Simply Youth Ministry just put together a new graduate gift set for your church kids who are about to head out to college. Check out the Graduation Gift Set – which includes a book written by Doug Fields and I, too! Here are a few things I think about when we start thinking about gifts for graduates:
Give them something personal
Write a note inside the gift you give them. The note may be as important than what you actually buy. If there’s a book you personally love or have heard good things about that makes for a good choice.Give your seniors a Bible/Bible study
This may be one of your last significant chances to influence a student before they head off to school – give them a tool or resource to help them walk with God when they walk away from high school. For years we gave our students a nice Bible to use as they began their college journey.Give them a memory
Maybe go through old youth group photos and send a few to Walgreen’s to print off and stick in the book or gift. A memorable trip, event or inside joke will mean a lot to them as they take off.
What are you getting your seniors this year?
JG
6
Josh Griffin has been in youth ministry for 16+ years in a small church and a big church. He currently serves as the High School Pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. [
Latest Tweet
Geoff Stewart serves the Jr / Sr High School Pastor at Peace Portal Alliance Church in Surrey B.C.
Chris Wesley serves as the Director of Student Ministry at Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Maryland.
Colton Harker serves with Josh at Saddleback Church. He is currently in his second year in youth ministry.
Great ideas Josh. Sometimes I go a little overboard with Senior’s gifts, but I can’t help myself.
I agree with the ideas you’ve posted, I often include a bible (Personalized with their name on it, it’s not that expensive!) and bible study. Include notes etc. The other thing I really like to do is give them a “college survival kit” with some essentials for college/dorm life. A nice notebook/journal, slick water bottle, a roll of quarters etc.
I’d love to see other’s ideas too!
Blessings,
Jeremiah
http://www.nobusiness.org
Our College Survival kit is a large plastic bowl, some cups, Ramen, popcorn, hot chocolate, Mac n Cheese – along those lines of dorm life – it’s been a big hit, because the books and checks come pretty frequently elsewhere!
For the last few years, we’ve been compiling notes/essays into a book (using Blurb.com) and giving that to our graduates. The entries have come from all different people in the congregation and have taken the form of: words of wisdom, things they wish they knew when they were graduating, favorite recipes, inspiring poems, things God has taught them over the years, etc. …while I wish there were even more entries, it’s a pretty cool gift, I think. For the cover of last year’s book, I made a mosaic of youth group photos over the last few years, so the odds that they were on the cover were very high. Who knows if they take any of the advice to heart, but I’d like to think that some of it sticks, you know?
Just put up a post 40 minutes ago about this very idea: “POLL : What Do You Give To Your Seniors?”
http://www.seventy8productions.com/2011/03/25/poll-what-do-you-give-to-your-seniors/
Good stuff….I usually get my senior guys a copy of Oswald Chambers “My Utmost for His Highest.” It is a good/solid “devotional” that Freshmen in college or the real world can really gain things from.
These are all solid ideas guys! We do the Bible do…..try to find one that is not too teeny, but not old KJV! Something that is geared for College students. This year we’re also going to do the autograph picture frames for each senior and have our undergrads sign each one and in the middle will be a nice group picture or picture of them and their small group.