The people inhabiting the space are what make a house a home.
This is true of the places you and I lay our heads at night, but it’s equally true of the gathering spaces that we call “churches.” As churches invite Flourish to partner with them in reimagining how their spaces might be used to contribute to the greater flourishing of their communities, I’m always energized and captivated by the uniqueness of each church.
This is certainly true of the church buildings.
Some consist of century-old construction, displaying breathtaking architectural features and the sense that it holds a tremendous legacy within the community.
Others feature an original sanctuary plus one, two, three (or more!) additions over the years—giving an eclectic, almost disjointed feel while at the same time communicating a history of growth and adaptation.
Others yet have been built more recently and, while perhaps not built with the same masonry and artistic flourishes possessed by more historic buildings, nonetheless display a combination of the practical fused with the divine.
However, no matter the state of the building itself, what truly makes each church unique and each project special are the stories contained within the building’s history and the community of people who inhabit it today, housing its heartbeat.
Some are quite progressive, passionately engaged in advocating for those who have been most marginalized by both church and society.
Others possess an artistic bent, featuring works from local artists on their walls and a noticeable commitment to beauty in their liturgy and worship.
Others yet might be considered on the more conservative side of the spectrum, and their commitment to and love for their neighbors is undeniable.
In every instance, we do our best to unearth the ways that the two—space and congregation—intertwine, crafting a unique story of what God has been up to, and discerning how God might be inviting the church to participate in that story in new ways moving forward. The prayer, in every instance, is that the space might create a sense of belonging—of home—to all who enter.
So that all might flourish,
