Youth Room, Youth Building, Youth Suite, Youth Lounge, Youth Space….Whatever you call it, it seems that most churches have a place that is specifically geared towards teenagers.
I am always looking at ideas of how to make the youth space at my church more engaging for them, and to help it feel like a safe place for them to explore their spirituality. I took some time the last couple months to gather ideas and pictures to show off what others have done in their spaces. I hope these ideas help you as much as they have helped me.
Chris Cherry at St. Andrews Baptist in Columbia, SC:
This first picture is of a prominent focal wall in our youth room. It has a t-shirt from each of our recent trips. We’ll add to them as we go. They’re hanging on fishing net (cheap at places like Michaels) using clothes pins. I’ve found that it’s a great way to add lots of color and serves as a conversation point when people ask about the different trips we’ve taken (especially true of youth visitors).
Here’s another. We’ve divided our space into two main sections–one for eating and one for our bible studies and conversation. The couches and chairs are frequently moved around to fit our needs for the given week, but generally are arranged into a half circle for easy discussions. Behind me and not pictured is our stage area and drum set. When we have our youth worships, I arrange the couches to face that way, which gives us a worship area as well.
Carol Harston at Highland Hills in Louisville:
I have LOVED having “presentation boards” that are large magnetic white boards that invite creativity and open discussion with.
Sara Clarke Turpin at Buechel Park Baptist in Louisville, KY:
The BPBC youth suite is essentially the youth living room. While it’s certainly not the only place in the building where we gather, it is where we come to reconnect, to relax, and to be ourselves. Tim Schindler at Georgetown Baptist in Georgetown, KY: A timeline around the top of the walls in the youth room, beginning from creation, through the OT and into the NT and onward. It’s a helpful visual as I am teaching, I can easily place a story within the broader context of the Bible and the history of God. It sometimes serves as an outline for teaching a survey series through the Bible story. I can add visuals and big theme notes for understanding the big story of God. If your space has a drop-tile ceiling, it can be a great way to display t-shirts from past youth activities, years, and events. Try to order an extra shirt for every activity (a size XL works pretty good for square tiles), remove a tile and pull the shirt over it and put back in place (you may need to pin back to sleeves to make it taut.
Tim Schindler at Georgetown Baptist in Georgetown, KY:
A timeline around the top of the walls in the youth room, beginning from creation, through the OT and into the NT and onward. It’s a helpful visual as I am teaching, I can easily place a story within the broader context of the Bible and the history of God. It sometimes serves as an outline for teaching a survey series through the Bible story. I can add visuals and big theme notes for understanding the big story of God.
If your space has a drop-tile ceiling, it can be a great way to display t-shirts from past youth activities, years, and events. Try to order an extra shirt for every activity (a size XL works pretty good for square tiles), remove a tile and pull the shirt over it and put back in place (you may need to pin back to sleeves to make it taut.
Andrew Noe at Rosemont Baptist in Lexington, KY:
I wanted to make sure my youth knew what was going on so right by the door to exit our youth room there is a black board (sticky paper) with announcements for current events. I tell them to snap a picture of it with their phone on the way out the door. I occasionally let the youth with good hand writing update it.
I have a lot of youth who don’t like playing in our gym during open gym time. I tried to create a “Creative space” for them. The shelves have all sorts of art supplies, including stuff to make bracelets, and to draw on the black and white board (sticky sheets off amazon.com around $20 each). Usually they gather around these tables on Wednesday and talk while their hands are busy with something other than their phones.
Just like others, I wanted to do something with shirts. I have two ugly giant pillars in the youth basement, so I have wrapped them in shirts.
As the youth enter the room they pass this little table. It has a place for them to lay their phone and pick up a Bible if they forgot one (and yes that sign is super corny). It also has a place for them to contribute money to whatever our current mission fund is. Currently Watering Malawi.
So these are just some of the many ideas youth ministers are using to create a space for the youth to feel safe, to feel engaged, and to feel at home. Help us continue to update this list by sending your picture/idea to youth.ministry.conversations@gmail.com
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