RESOURCES & LINKS
Ideas for Service Experiences
Planning Resources for Service Project Leaders
Programmatic Resources to Use with Youth and Adults
Ideas for Service Experiences
"Journeys for Youth and Young Adults." An annual catalogue of servant learning opportunities and hunger/justice programs across the United States, produced by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Available at www.elca.org/camps/journeys.html or 1-800-638-3522.
Hands-On Service Ideas for Youth Groups, by Steve Case and Fred Cornforth (Group Publishing, 1995). Provides numerous ideas for service projects for congregational youth groups.
The Kid's Guide to Service Projects: Over 500 Service Ideas for Young People Who Want to Make a Difference, by Barbara A. Lewis (Free Spirit Publishing, 1995). A wealth of ideas for children- and youth-oriented service learning projects, organized into categories such as animals, environment, hunger, and literacy.
Lutheran Social Ministry Organizations. Find local Lutheran-affiliated community service organizations at www.lutheranservices.org.
VolunteerMatch. An online database of volunteer opportunities with local nonprofit organizations. www.volunteermatch.org
Action Without Borders. A comprehensive website to introduce youth and young adults to international volunteer service opportunities, searchable by geographic location or type of service. www.idealist.org
"A Year of Servanting Ideas." A website with numerous service project ideas, appropriate to the month or season, provided by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS). www.lcms.org/ca/dcs/SERVevents/yrofserv.asp
The Source 4 Youth Ministry. A website with dozens of ideas for youth outreach and service projects. www.thesource4ym.com/outreacheventideas
ServeNet. A clearinghouse of volunteer opportunities available to teenagers, sponsored by Youth Serve America. www.servenet.org
Do Something. A comprehensive website to inspire youth to community service and connect young people with local volunteer opportunities. Provides information on a variety of opportunities for community engagement, including the environment, violence, hunger, discrimination, and disaster response. www.dosomething.org
Souper Bowl of Caring. An organization encouraging fundraising support for local hunger-related charities on or near Super Bowl Sunday. A "starter kit" (including DVD, handouts, and promotional materials) is available at www.souperbowl.org.
30-Hour Famine. Sponsored by World Vision, the 30-Hour Famine is an international youth movement to raise awareness and take action on global hunger issues. Comprehensive resources (including video, handouts, and promotional materials) are available free of charge for program leaders. More information available at www.30hourfamine.org or 1-800-7-FAMINE.
Wheatridge Ministries. A charitable organizations the supports church-related health and human care ministries with the intention of growing healthy neighborhoods and communities. www.wheatridge.org
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. A full-service fraternal benefits and financial services organization, with local chapters engaged in community service efforts. Local chapters also provide grant funds for service-oriented projects. www.thrivent.com
Planning Resources for Service Project Leaders
Welcome Forward: A Field Guide for Global Travelers (with music CD). A resource to help prepare groups of any age for thoughtful, respectful, life changing, community-centered mission trips and travel. Available from www.augsburgfortress.org or 1-800-328-4648. Order one copy free of charge from globalmissioninfo@elca.org.
"Questions to Ask for Planning a Mission Trip" and "Mission Trip Planning Chart." Simple, ready-to-use sheets with questions to consider when planning domestic mission trips (including purpose, logistics, training, etc.), as well as a timeline planning chart. Produced by the Presbyterian Church USA. Available at www.pcusa.org/missiontrips/tools.htm.
A Trip Leader's Planning Manual. Volume 1 in the three-volume series "When God's People Travel Together." A comprehensive guide to planning youth mission trips and service projects. Produced by the Presbyterian Church USA. Order from www.pcusa.org/marketplace or 1-800-524-2612.
An Asset Builder's Guide to Service-Learning, by Eugene C. Roehlkepartain, Tom Bright, and Beth Margolis-Rupp (Search Institute, 2000). A workbook-format resource to guide leaders through planning service experiences that promote development toward the Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets. Available from http://searchinstitutestore.org or 1-877-240-7251.
Beyond Leaf Raking: Learning to Serve/Serving to Learn, by Peter L. Benson and Eugene C. Roehlkepartain (Abingdon Press, 1993). Though dated, this book is an excellent resource to introduce service learning to a congregational youth ministry and includes numerous handouts and planning charts.
The Essential Guide to the Short Term Mission Trip, by David C. Forward (Moody Publishers, 1998). A practical guide for missionaries and their team leaders to undertake specific, time-limited missions projects.
Short-Term Missions: From Mission Tourists to Global Citizens, by Tim Dearborn (InterVarsity Press, 2003). A concise workbook to short-term missions planning, including cross-cultural competence, avoiding a tourist mentality, and spiritual preparation.
Sojourning: A Leader's Guide for Short-Term Mission Travel. For trip organizers and leaders facilitating successful mission travel experiences. Produced by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Order from globalmissioninfo@elca.org or 1-800-638-3522.
Making a Difference: Leading Students in Life-Changing Service. A helpful guide for youth leaders in integrating life-changing service into a congregational youth ministry. Available from Group Publishing, www.grouppublishing.com or 1-800-447-1070.
"Learning through Service: A Guide to Immersion Trips and Extended Service Projects for Youth." A helpful guide to understanding immersion trips and extended service projects, including preparation, planning, reflection, and logistical concerns. Produced by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. Available at www.catholiccincinnati.org/mission/YouthImmersionResource-Final.pdf.
Mission Trips from Start to Finish, by Lynne Ellis. Includes a workbook and CD-ROM, covering areas of preparation, logistics, serving onsite, and follow-up. Also contains numerous worksheets and reproducible handouts. Order from http://store.youthministry.com
Mission Trip Prep Kit - Leader's Guide and Youth Guide. These companion resources can facilitate planning and preparation for short-term mission experiences, including outlines for four pre-trip sessions and two post-trip sessions. Order from http://store.youthministry.com.
Programmatic Resources to Use WIth Youth and Adults
Faithful Travel. A five-program DVD series to explore "faithful travel" and raise provocative questions for those considering domestic or global education trips. Hosted by popular travel author Rick Steves, the DVD can be purchased or viewed online. Discussion guide included. Available at http://archive.elca.org/mosaic/faithfultravel.
Finding Your Spiritual Gifts Self-Assessment. An online-based assessment tool to discover spiritual gifts, provided by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Available at http://archive.elca.org/evangelizingchurch/assessments/spiritgifts.html.
"Accompaniment: A Lens and Methodology for Global Mission." Visit these web pages for ideas to train your global mission team to better understand the nature of international service experiences and the unique challenges of serving among persons of other cultures. www.elca.org/Who-We-Are/Our-Three-Expressions/Churchwide-Organization/Global-Mission/How-We-Work.aspx
Bible Studies for Mission. Volume 3 in the three-volume series "When God's People Travel Together." A Bible study resource to introduce youth to the biblical call to mission and service. Produced by the Presbyterian Church USA. Order from www.pcusa.org/marketplace or 1-800-524-2612.
Glue Boys. A documentary designed to create awareness about what is happening to thousands of impoverished children around the world and to inspire youth to action. A resource kit of the DVD, leader's guide, and promotional materials are available. Order from http://store.youthministry.com.
"Be Hungry: 30-Hour Famine Curriculum." A four-module curriculum developed by the Fuller Youth Institute to support 30-Hour Famine events, including video, PowerPoint presentations, and Bible studies. Materials are useful for adapting for other hunger and poverty-related programs. Available at http://fulleryouthinstitute.org/resources/curriculum.
The Giraffe Heroes Project. Provides resources to motivate children and teens to make a difference in the lives of others. Includes ideas for incorporating service learning into activities. www.giraffe.org
Institute for Peace and Justice. Catholic-affiliated organization providing resources for peace and justice, including a resource section for youth ministry leaders. www.ipj-ppj.org
Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Office for Social Justice. A Catholic-oriented organization providing resources to encourage social justice, including helpful resources that compare the concepts of charity and justice. www.osjspm.org
National Service-Learning Clearinghouse. A service learning resource center, sponsored by Learn and Service America. Provides resources for K-12, higher education, and community-based service learning programs. www.servicelearning.org
ELCA World Hunger Program. Resources and information concerning local and international hunger issues, including opportunities to respond. Includes resources for children and youth. www.elca.org/hunger or 1-800-638-3522. Resources produced by Augsburg Fortress can be ordered from www.augsburgfortress.org/elcahunger.
Lutheran Peace Fellowship. An organization dedicated to encouraging Christians to be peacemakers and justice seekers. Provides a number of youth-appropriate resources. www.lutheranpeace.org
