sample activities
5 creative favorites!1. cardboard refugee camp
Construct one on the grounds of your church before your Famine sleepover: 1) Get local businesses to donate old boxes or ask students to bring their own. 2) Have everyone bring duct tape, markers, and paint. 3) Designate a few adults to take turns patrolling the area overnight.
2. plan a Sunday church service takeover
The Sunday of Famine weekend, have your students do music, communion, and share their personal experience with the entire congregation! Show a Famine video and say “thank you” to all your supporters. (Shy of your group goal, or hope to exceed it? This is a great time to ask for last-minute donations!)
3. the Fam cam
Set up a reality-TV-style confession booth where students can record themselves during Famine weekend. Post questions in the booth like, “Why are you doing the Famine?” “What’s been your high/low moment so far?” and “What’s something new you’ve learned?” Share student-approved portions of the video with your church on Famine Sunday.
Don’t forget to post your videos to the Famine Facebook page! We love seeing your creativity.
4. candlelight vigil: a shining example
Want to give your students a powerful visual on the issue of hunger? Light candles and place them in a dark room. Then blow out each candle — one every 13 seconds, to represent a child lost to hunger-related causes — until only one candle is left burning. This lone candle represents a life you can help save . . . and you’ll see how even one candle makes a difference when you’re in the dark.
5. loaves and fishes
Read your group the story of Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000 (as told in Matthew 14:15-21, Mark 6:35-44, Luke 9:10-17, or John 6:5-13). Then do one or both of these activities:
“the loaves”: toast art
Snap photos of each creation, then eat the results for your “break-the-fast” meal.
method #1: Burn a bunch of white toast. Use scraping tools like a fork or knife to etch images or words into the toast.
method #2: Fill small bowls with milk and several drops of food coloring. “Paint” the milk on white toast with brushes. (Don’t paint too much in one area or the bread will get soggy.) Put toast squares on a cookie sheet coated with cooking spray and place in an oven preheated to 350 degrees. Bake 10 minutes or until done.
“the fishes”: fish origami
Honor the lives you’ve changed by having students create origami fish to represent the feeding of the 5,000. Make one paper creation for every dollar your group has raised (or one decoration per $30). Fundraising twist: Sell your creations on Sunday for a dollar each. Post a sign that says “Every fish sold will help feed and care for a child for a day!” Search “origami fish” online for diagrams!
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