The phrase “sacred space” is popular these days. Do a quick Google search and you’ll find everything from yoga centers to a Jesuit prayer site bearing the words. People consider the spaces they inhabit to be sacred, whether they are living spaces or worship spaces.
Youth ministry meeting areas can be especially sacred. They are the places students associate with encounters with God and close friends. Many of us have had opportunities to either rehab an old space or even design new ones. The decisions we make to craft these environments are important ones.
Change Management
Some of you may need to evaluate whether your room needs changing. (Note: if you have a poster on the wall of some Christian band that hasn’t made an album since 1998, it’s probably time for a change.) Others of you might be getting a brand-new room courtesy of a big capital campaign. Whether you have $500 to spend or $5 million, there are a handful of issues you need to think through.
Teenagers typically hate change. Of any kind. All change is always bad. Thus, it is essential that some key student leaders play a big part in every step of the process. Involve them as early as possible so that they don’t see anyone “taking their youth room” away from them. Ask questions that make them think. How can we make this room more inviting to a new person? How is the room accommodating to guys? To girls? What distractions can we eliminate? Does the layout help people to learn? Couches are great for comfort, but they also promote relaxing, not learning. What makes the most sense: chairs, benches, bean bags?
Even obvious improvements can blow up if students aren’t included early. I made this mistake when our children’s ministry started sharing space with our high school group.
The little kids’ leaders understandably wanted to make some upgrades: new carpet, a new paint job, and new couches to replace our old, smelly couch graveyard. I thought it would be welcome news. Instead, it was like I had told my students someone was taking away their most prized possession.
Lighting, Action
In addition to getting students onboard, there are likely a handful of adult leaders in the church that you need to get in your corner. These are people who can defend your plans to others who might ask questions.
For instance, if your desire is to include a “gaming” station where students can come to relax and play with their friends, some in the church might question spending money on this. But an adult in a position of authority and leadership who knows your heart and your strategy can explain your perspective in a way that you might not be able to.
Lighting plays a huge issue in creating both a welcoming environment to a new person and a worship environment where people feel safe enough to connect with God. Try to avoid harsh fluorescent lights at all costs. Stringing up Christmas lights or shining some stage lights onto the ceiling or wall will create a nice effect and keep the mood more low-key.
Whether yours is a youth group that uses live worship or just plays music at the beginning and end, having a good sound system is a must. With the advent of so many affordable “out of the box” sound systems, everyone is used to good sound, with clear “high ends” and powerful “low ends.” Ask around. Search on the Internet. Maybe even find a professional audio dealer who would be willing to come to your church to make recommendations.
Once the change has been implemented, you should celebrate the change in some way, such as planning a “housewarming” party or a special event to “christen” the room.
The decisions we make in creating our youth rooms may seem trivial, but they’re not. May our students embrace the spaces we help create and find the sacred there.
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A native Texan, Syler Thomas is the student ministries pastor at Christ Church Lake Forest in the northern suburbs of Chicago. He blogs at www.syberspace.typepad.com.
