This article curated from eHow.com
When the church creates a designated area for youth ministry, youth leaders have an opportunity to design a space that welcomes those who enter and draws them into the reason the youth group exists–faith. A youth ministry meeting space needs to invite teens to come in, relax and stay a while. This means offering an atmosphere with furnishings and available activities that make teens feel they belong.
Inviting
A meeting space specifically for youth ministry needs to be welcoming and inviting. Color schemes may be bold, but shouldn’t overwhelm with a clash of themes, color, shapes and graphics. While folding chairs work when holding meetings, keep them folded up during more informal times and focus on comfortable, soft chairs and low stools. Include video games and the availability of snacks such as popcorn and soda. Instead of heavy pictures, hang faith banners created by members of the youth group, collages of the teens or paint murals on the walls.
Faith Based
Make the youth ministry space different from a public game room. While you may offer games, the purpose of the ministry is to meet teens’ needs, including sharing God’s love and hope with them. Instead of putting up posters of secular music groups, integrate a faith theme throughout the room. This is more than switching out Christian music group posters for secular ones. Use appropriate Bible verses about love, hope and faith as part of the wall decorations. Make sure that Bibles formatted specifically for teens are easily accessible as well as books both fiction and non-fiction geared toward teens to give away or to lend. For this, include a wall shelf unit and an area where teens can sit quietly and read.
