Youth Group Acronym

[Carol Chew]

Our 3rd-5th grade youth group has been called KFC - Kids For Christ.  We want to get away from the chicken affiliation and need something fun.  
The older group 6th-8th grade just changed their name to YUC - Youth Under Construction.   Our brainstorming didn't go too well.  Any ideas?

[Tony]

Carol Chew wrote:

>Our 3rd-5th grade youth group has been called KFC - Kids For Christ.  
>We want to get away from the chicken affiliation and need something fun.  
>The older group 6th-8th grade just changed their name to YUC - Youth Under Construction.  
>Our brainstorming didn't go too well.  Any ideas?

How about
JOY - Jesus-Oriented Youth
JOYFUL - Jesus-Oriented Young'uns Feeling Unconditional Love
JOYFUL (2) - Jesus-Oriented Young'uns Founded Under Lutheranism
JOYOUS - Jesus-Oriented Youngsters Open Unto Scripture

The 'Y' words are interchangeable, of course. We in Ireland don't use the same 'grade' system as the US so I don't know what ages you're dealing with - if I knew it might, but only 'might', offer further inspiration.

[Angela]

I love Tony's JOY idea... I probably can't improve on it, but I'll try.

This one's a bit of a cheat... KinGS: Kids in God's Service.

I had a look at http://www.hope-lutheran.org -- am I correct to assume you are based in Friendsville? What a nice name for a town! This one needs some work, and probably won't appeal to the youths, but I was inspired by the town name to come up with one for FRIENDS:

Faith Resounds In Exciting Neighbourhood Disciple Society

And here are some expansions of FAITH:

Fun Activities In The 'Hood
Fellowship Advances Innocents/Individuals Toward Heaven
Friendsville Area Is Teens' H[e]aven

[Tony]

GODS KIDS
Group Of Daughters & Sons, Keenly Into Discussing Salvation
(Yeah, yeah, I know we're "all" God's children and you can't appear to be 'exclusive' - but I think youngsters would like the idea.)

[Tony]

Angela wrote:

>I love Tony's JOY idea... I probably can't improve on it, but I'll try.

Oh, I'm sure you'll manage something ;-)


>This one's a bit of a cheat... KinGS: Kids in God's Service.

This raises the question - what does the group actually 'do'? Are there any particular activities we could use to get a handle on this?

I don't know what words might be 'taboo' for you, and so I need your guidance. Would 'gang' be unacceptable? I think kid's like being in 'gang' but that may be too criminal-associated for you. (I only share the English language with you, I use it differently.)

JOY GANG
Jumble Of Youths Gather And N?? Gospel

GODS GANG
Group Of Descendants Study Gospel Amid Nurturing Guidance

[Tony]

I hope Carol isn't another of those who ask for assistance and then don't reply to us when we offer it.
This gets tedious!

[Carol Chew]

No, Tony, I am not one to not reply.  I am, however, a part-time Youth Director and just came in this morning.  

I loved all of your ideas.  I don't know how you and Angela came up with so many things so fast.

I am meeting with my youth on Friday night and will present those.  All MUCH better than KFC.
I also didn't know you were in Ireland.  This job is all new to me and I am exploring different web sites.   KFC here stands for Kentucky Fried Chicken - a fast food restaurant.  Not too good for a youth group name!  The 3rd - 5th graders are 9-11 years old and they didn't quite grasp the acronym forming. (of course, I couldn't do it either!).  

Thanks again for all your help.  I will let you know what we decided on.

Blessings,
Carol
 

>>> On 09 January 2006 09:47:07 UTC, Tony wrote:

I hope Carol isn't another of those who ask for assistance and then don't reply to us when we offer it.
This gets tedious!

[Carol Chew]

Angela,

The word gang isn't too bad and the kids do like it.  

The group of kids (9-11) will have service projects at least quarterly, meet twice a month for fellowship and faith building activities.  The do help an awful lot at the church with VBS and other activities with the younger children.  

Your ideas are really helpful.  Thanks so much for the help.

Carol


>>> On 07 January 2006 14:41:45 UTC, Tony wrote:

Angela wrote:

>I love Tony's JOY idea... I probably can't improve on it, but I'll try.

Oh, I'm sure you'll manage something ;-)


>This one's a bit of a cheat... KinGS: Kids in God's Service.

This raises the question - what does the group actually 'do'? Are there any particular activities we could use to get a handle on this?

I don't know what words might be 'taboo' for you, and so I need your guidance. Would 'gang' be unacceptable? I think kid's like being in 'gang' but that may be too criminal-associated for you. (I only share the English language with you, I use it differently.)

JOY GANG
Jumble Of Youths Gather And N?? Gospel

GODS GANG
Group Of Descendants Study Gospel Amid Nurturing Guidance

[Tony]

Carol Chew wrote:

>Angela
>The word gang isn't too bad and the kids do like it.  

The "gang" idea was mine, Carol.

My apologies for implying that you weren't going to answer. I'm just so used to everyone I know onlne being always online. (Hah, that says more about me than I'm comfortable with!)
Oh yeah, we have KFC over here too.

JOY GANG
Jumble Of Youths Gather And Notice Gospel
Jesus Offers You Glorious Afterlife, Notes Gospel.

The decision, of course, is yours but I doubt I'll improve on anything which begins with Jesus Oriented Youth - I'm really pleased with that one. You probably need to add another word there, as I think it needs to say more about you, for example on a church noticeboard or in a section of a newsletter

JOY KIDS
Jesus Oriented Youth Keenly Into Deity's Service

JOY BAND
Jesus Oriented Youths' Bible And Neighbourhood Discussions

[Carol Chew]

Tony,

Thanks for the additional suggestions.  I am excited to see what the kids think. Sure don't know how you come up with these ideas, but glad that you do!

Carol

>>> On 09 January 2006 20:15:30 UTC, Tony wrote:

Carol Chew wrote:

>Angela
>The word gang isn't too bad and the kids do like it.  

The "gang" idea was mine, Carol.

My apologies for implying that you weren't going to answer. I'm just so used to everyone I know onlne being always online. (Hah, that says more about me than I'm comfortable with!)
Oh yeah, we have KFC over here too.

JOY GANG
Jumble Of Youths Gather And Notice Gospel
Jesus Offers You Glorious Afterlife, Notes Gospel.

The decision, of course, is yours but I doubt I'll improve on anything which begins with Jesus Oriented Youth - I'm really pleased with that one. You probably need to add another word there, as I think it needs to say more about you, for example on a church noticeboard or in a section of a newsletter

JOY KIDS
Jesus Oriented Youth Keenly Into Deity's Service

JOY BAND
Jesus Oriented Youths' Bible And Neighbourhood Discussions

[Tony]

Carol Chew wrote:

>Tony,
>Thanks for the additional suggestions.  
>I am excited to see what the kids think.
>Sure don't know how you come up with these ideas, but glad that you do!

You're very welcome.
If the children don't like them - and they may not - ask them for a list of words they'd like to see included in the 'expansion' of their name.
I can't promise anything, but I would be willing to try to incorporate anything they really feel important.

I do them from:-
a large vocabulary, honed on crossword puzzles
a permanent interest in anything to do with the English language
a great sense of fun
a preparedness to poke fun at just about anything
(I'm secure enough in my relationship with the divine to poke fun at 'received wisdom')
an eagerness to accept a challenge

If the group accepts any of my efforts I'd love to see it if it ever makes it into print/photography.

Tony

[Tony]

GOSPEL
God Oriented Schoolchildren Practise Ethical Learning

Gatherings On Sunday Preach Eternal Life
 - I've got a 2/7 chance that the 'S' is suitable for the day of week your group assembles ;-) They look like long odds but I'm guessing that school takes up their weekdays/evenings and I imagine I'm okay with Sunday, even though Saturday is a possibility, I imagine that goes on sports and family stuff like shopping etc.

Gospel Oriented Sessions Promote Endless Love

[Carol Chew]

Tony and Angela,
Thanks again for all of your help.  The kids went with a choice from the web site.    SWAT!  I was impressed with their decision making though as there were  several choices.  They chose Servants Worshipping All Together.   They said no to anything that had kids, children or even students in it.  Guess 10 year olds are not kids?  News to me.  Anyway, thank you again for all your help.  I appreciate all the time and effort.

Carol

[Carol Chew]

Tony and Angela,
Thanks again for all of your help.  The kids went with a choice from the web site.    SWAT!  I was impressed with their decision making though as there were  several choices.  They chose Servants Worshipping All Together.   They said no to anything that had kids, children or even students in it.  Guess 10 year olds are not kids?  News to me.  Anyway, thank you again for all your help.  I appreciate all the time and effort.

Carol

[Tony]

The ungrateful little wretches  :-)

I'm glad they got something they're happy with. I can see the appeal of "SWAT" - will they all have to dress in combat clothes when they come to your sessions? ;-)

Best wishes for your ministry
Tony

PS
I did have one other thought on this today (in the middle of a meeting and I tried to scribble it down quickly lest I forgot it.)

FAITH
Friends Assembled in Truth & Honesty (We allow ourselves the use of punctuation to get around a problem occasionally)

PS2
Please feel free to pass on our suggestions to any other groups who may be casting about for names.