When you are hosting your own summer camp, finding a guest speaker can be a daunting task. Do you take the recommendations of others? Book a major national speaker? Or do you just wing it and trying speaking at it yourself? Here are a few tips to help you find the best youth retreat guest speaker for your trip.
- Recommended Youth Speakers – if you are a part of a group of youth pastors (perhaps a support group) try asking around for references. There is no one better to tell you the scoop on the best camp speakers than those who are in the trenches like yourself. Online youth pastor forums are another great way to do this, but monitor the recommendations with caution. Don’t be afraid to run a background check or a few Google searches on your references.
- Check a national database of Christian group speakers. YouthPastor.com and TheSource4YM.com both list several youth speakers across the country along with their contact information.
- If your church is an affiliated denomination, there is more than likely a list floating around somewhere of recommended speakers. Ask your pastor for help.
- Don’t be afraid to speak at your own camp or retreat. Guest speakers add intrigue, but remember that you have something they don’t: trust. Each teenager at your camp respects you (at least on some level) and trusts your integrity. Just make sure you prepare well. Teens want to come back from a camp or retreat changed – not feeling like they just visited a series of Wednesday night services.
