Rethinking our Space for Mission

by Lance Finley, CGGC Executive Director

I have a love/hate relationship with some of the popular home remodeling shows that fill the daily TV schedule (we've come a long, long way from the days of This Old House being the only option). I love the creativity, especially when they restore, refurbish, and bring out the best in what the old home has to offer. At other times it comes through the ability to completely rethink the concept and décor of a home. I marvel at what others are able to do to bring new life to an already existing structure. On the other hand, I'm not too fond of the fact that my lovely wife and daughter are also fans of such shows because this often feeds their long list of potential remodeling aspirations in spite of the fact that I possess none of the skills, expertise, energy, or funds necessary to make such dreams a reality.

There’s something incredibly beautiful about seeing the process of something old repurposed and given new life. Many times, instead of gratitude for what we have, I think we get stuck in a mentality of poverty: we focus on what we don’t have. “If only we had a more dynamic children’s ministry, if only we had a rocking worship band, or if only we had better facilities, then we’d see things change in our church.” Rather than focus on what we lack, I think it’s typically a better approach to start with what we have. In John 6, when Jesus fed the crowd of over 5,000 people, I’ve always been struck by the fact that Jesus took what the disciples had (they were overwhelmed by their poverty as well… “it would take six month’s wages to feed this crowd and we don’t have that, Jesus”), but He took the fishes and loaves that they did have, and He made that more than sufficient for the need.

One of the things most of our congregations have is a building. Some buildings are newer, and some are over one hundred years old. Some are massive auditoriums, and some are simple structures consisting only of one or two rooms. Regardless of the variety, most of our congregations have a space that we utilize for worship gatherings and other church functions. We have a wonderful opportunity to reimagine how we might use that same facility to glorify God and advance His kingdom here on earth. Some congregations only use their building a few hours on Sunday morning, and the rest of the week it sits empty. Whether it’s a new church campus or an old brick building, that’s a shame. Likely, there are people in your community that might be blessed through your willingness to share what God has placed in your hands. Even if it’s not the space of our dreams, how could we share our space in a way that blesses our neighbors and fellow citizens?

Who Could Be Blessed by our Facility?

I think our present moment, as well as the future days ahead, will require us to rethink our space in generous and creative ways. While this may sound daunting, we have some examples of how to do this well. I know of several CGGC congregations that have opened their doors to various groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or other addiction recovery groups. Other congregations have opened their doors as local warming centers in the winter months or cooling centers in the hot summer months. I’ve also observed several congregations with ample yard or acreage open their space to the local community for various recreation options like youth soccer or baseball. In some areas, it may be possible to partner with the local community library to host a reading room or participate in reading literacy efforts. Perhaps there are afterschool programs in your community that need space. How can you partner with them to love the kids of your community?

Who in your community could you love and serve just by opening up your building and sharing the space that the Lord has given to you? What could the Lord do with the “loaves and fishes” of your building? Your building may not be as big or new as you’d like, but it’s the building you have. If your building isn’t being utilized for most of the week, how could you share your facilities in a way that blesses your community and helps the people of your community flourish? This is one of the simplest and most practical ways to rethink our space as congregations.

How Could we Repurpose our Space to Meet the Needs of our Community?

In addition to sharing your space with outside organizations, there may be other ways to repurpose your space to bless your community. Several CGGC congregations have repurposed a space to open up a community help effort like a food or clothing pantry. I know of one congregation that observed gaps in their area social services and decided to open a personal hygiene and toiletries pantry because that was the need they identified in their local community. I’m also aware of a couple of CGGC congregations that are working toward opening early childhood development centers because of the need for such facilities in their local communities. How might the Lord want you to utilize the basement or the education wing that only gets used a few hours a week? Are there ways in which you could leverage this space for mission that serves the local community?

It’s exciting to see how the Spirit of God is moving across the North American Church and inspiring congregations and Jesus followers to rethink their space to the glory of God! In countless communities across the U.S., some congregations are reimagining their space and reinvigorating their ministry efforts through fresh expressions like Dinner Church (https://dinnerchurch.com/). Seldom used fellowship halls are finding new life as congregations engage their neighbors and communities through a weekly meal, fellowship, and discipleship (https://freshexpressions.com/).

Some of you are probably familiar with Hugh Halter and his work in Alton, IL. Hugh and his family moved to Alton several years ago and began praying and seeking the Lord. They discovered that the Lord was ahead of them. God led a community member to give them the former federal Post Office building in the heart of the community. Today this space is known as the Post Commons and serves as the living room of the community with a coffee bar, brunch kitchen, and event center. The basement of the building houses the Lantern Network (https://commonthread.org/lantern-network) as well as shared office space committed to serving the citizens of Alton in business incubation and personal development. The Lantern Network is a growing missionary community expanding micro-communities throughout Alton. Similar types of movements are happening in places like Birmingham, AL with Common Thread (https:// commonthread.org/), in Tampa, FL with the Tampa Underground (https://www.tampaunderground. com/), or in Louisville, KY with Love City (https:// www.lovecityinc.org/).

Maybe your rural building could become the community center that your local town needs. Perhaps the seldom used classroom space could be repurposed as a free laundromat to meet the needs of the neighborhood around your building. Maybe your fellowship hall could also serve as a community youth center for the young people in your town. How could your congregation reimagine how you use your space to embrace God’s mission of loving the people of your community?

How do we Rethink All of our Space as the Body of Christ?

You might notice I’ve been careful to refer to our gathering places as the building or facility. I know it is common practice to refer to such buildings as the church, but we know that it’s people who make up the church. We may gather in buildings or bethels, but the people are the church. With that in mind, I believe it’s crucial to consider all the resources of the local church. If I am the church, then it stands to reason that everything that belongs to me also belongs to the church. How am I rethinking what the Lord has placed in my hand and the space He’s given me to steward?

I’m more and more convinced that the front doors of our church bethels now begin in our living rooms, kitchen tables, and backyards. How do we leverage our homes for God’s redemptive purposes? While I was raised in a church culture that stressed the importance of investing in others and inviting them into the activities of the local congregation, our culture today views such efforts more often than not as a bait and switch tactic. How are we inviting others into our homes and our lives, demonstrating hospitality, and sharing the love of Christ with those whom He has placed in proximity to us?

When was the last time you invited the neighbors over for burgers on the back deck or an afternoon of football, food, and fun? Who do you welcome into your home regularly in order to love and demonstrate the kindness of Christ? How are you sharing what the Lord has placed in your hands to advance His mission through simple hospitality and genuine friendship? Who is the Lord placing in your life that you need to invite into your home?

What if our churches became the places where we serve God by serving others, and what if our homes became the front doors of our communities of faith?