The Lord has given Marietta Alliance Church a vision to reach the teens that reside in their community for the Lord Jesus Christ. Through much prayer, planning, and preparation this vision is now a reality called the Mudroom. The Mudroom is a 3,600 square foot, off-campus, teen center within walking distance of the local high school. The facility is complete with a pool table, ping pong table, two foosball tables, two flat screen TV’s, a gaming center, four serving counters, comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi, and a house computer. The students are able to enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, hot chocolate, popcorn, cookies, brownies, and other snacks made and provided by individuals from Marietta Alliance. The only items the teens are required to pay for are sodas (which cost 25 cents).

The Mudroom was completely renovated, is fully supported, and entirely staffed by volunteers from Marietta Alliance. As one church member said, “It has been magnificent to see how the Lord used each of our talents, abilities, gifts, and skills to erect and launch the Mudroom . . . it is really the New Testament church in action.” The Mudroom has been opened for approximately six months, but the Lord has already done incredible things through this outreach ministry. The Mudroom ministers (lay volunteers from the church) have been able to care for numerous students in a variety of relational and emotional situations. But even greater is the salvation of two teens in the short time the Mudroom has been in existence.

Several outreach activities are planned throughout the year to draw in new students and reach them with the Gospel of Christ. For example, the Mudroom has hosted an end of the year party (complete with free pizza and soda), a pool tournament, a foosball tournament, and a ping-pong tournament. Upon the conclusion of these events the students are invited to stay for a special youth meeting and service. As the beginning of the new school year approaches, the Mudroom directors have plans for a talent show and fall party. Additionally, the directors are working with the high school’s FCA and athletic programs to build a relational bridge from the church to the high school.

The Mudroom is open Monday through Friday, 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm year round. However, in order for the teen center to run efficiently and effectively, it requires thirty-five workers, twenty-five cookie and snack bakers, one maintenance man, and one custodian. But, most importantly, it requires a prayer team of thirty people who pray for each worker by name, each teen by heart, and each day by hour.

Marietta Alliance Church’s prayer is that our Lord and Savior receives all the honor and glory for what He is doing through the hearts and lives of His people, at His Mudroom, with His message of salvation for a lost and dying generation!