Pizza

I decided to write about pizza today mainly because I am craving it.  In fact, as I type this I am calling our local pizza joint to get some for dinner. I think sometimes youth worker take for granted this simple yet useful commodity. Here are three uses for pizza in youth ministry:

• Bargaining chip. I know, this sounds horrible, but let me explain. At my ministry, we have an after-school tutoring program for some of the local Jr. Highers. This is mainly an outreach program for Crowd level students, 90% of which have never stepped foot in a church. We give them homework help, a Bible lesson, and pizza. Over time, we have learned to put the pizza at the end of the time, almost like a reward. We give them what they feel is important (pizza) after we go through what we feel is important (Bible lesson).

• Bonding Tool. Maybe there is something magical about pizza sauce, but whenever groups of people eat it, they talk and bond together. While in youth group, I remember many nights of hanging out with the leaders and students, eating pizza and just talking about life.

• Easy Meal. After driving 6 hours in a loaded van to your retreat location, with that loud kid riding shotgun, and after getting lost 3 times, the last thing you want to think about is cooking a meal. That is where the random pizza joint comes in. You order pizza for your students and 1. you are their hero, and 2. you did’t have to plan or prepare anything.