Thoughts about Club Humor … Principles • People tend to over-program. The key to a good club is not a perfect run-on or joke, but a comfortable feel that nonverbally proclaims the love of Christ. • Who is our target audience? The far out, cynical kids in the back. Never forget this! If you look around and the room is full of Campaigners kids and other kids, do more effective contact work! • Godly humor as opposed to crass or harmful humor – make kids out to be heroes and pick the right kids. Remember, Young Life leaders are adults AND leaders. • Use kids whenever possible. This is a big deal when it comes to giving kids ownership; remember, it should feel like their club. • Create memories. Talk to kids about the skit they were in at McDonalds after club or later in the week at the school. • Be willing to fail. If you run a Young Life club, you will fail! Some things you do won’t work and some things will. Just get used to that, keep perspective, and remember that God is in control! Practicals • Have back-up skits and materials. Murphy’s Law (everything that can go wrong will go wrong) is often proven at Young Life clubs, so be ready! • Know the beginning and the end. Lame entrances and unclear endings cause great skits to just be OK (or worse). • Inside humor is good. Let them know that you know what’s going on in their lives and their school (inside humor that all the kids would get, NOT INSIDE Young Life HUMOR that only regulars would get!). • PRACTICE. So simple, yet so important. • Have a coached audience — coach Campaigners — they can make heroes of those in skits (cheering, chanting). • Stay in character. This just makes funny things funnier. • Have fun! This is HUGE. Regardless of what goes wrong, if the people up front have fun, then the audience will have fun.
E. The Club Talk A. Helpful Guidelines Strengthen your delivery by adhering to these guidelines. 1. Show them you are excited for them to hear this message; speak with enthusiasm and passion. Thank them at the start for the chance to share with them. 2. Talk in terms of their interests. Open with a question or story that draws them in. Show your audience you understand them. 35