By CTA – Christ to All
Guest: Cyndee Ownbey, author of Rethinking Women’s Ministry: Biblical, Practical Tools for Cultivating a Flourishing Community. Cyndee serves as a mentor to thousands of women’s ministry leaders through her website and Facebook community, Women’s Ministry Toolbox.
Introduction: Icebreakers set the tone for your event. Use this sound advice when choosing icebreaker games for your women’s ministry events.
Summary:
Why use icebreakers?
- Encourage connections and bonding
- Allow relationships to grow and deepen
- Put the focus on others and not on women’s own insecurities
Tips as you use icebreakers
- Delivery matters—have fun!
- Be enthusiastic
- Give clear instructions
- Encourage participants
- Wrap up
- Choose icebreakers with group size in mind
- Be prepared with materials: do you have necessary pens? worksheets? microphone? prizes? signs?
- Include everyone and avoid embarrassing anyone
- Screen questions ahead of time
- Don’t ask for secrets
- Avoid divisive topics
- Pre-recruit participants, if needed
- Avoid Bible-knowledge games, unless the material has been recently taught
- Consider working in teams
Resources:
Editor’s note: Today’s entry is slightly adapted from the Summary Sheet, a resource that highlights the key points in the Focus on Leadership conversation: Secrets to Great Icebreaker Games. This is just one in a series of conversations between Cyndee Ownbey from Women’s Ministry Toolbox and CTA’s own Jane Robinson. To have access to this and all the Focus on Leadership conversations all year long, check out CTA Advantage at ctainc.com.
