To help kids admit their need of heroes (heroines) and be more discriminating in their choices.

OVERVIEW

LEADER PREPARATION

• Think through the meaning and significance of role models, stars, and heroes/heroines. Who are some of the heroes of your young people? What kind of heroines and heroes do you want youth to have? To avoid? In what ways can young people see Jesus as a hero?
• Obtain images from magazine covers, television, and movies of heroes and heroines. Edit them together in a 5-8 minute slide or video presentation.
• If possible, obtain a popular song discussing heroes. Put the words on transparency (or something else) for kids to read.
• Brainstorm some heroic possibilities of certain people in the group—from their childhood or into the future. Have a panel or the group guess who is being described in positive, humorous caricatures of what they might someday do in heroic proportions.
• Think of ways to discuss the differences between role models, stars and heroes.

GROUP BUILDING

• Sing songs with a heroic theme. You might slip in a quick skit.
• Play "Guessing the Future Hero."
• Discuss role models, stars and heroes/heroines. Have each person decide whom they would like to have as a role model, star, or hero.

GROUP PRESENTATION

• Present your edited version of heroes and heroines in the popular media.
• If you are able to find it, show the words to the song discussing heroes.

GROUP DISCUSSION

Ask any of the following questions to the group:

• Why do we need heroes?
• What are the characteristics of a hero/heroine?
• What do heroes have in common?
• Does the media encourage us to have heroes? If so, is this a good or a bad influence? Explain.
• How are women, minorities, and those who do not "fit the image" of heroism affected?
• Who are some of the great heroes of history? Of our times?
• Again, why do we need heroes? What kind do you want? What kind do you want to avoid?

WRAP-UP

A good way to close the discussion is with the youth leader sharing his or her perspective. Here are some ideas for closing:

• Discuss a hero who meant a lot to you or to someone else.
• Present a story in which you were touched by something heroic in your own life.

Dean Borgman cCYS