: Kelli B. Trujillo Art Director: Jeff A. Storm
Creative Development Editor: Mikal Keefer Designer/Illustrator: Jeff A. Storm
Chief Creative Officer: Joani Schultz Cover Art Director/Designer: Jeff A. Storm
Copy Editor: Christy Fagerlin Production Manager: Dodie Tipton
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW
INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible
Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Mayo, Jeanne, 1949-
Thriving youth groups : secrets for growing your ministry / by Jeanne Mayo.
—1st American pbk. ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 0-7644-2680-X (alk. paper)
1. Church work with youth. I. Title.
BV4447.M352 2004
259’.23—dc22 2004019783
10 9 8 7 6 5 14 13 12 11 10 09
Printed in the United States of America.
 Contents

Dedication ................................................................................ 7

Introduction................................................................................ 9

1. Welcome to the World of Frog Kissing ....................................... 11

2. Seven Steps to Immediately Change Everything ........................... 21

3. Hosting Your Own Guest Reception ........................................... 41

4. Operation Follow-Up .............................................................. 53

5. The Death of Mr. Clique.......................................................... 67

6. Small Groups Made Easy........................................................ 81

7. What Youth Ministries Can Learn From the Business World ........... 103

8. The #1 Killer of Friendly Youth Ministries…

and How to Take Aim........................................................... 117

9. Creating a Cosby Family Feeling

in an Osbourne Family World ................................................ 129

Appendix: Small Groups FAQ .................................................... 141

Contents 5
 D e d i c at i o n

This book is lovingly dedicated to those who have proven to be the

epicenter of my life…
To my husband, Sam, who redefines love and constancy in my life and
remains my most adored hero and companion. You truly are “the wind
beneath my wings.”
To my eldest son, Josh, who has lived with more character and courage
than any mom deserves to witness. I.L.Y.W.A.M.H.M.W.A.B.T.C.
To my “second but never last” son, Justin, who has magically merged the
worlds of radical in-your-face living with radical in-your-face Christianity.
Thanks for all the late-night movies and talks by the lake.
To Jordan, Lesly, Dan, Karena, Jason, Julie, Alex, Kristen, Joni, Michelle,
and Carissa, who have dared to believe in the dream of Youth Leader’s Coach
and have consistently made such selfless investments of their brilliance and
energy.
To Ken, Kathy, and Barbara, who remain treasured friends whose
prayers and sacrifices made this whole ministry dream of mentoring
youth pastors possible.
To the youth ministry dream teams I’ve loved from Rockford, Bellevue,
and Sacramento, who always gave me the “why behind the what.”
To the emerging team in Atlanta (especially Darren, Jordan, and Matt),
who remind me daily why youth ministry has captured the essence of my
lifelong passion, heart, and mission.
And to the thousands of breathtaking youth leaders and teenagers along
the journey, who have allowed me the priceless honor of being “Jesus with
skin on” in their lives.
Together we celebrate the reality of our relentless Savior who sends us
out to pursue today’s youth culture with his relentless love.

Dedication 7
 Acknowledgments

Friends in your life are like pillars on your porch: Sometimes they hold
you up; sometimes they lean on you; sometimes it’s just enough to know
they’re standing by.
I’d like to express my most sincere thanks to a few of the individuals
who have been such great friends and “pillars” to me through the process
of writing this book.
To my treasured “pillar,” Lesley Butcher, whose brilliance was only out-
shined by her tenacious love and loyalty. I am unworthy of your talent,
your heart, and your untold hours of diligence. Lesley, Jesus and I are both
clapping very loudly for you.
To my new “pillar,” Kelli Trujillo, whose role as my editor and cheer-
leader broke all my previous stereotypes and created an exciting new men-
tal paradigm for book editors. Thank you for always making me feel so
deeply heard.
To two of youth ministry’s most historic “pillars,” Thom and Joani Schultz,
the founder and owners of Group Publishing, who dared to take a chance on
a youth ministry veteran they had never even met named Jeanne.
And to one final “pillar” named Rick Lawrence, whose encouragement
during a chance meeting on our way to Newfoundland rewrote personal
history for me. Your integrity and trustworthiness make your words very
loud in my life, Rick. Thank you for saying that day, “Jeanne, you have
youth ministry years inside of you that need to be chronicled.” Late that
night when you slipped back to your seat on the airplane, Jesus and I had
a long talk. Thank you, my friend. I was listening.

8 Acknowledgements
 Introduction

Vince Lombardi once said that “any man’s finest hour…is that moment
when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on
the field of battle—victorious.” So as I write these words to you, I find
myself looking for a field to fall down in. At last, Thriving Youth Groups:
Secrets for Growing Your Ministry is completed. It is my privilege to address
you personally in these opening pages. And then I will write a mental, “It
is finished” over this long-awaited project.
How do I end (and begin) something that is such an integral part of
my DNA? I want to begin by saying a sincere thank you for picking up
this book. But at the risk of sounding cheesy, allow me to share my heart
with you. After nearly thirty-five years in full-time youth ministry, I know
how agonizing and lonely the journey can become. I’ve met face to face
with literally thousands of amazing youth leaders through the years, many
marked by a sense of failure and futility. The most commonly asked ques-
tion through my journey has been, “What did you do to make this youth
group grow so much and still radiate spiritual vitality?”
Thriving Youth Groups: Secrets for Growing Your Ministry contains the key
principles from my youth ministry journey. Most of these growth concepts
center around creating a friendship culture where teenagers feel an authentic
sense of affirmation and belonging. In each chapter, I’ve tried to show you
the strategic steps we have taken, time after time, to create an atmosphere of
Christ-honoring love where students want not only to come back, but also to
bring their friends. I’ve also included some thoughts and ideas that have been
shared with me by youth leaders around the country; I hope their practical
insights are helpful to you as you work to make your ministry thrive.
I’m a pragmatic individual at heart. So while I’ve attempted to tell you
key stories that have punctuated my journey, I’ve remained heavy on the

Introduction 9
“how to’s.” Like you, I know the discouragement of giving youth ministry
your best and still dealing with low attendance, cliques, and utter lack of
interest among the students. Throughout the book, I’ve tried to systemati-
cally demystify the whole process of creating a welcoming, growing youth
ministry.
It’s really no surprise to most of us who have been in youth ministry for
a while: The number one thing teenagers want in a youth ministry is a re-
lational, welcoming environment. But how do you create and sustain that
kind of atmosphere in the self-centered, insecure youth culture we now
minister to? That’s what I’ve tried to chronicle in the following chapters.
So go grab a cup of your favorite java, find a comfortable chair, and let’s
begin to travel the “youth ministry trail” together. I’ve made so many mis-
takes that hopefully my vulnerability will save you a few mishaps of your
own. You see, you as a youth leader are really the “big deal” of my spiritual
journey now. Though I am continuing in local youth ministry just like
you, my primary life mission now is “to encourage, equip, inspire, and
instruct the youth leaders of this generation.”
Thank you for allowing me to be somewhat of a “big sis” in the
youth ministry trenches. I’ve never known anyone who made it to the
Olympics without a coach, and so I pray that this book will allow me
to be a long-distance coach and mentor to you, even if we never get to
meet this side of heaven.
Let me close by sharing the words that have often inspired me to go
the long haul in youth ministry, no matter how costly or demanding the
journey. They are the words of the historic missionary Jim Elliot: “He is no
fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” That’s a
pretty great anthem for those of us in youth ministry; don’t you think?
Lovingly Honored to Be in Your Life,
Jeanne
P.S. I checked in with Jesus this morning. He wanted me to remind you
that he’s grateful for all your sacrifices in youth ministry, and he’s pretty
crazy about you…for real.

10 Introduction
 C
Cha
a pp tt e rr x1

Welcome to the World of Frog Kissing

“People have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be.”—John Mason
I have a confession to make. Unashamedly, I am a frog kisser. Yes, you
heard it right. I, Jeanne Mayo, am (and have been for several decades) a
proud card-carrying member of Youth Ministry Frog Kissers of America.
As a matter of fact, my frog kissing obsession has probably been the key
to my significance in youth ministry. Don’t worry; I’ll explain. It was an
unforgettable youth night several years ago that launched me into this
preoccupation with frog kissing. Allow me to relive it with you.
We had worked intensely to create an incredible youth night—trust me;
it was destined to be a success. We built the entire evening around a relevant
theme. We used various creative communication techniques, and we’d packed
the place with hundreds of excited, screaming teenagers. Most importantly,
we had prayed our guts out that the evening would make Jesus smile. When
I gave the students an opportunity to respond to Christ at the conclusion of
the service, the reaction was staggering. It was no Billy Graham service, but
enough to be remembered as an unforgettable night in my mind.
Then it happened—without warning, the picture-perfect youth night
came to a screeching halt. As I slipped to the back of our meeting room to

Welcome to the World of Frog Kissing 11

 give high fives to a couple of our key leaders who had worked especially
hard, I overheard a conversation that served as a painful wake-up call.
Apparently, a parent was picking up her teenager at the conclusion of the
service. I heard the mom casually ask her son, “What’d you think?” The
teenager took less than a second to formulate his direct four-word reply:
“I’m not coming back!”
I picked my heart up off the floor, and I took off after the teenage guy before
he could walk out the door. “Look, my name is Jeanne,” I said, trying to get his
attention. “I did some of the talking up front tonight. What’s your name?”
In a direct voice, the high school guy spouted off his first name and then
turned to walk away. (We’ll call him “Ben” to protect the innocent.) I was
not willing to be ditched so easily, so I followed him closer to the door.
“Look, Ben,” I said, feeling slightly embarrassed. “I was standing in
the back of the room a few minutes ago and overheard your comments
to your mom. I heard you tell her you weren’t coming back.” His eyes
flashed defensively for a second as if
God Makes It Good! he were gearing up for a debate. But I
“I had some local high school continued. “Would you help us out by
students who started coming around telling me where we bombed tonight? I
because I asked them to play mean, a sharp guy like you would be a
basketball with me. From there I asked huge asset around here. Please tell me
them to visit our student ministry on what’d we do wrong?”
Wednesday night. They showed up Ben’s eyes softened a little, and he
and have hardly missed a service since.
paused for a second before answering.
Recently I discovered that some of
“It wasn’t what people did that was the
them have been kicked out of school,
turnoff. It was what they didn’t do.”
been rejected by their parents, or have
been in and out of juvenile hall. I talked
“OK, now you’ve really got me
to them about receiving Jesus Christ, curious. What did we not do?” I asked.
and one responded, ‘God doesn’t want It was becoming obvious to me that Ben
me—I am wasted goods.’ I was able to wasn’t a socially needy kid. He came
tell them that God takes what we think across like a sharp, put-together high
is wasted and makes it good. That’s school guy, but whatever had occurred
what frog kissing is all about!” that night in our youth meeting had
—Todd Bishop, a youth pastor in obviously created a stingingly negative
Valley Stream, New York impression.

12 Thriving Youth Groups

 “ Our service or program may be great, but if teenagers
don’t feel friendliness or acceptance by their peers,
they’re not coming back.
”
“I’ll tell you what you didn’t do. My mom conned me into coming, and
nobody acted like they gave a rip if I was here. Nobody talked to me, like
I was invisible or something. I’d rather spend my time with people who at
least pretend like they’re glad I showed up. That’s why I won’t be coming
back anymore.”
I attempted to do damage control with Ben as he headed out the door, but
his body language made it clear that he was through talking. As the glass
door to the youth room shut abruptly behind him, I became painfully aware
that our unfriendliness had probably closed some doors in his heart, doors
that needed to be open before there could be an authentic faith commitment.
We had blown it. Amidst our great music, inspiring message, and great
drama that night, we had failed to focus on the one thing that matters most
in today’s youth culture: an atmosphere of authentic friendship.
Ben’s abrupt answer sliced through my youth ministry euphoria that
night like a knife. But as cutting as his reply was, I’ve discovered it should
not have been surprising. An article published in Group Magazine revealed
the results of their “Cool Church” survey, which involved approximately
10,000 Christian teenagers. In the survey, teenagers were asked to rate 10
different factors that influence their commitment to church on a sliding
scale from “not at all important” to “very important.” The highest ratings
in the “very important” category were the following:
#1—A welcoming atmosphere where you can be yourself—73 percent.
#2—Quality relationships with other teenagers—70 percent.
Interestingly enough, the response that came in dead last at 21 percent was:
#10—A fast-paced, high-tech, entertaining ministry approach.
I remember walking back into the youth area that night feeling like a
failure. What I thought had been a ministry “home run” suddenly appeared
more like a “strikeout” in the eyes of some of our attendees. So what’s the
bottom line? Our service or program may be great, but if teenagers don’t feel

Welcome to the World of Frog Kissing 13

friendliness or acceptance by their peers, they’re not coming back. Youth
leader Steve Miller, in the Group Magazine article “The Secrets of Welcoming
Youth Groups,” warns: “If your group fails the friendliness test, visitors will
never return.” He encourages all of his student leaders to assume that all
newcomers visiting their ministry “are making a last-ditch effort to find
someone who cares about them before they end it all.”
So what does all of this have to do with frog kissing? Everything. You
see, I’ve been in full-time youth ministry (full-time frog kissing) for three
and a half decades. I laughingly tell my audiences at leadership conferences
that I’ve been in youth ministry so long that I can remember when the
Dead Sea was still sick! But before you rule me out because I’m too dated to
still have a relevant voice in 21st century youth ministry, let me give you a
brief overview of my journey. I directed a youth ministry in Nebraska that
grew from zero to 350 students who were meeting on a weekly basis. Then
I went to Illinois where we saw growth from 35 students to approximately
1,000 each week. Years later in my career, the Lord allowed me to “suffer
for his sake” in sunny California. People told me when we first arrived that
“Youth ministry will be harder on the West Coast. Teenagers aren’t the
same there.” But after approximately one year in Sacramento, the weekly
participation grew from about 80 students to well over 500.
As I write this book, the same kind of exciting turnaround is happening
in Atlanta where we’ve renamed the youth outreach “Oxygen.” Why do I
tell you all of that? No, I’m not trying to convince you that youth ministry
significance is all about numbers—it isn’t. But without apology, I must
say that I am convinced Christ didn’t give his life on a cross so that we
could minister to empty chairs. We can’t spiritually impact students who
are never around us. You don’t need to have graduate degrees in theology
to recognize that making a difference in God’s kingdom requires us to
go after people.

What’s the Bottom Line in Youth Ministry Growth.

Through my exciting years in youth ministry, many sincere youth
leaders have come to visit our various youth ministries. And all of these
extraordinary people had one bottom-line question: “How did the growth
occur? Jeanne, what’s the secret?” They usually expect me to give them

14 Thriving Youth Groups

some magic formula we’ve implemented in our programming or in our
leadership structure. Other well-meaning people quietly drop their voices
and ask, “Jeanne, how many hours do you pray each day?” But through
the years, my consistent answer has been both surprising and a little
disappointing for many of them. I tell them that we’re into frog kissing,
and because of that, one of our key goals is to become one of the friendliest
places in the city. Have we made it yet? Not hardly. But every Wednesday
evening when teenagers walk into the door, we ask God to help us make
Christ-honoring friendliness the point of our spear. It’s the principle of
the old theme song from the sitcom Cheers. I’m convinced that the writer
must have been in youth ministry because the truth is we all do want to be
where everybody knows our name.

Remember the Old Fairy Tale.

Getting back to my opening confession: I, Jeanne Mayo, am a charter
member of Youth Ministry Frog Kissers of America, and this book is my
unashamed attempt to recruit you to join up as well. This all stems from
a fairy tale you probably heard as a child. The impact of its message has
become my mantra over the past 35 years in youth ministry.
Once upon a time, there was a handsome prince who lived far,
far away. He was so handsome that all the fair maidens of the village
fell madly in love with him—even the old ugly witch. One day,
the witch could no longer contain herself, and she began to hit
on the handsome prince. But as you might expect, the fairy tale
prince wasn’t too impressed. He grew so irritated with her repeated
advances that he shunned her in no uncertain terms. And can you
blame him? Imagine being hit on by a witch.
The ugly old witch at first was devastated. Then she became
angry…very angry. “No handsome prince is going to get away with
this!” she said to herself. “I’ll show that young punk a thing or two.
I’ll cast an evil spell on him, and from this day forward, he’ll no
longer be a handsome prince. Oh, no, from this day forward, he’ll
be an ugly little frog!”
The wicked witch laughed to herself as she finished concocting
the evil spell by adding one final clause—the spell could never,
ever be broken…unless the ugly little frog was kissed by a beautiful

Welcome to the World of Frog Kissing 15

 princess! Impossible odds, wouldn’t you say? Even the homely guys
in your youth group would have had a better chance of getting a
beautiful princess to kiss them than an ugly little frog.
And with her declaration, the evil witch waves her wand and
with a “Wish! Bam! Boom!” she casts the agonizing spell on our
beloved prince. Not realizing what’s going on, he finds himself
transformed into the body of an ugly, slime-covered, warty little
frog. Alone and ashamed, he spends countless hours, day after day,
trapped inside this cruel masquerade. He sits on a lily pad crying
out, “I’m not an ugly frog. I’m really a handsome prince. Can’t
anyone see past my ugly warts on the outside to see who I really
am? How am I ever going to get a beautiful princess to break this
spell by kissing me?”
Years passed because, after all, beautiful princesses just don’t
kiss ugly frogs. But one day the impossible happened. A beautiful
princess came walking by the pond where the little frog had settled.
He could smell her perfume in the distance, and he knew that it
would be his only chance at recapturing his true destiny. As the
princess drew closer, he began to utter his most seductive “Croak…
croak.” Strangely enough, she felt drawn to the little wart-covered
frog. As she stood gazing over him in the pond, he looked up and
mustered one final provocative “Croak!”
Then it happened. Emotion overtook the beautiful princess, and
in a weak moment, she picked up the pitiful looking frog, looked him
squarely in the eyes, and planted a royal kiss right on top of his warts!
The little frog began to shake uncontrollably, and with a “Wish! Bam!
Boom!” the demoralizing spell was forever broken. The kiss of the
beautiful princess, who was able to look past his ugly warts, restored
him to his one true destiny—that of a handsome prince.

What’s that got to do with creating a welcoming, friendly youth ministry?

Everything. You see, today’s youth culture is filled with “handsome princes”
who have had a million different things cast a spell on them. When they

“ You choose to look past the warty junk on the

outside and discover the incredible things that are
always—always—somewhere hidden on the inside.
”
16 Thriving Youth Groups
come to your youth ministry, most
of them look pretty “froggy.” They Go Where They Are
show warts of apathy, cynicism, and “One thing we have learned in the
inner city is teenagers don’t just want
rebellion that many times turn away
to hear how much you care. They want
even the most seasoned youth leaders.
to see how much you care. We are
But I hope as you read this book
so much more effective when we go
you’ll realize that in order to create a down to their neighborhoods. When
friendly, welcoming youth ministry, we stopped expecting it to be their job
you’re going to have to train yourself to come see us and got into their neck
to look past their froggish warts and of the woods, our chances of reaching
see the royalty that Christ has put them grew much bigger. They’re
inside each one of them. What’s the looking for someone who won’t give up
kiss? The magical transformation in on them—who is willing to believe in
your teenagers will come after you, them and go the extra mile to know you
your adult leaders, or your students, are not just talk—you actually care. “
in the name of Christ’s love, offer —Stella VanGerwen, youth pastor
in urban Los Angeles, California
them the kiss of encouragement. You
choose to look past the warty junk on
the outside and discover the incredible things that are always—always—
somewhere hidden on the inside.
Sound too childish or irrelevant? The greatest “youth minister” in the
world, Jesus Christ himself, was a proud frog kisser. Remember when he
was attempting to lead his 12 man leadership team, the disciples? There was
a “warty one” named Simon. Simon had a lot of potential, and Jesus knew it.
He was great in front of people and always a crowd favorite, but apparently
Simon had some of the same issues your potential leaders may have. He was
always opening his mouth and sticking his foot in it. He made all sorts of
promises that he never followed through on, and one night he got so violent
he cut a guy’s ear off. That probably would have been excusable, considering
the circumstances; but when Christ needed his disciples most, Simon denied
that he even knew Jesus. The New Testament account from Luke 22 tells us
that he wimped out, cursed, and denied he had anything to do with the
Messiah. Stop and take a moment to tell yourself, “Hey, at least my leaders
haven’t cut off any ears or denied they know me. I’m not doing so bad.”

Welcome to the World of Frog Kissing 17

What Was Christ’s Response to Simon the Frog.
Christ’s response to Simon’s froggish conduct was something a little
unexpected. Jesus changed his name. He believed in Peter. In Matthew 16
Jesus announced to Simon that his name was now going to be Peter, which
means rock. Peter was no longer an average little pebble—Jesus called
him to be a big boulder. Jesus was sending Simon Peter a life-changing
signal that day by saying, “Take heart, Pete. I’m looking past the froggish
impression of your little pebble nature. I’m not going to write you off simply
because of what I see on the outside. I see you as the big boulder that my
Father has made you to be. You have a future, a purpose, and a destiny,
Peter. I’m choosing to believe in you consistently and authentically, and I
know we’re going to uncover it.”
Did Peter change instantly and quit being froggy? No…and neither will
your teenagers change immediately. It’s a process.
Maybe you’ve picked up this book because you want to change the
friendliness quotient in your youth ministry? Maybe you want it to become
a place where guests visit and want to return? Maybe you want to see cliques
and social barriers broken among your teenagers? Maybe you’re reading
because you just want to see your group grow? Before you jump to the next
chapter, prayerfully ask the Lord to enroll you in Frog Kissing 101.
Remember Ben, the guy who gave me my brutal wake-up call? I know
that soon all the Bens in your life will be forever grateful that you took
the time to read this book—and more importantly, applied it. If you want
to lower the “I’m not coming back” factor, remember that we teach what
we know, but we reproduce who we are. Your youth ministry will never
be more genuinely friendly than you are. It’s time to zero in on a couple of
“croaking teenagers” and start kissing frogs!

“ We teach what we know,

but we reproduce who we are.
”

18 Thriving Youth Groups

 Now What? Ideas
Use th ese i d ea s to put the principles
i n th i s c h a pter into action:

• Study some of Jesus’ frog kissing and the impact his love and kindness had on the
lives of people like Peter (Matthew 16:13-19 and Acts 2:14-41), Paul (Acts 8:1; 9:1-31),
Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10), the Samaritan woman (John 4:1-42), Thomas (John 20:24-
31), and the thief on the cross (Luke 23:36-43).
• Find a picture of yourself as a young teenager. Remember the awkwardness and
insecurity of adolescence. What were your warts? How did you feel froggish? Put
the picture in your wallet or purse as a reminder to see the real person behind a
teenager’s froggish behavior.
• Pick an upcoming evening, and ask a couple of your more perceptive students to
experience your youth service through the eyes of a newcomer. Have them report
back to you on their findings.
• Take some time to reflect on at least one person who saw past your “warts” and helped
you become who you are today through their frog kissing in your life. Think about the
simple but effective things this person did to give you “the kiss of encouragement.”
• Make a list of students whom you personally helped to become a “prince” or
“princess” in the last year through your authentic friendliness and belief in them.
• Make a list of some current students you are targeting, who are still “pretty warty.”
• On a scale of 1 to 10, rate yourself on how well you are doing in the area of
intentional friendship and warmth.

Welcome to the World of Frog Kissing 19

 ISBN 978-0-7644-2680-3

Religion/Christian Ministry/Youth

Printed in the U.S.A.