Kurt Johnston
Simply Youth/Group, 2012, DVD, $19.99
This interactive DVD by Kurt Johnston (Student Ministries Leader at Saddleback Church) is just plain fun and will appeal to the junior high kid in everyone. Given the proclivity many teenage boys have for dare-devil stunts and out-of-the-box practical jokes, this DVD offers a safe alternative.
The Challenge is a compilation of 20 wild and wacky events that Kurt and his friends have created and filmed inside a gymnasium and at a zoo. Each video-based event offers a challenge to the viewing audience, inviting viewers to guess, for example, how many football throws can be caught by jumping into a pool or how far someone can slide on a chocolate-coated sheet of plastic, or how many bowling pins can be knocked down by a human bowling ball, or…well, you get the picture. The picture is high-def, nonetheless.
There would be many ways to use this DVD in youth ministry: retreats, on buses, at events where playing games is not an option, Vacation Bible School, as an introductory video—especially at junior high gatherings. In essence, The Challenge is a way to involve your teenagers in a weird game without having to worry about setting or the clean up.
Be warned, however: This DVD is addictive, and as a leader you will find yourself watching all 20 events and trying to determine which one you like best.
