I have been doing something for the past year and a half in our youth group that has been working very well and has proved effective. Each month I do something called “Dinner for 5.” Just as it suggests, 5 youth are invited to my apartment each month to eat a “home cooked” meal and hang out for about an hour and a half. Following dinner we usually talk or play games until their parents arrive. Sign-up is on a first come, first serve basis and the youth generally do not sign-up two months in a row, so that other youth can have the opportunity to come to my apartment.
     In order to follow the Safe Sanctuary policies I always invite a youth counselor to join us, and they usually enjoy the free meal!  I have found that his simple activity has given me the opportunity to get to know each youth, and I have been told by the youth that they look forward to coming to see where their youth minister lives and what my life is like when I am not at church!
     I have also received very positive feedback from the parents who thought that it made their child feel special. I thought this might be a good idea to pass on to other youth minister who desire to connect with their youth in a more one-on-one atmosphere.