I don’t know how many of you have ever used this similation game but it should not be done without a lot of pre- prayer. You need to cover this entire activity the teens and the couselors as well. I like to use this event when we are dealing with spiritual warfare and the need for teens to decide about Christ in thier lives. you will need some material and prep time.
material Needed (blind folds for everone, You can use cotton ball and tape but cutting up a sheet is easier.)
Site needs: large area like a feild and two areas one for heaven and one for hell.
Prep info: meet with all of your staff and assign them parts in the activity. You will need
Angels
Demons
Screeming deamon
Jesus figure
door keeper in both heaven and hell
Prayer Walkers
have them meet with thier groups to discuss and pray about thier rolls. It is vital that you have a prayer ministry running through out this event. This can become a very spiritually emotional event for some teens. I would not recommend that you do it with Jr. Highers they just don’t seem to be ready for this type of spiritual warfare event.
When you meet with the teens you give them just the intro. information they will be blindfolded and placed in a feild and they are to determine where they are to choose by the voice that comes to them. it might be an angel or a demon and they have to choose who they will follow. Tell them of the two places heaven or hell but do not tell them where they are located. Answer questions briefly and don’t give them to much information. Tell the teens that there is a time limit and get them prepared with thier blind folds have the staff lead them to the starting area. I would give about 45min. to an hour for this activity. but you can judge that by how it goes.
Angels: must lead and guide but not give the answers that a student needs to get into heaven
Demon: can lie and decieve but they can not claim the name of Jesus as thier Lord they can acknowledge Him but not claim James 2:14
Jesus Figure: Needs to take on the role of Jesus in leading by his words. This person needs to be someone who is well versed in the Word
Screaming Demons: just that scream twirl student but don’t hurt the teens just cause havoc
Gate keep Heaven: why should I let you into God’s kingdom. We like to have teen make a confession at this point. Matt 16:16 Because Jesus is the Christ and my Lord and Savior. have them be flexible but not soft. heaven is the narrow road.
Gate keeper of hell: ask the same questions but the answer does not matter.
Prayer Walkers- pray for the activity while they walk and come along upset kids and give them assurace and encouragement.
Once you have students in heaven or hell have them sit quietly in hell or rejoice in heaven. a twist is to not tell them until the game is over.
As this activities draws to a close make sure you as the leader encourge teens to choose. To not choose is a choice for hell. When the time is up all those not in heaven are taken to hell. then reveal where they are and give a few good leaders a chance to debrief them there. Then come the true teaching point during the debrief time. You need to allow the teens to talk about how they felt and then move them to the reality of the activity. Remind then that this is training ground and you want to assure them that they are not going to hell but are being taught. Let the staff share a few thought but allow them to talk with their groups at a later time like in the cabin or small groups which ever you do. Be very aware that you will have some teens upset with where they ended up. Others upset with you for making them choose and some just mad because they don’t see the value of this activity. If you decide to do this be willing to take the heat. But remind them that you are training them to go back to the real world to do battle. We all know that it is a spiritual battle that we fight. This activity just makes it a little clearer.
Hope you enjoy this
