The first step in starting your club is to pray! Pray that God will give you direction and wisdom as your start your club. Pray for your school administration to embrace your club, for students to be hungry and open to attend your club, and for God to prepare the way for you.

Be sure to partner with your spiritual leaders (youth pastor, youth leaders, pastor, etc) for their help and support. While they are not allowed to actually start the club and lead it, they can be a valuable asset in giving you guidance, instruction, training, and encouragement along the way. Be sure to have them pray with you, as well.

It may seem intimidating at first to start something out of nothing. We assure you, however, that we will provide all the help and assistance necessary to ensure you have everything you need to get your club approved by your school and to launch it.

Planning is 90% of the work. Presenting your plan to the school administration is 10% of the work. If your planning is done well, you have no reason to be intimidated about starting your club. Rather, you will be able to confidently present your plan for a successful launch!

Here’s what you need!

1. Student Interest List – Compile a list of friends that are interested in your club. The school will like to see at least 5-15  names/signatures of other students who want to see this club in your school.

2. Letter to School – To start, send a letter to your school principal or vice-principal stating your desire to start a club. Attach the following documents to your letter: Proposal and Charter/Constitution (below) Click Here

3. Proposal – Your school administration will want to see a proposal and a few documents to show them what your club is about, who is interested, what you will be doing in your meetings, etc. Start here with your proposal. Click Here

4. Charter/Constitution – Most school clubs have a charter or constitution that outlines how the club will operate. You can use this one, OR you can create your own based off this format, but personalize it to your group. Be sure to include your mission and core values! Click Here

5. Meeting with Principal – This may seem intimidating, but don’t be afraid! Your school administration loves to see students take leadership initiatives. They may at first be a little leery about approving a faith-based club if they are unaware of your rights as a student to do so. Present your proposal and charter, and explain your purpose for starting the club.

6. Pitfall – Some school administrators are not aware of your rights as a student and may be nervous about letting a student start a religious club. If this becomes a problem, you should politely explain the Equal Access Act and the Student Bill of Rights

7. Be Familiar with Your Student Rights.

1. Register my P7 Club – Once your club is approved, be sure to get it on the map by registering your club here. We will provide any support you need along the way.

2. Prepare for Your First Meeting – There are many ways to lead a Bible Club meeting. Here are some tips to get you started!

3. Get the word out – Tell everyone you know about your first meeting. Use the PA system, the school newspaper, bulletin boards, etc. If other student-led clubs use these resources, the Equal Access Act guarantees that you can use them as well. Word of mouth is always
   the best outreach tool.

4. Practice – It’s time to launch! Put to practice all the things you learned and launch your first meeting. Make your first meeting a major hit!

Now that you’ve unlocked your faith in your school, it is time to produce a harvest and start turning your world upside-down!

As a student, you have the right to express your religious faith at school. The Equal Access Act and the Free Exercise Clause both protect the right for you to start a student-led Bible club on your campus.

There are many ways in which you can lead your Bible club. Depending on your passion and vision, you may decide to have a prayer-based club, a Bible-study-driven club, a fellowship-focused club, or a community-oriented club. Many have a club that focuses on all of these things. There is no wrong way. Pray about the focus of your club meeting. Below are some ideas and suggestions to get you started. As you discover more ideas, be sure to e-mail us and share them with us so that we can consider adding them to the list!

1. LESSONS

There are lessons available for use every semester you have P7 meetings. Lessons will be added regularly for your benefit. You may also create your own lessons.

The lessons available for download are arranged in 7 sections:

1. Preview – This is a short description of the lesson for the meeting.

2. Praise – This will be an opportunity for everyone to praise God during the lesson.

3. Parable – A narrative will be used to lay a foundation for the lesson.

4. Present – The heart of the matter is revealed in this portion of the lesson.

5. Practice – Practical application of the principles in the lesson will be unveiled in this portion of the lesson.

6. Pray – This will be everyone’s opportunity to chat with God about all they’ve learned in the lesson.

7. Plus – At this final point in the lesson, students will receive instructions for additional study and practice of the material in the lesson outside of the P7 meetings.

   • Download the lessons here and begin studying them for your  meetings.

   • Also consider downloading the Ice Breaker Volumes here to use during  your P7 meetings.

2. PROJECT 22:39

Project 22:39 is a movement designed to engage Apostolic students in acts of service and evangelism in their community. The core value of Project22:39 is based on Matthew 22:39 which says, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” We encourage each P7 Club to consider joining or starting causes in their schools and communities that align with our mission and core values.

Consider some of the following causes you can start or join:

1. Habitat for Humanity

2. Adopt a Neighborhood

3. Reading programs at the library, community centers, and/or schools

4. School supplies drive

5. Help for the Homeless Drive

6. Feed My Starving Children

7. Host a community blood drive

3. PRAYER IDEAS

Whether you only occasionally designate your P7 meeting time for prayer or your P7 club is primarily a prayer group, you will find these prayer suggestions helpful:

1. Pray for Your School Peers – for their salvation, safety, growth in Christ; that all students would hear the gospel; that they will connect with a local church; for their peace; that they will reflect Christ to the world they live in

2. Pray for Your School Administrators – for their salvation and safety; that they will connect with a local church; for their peace; for them to be Christ-like in their leadership

3. Pray for Your Community – its families, children, youth, safety, economy; that it would turn to Christ; for peace in homes

4. Pray for Your Local Churches – that students will be accepted in the local church; that adults will lay a great example for youth to follow; for their youth ministries and young adult ministries

5. Pray as You Walk Through the School – this can be a quiet prayer as you move through the school halls to class and to various activities throughout the day

6. Pray in Classrooms – pray silently as you sit in class surrounded by peers

7. See You at the Pole – pray for your school during “See You at the Pole” every September

4. CREATIVE OUTREACH IDEAS

As you read the Gospels and the Book of Acts, you will notice how creative Jesus was when reaching for people. He interacted with each person uniquely and individually. You too can significantly impact your school in creative ways.

Consider the following creative ways to reach out:

1. Casual Conversations – Everyday casual conversations are a potential opportunity to share Christ with your classmates. It’s possible to fit Christ into a conversation about work, sports, academics, relationships, food, and even social media. It will usually be in the context of a casual conversation that you will have a chance to share Christ. Stay alert, and reach out through casual conversations.

2. Speeches – There are many opportunities for you to offer a God-oriented perspective in the classroom. Speech class is the most obvious opportunity. When calling for impromptu speeches, the teacher may allow you to choose the subject. This is a great moment to talk about the most important thing to you: your relationship with Christ. Classroom discussion also frequently gives you a chance to offer input with a Christian perspective.

3. Papers – Many papers can be written from a Christian perspective throughout a school year. Students can often choose any topic, or at least, tie in Christianity. Although the Bible is not considered a textbook, it does touch on every subject known to man. Even a class devoted to poetry can allow studies of poetry in the Scriptures. When an assignment is given to write a poem, subjects like Heaven, Jesus, and Christian friends work well.

4. Unreached People Groups on Campus – People groups come in all kinds of shapes and sizes on your campus, and every campus has them. These groups are not necessarily cliques, but they are sociologically classified as a culture within the youth culture on campus. Some of these people groups are jocks, cheerleaders, nerds, geeks, skaters, head-bangers, surfers, ropers, hackers, preppies, and neo-hippies. These groups represent students struggling for identity and survival on campus by seeking acceptance by a well-defined group. These students must feel the presence and acceptance of Christian students on campus. Student Meetings – One of the most effective witnesses is moments when nonbelievers see believers meeting together, relating to one another and to God. When possible, have meetings on campus to create this opportunity. Invite your friends, whether believers or non-believers.

5. Extracurricular Activities – There are a number of outstanding possibilities for each student who is involved in extracurricular activities. Through most of these activities, there is a real possibility to use your leadership in a way that will really help the cause of Christ. Many campus ministry members are involved in the school newspaper, the yearbook, student government, National Honor Society, chess club, photography club, etc. All are opportunities to reach out!

6. Jesus Week – Some schools have had a week-long “blitz” on the campus. Jesus Week may feature several activities including a school assembly, literature distribution, posters, a unique series of P7 meetings in one week, special guest speakers, etc.

7. Teacher Appreciation Week – Unfortunately, teachers are seldom in the limelight unless they have failed or are retiring. Student groups can help overcome this deficit by intentionally appreciating teachers. Showing the love of Christ to the teachers is a very effective way to reach out!

5. TEACHING TIPS

As you familiarize yourself with the lessons and prepare to teach, consider the following tips:

1. Spend time in prayer before you teach.

2. Stay cool under fire. Criticism can be turned to an advantage. Remaining cool allows you to make rational decisions and statements.

3. Mean what you say and say what you mean!

4. Manage your time, or it will manage you!

5. Know your material.

6. Make respect a central part of your P7 meeting culture. You have to give respect to get respect.

7. Be flexible, because the unexpected occasionally occurs.