Make the Most of Your Rented Space

Five solutions for mobile churches.

Churches are popping up in schools, community centers, and warehouses. They’re meeting in movie theaters, coffee shops, and even comedy clubs. While many churches plant roots in permanent facilities, more and more are staying mobile by borrowing or renting space.

Derek DeGroot, an architect at Aspen Group, said, “These days, we’re seeing less money invested in design and build. Permanent facilities are, well … permanently costly. Times are changing, and the kinds of facilities churches use are changing, too.”

“We don’t have to worry about the responsibilities and costs of maintaining a building,” said Rachel Wassink, staff apprentice at City of Light Anglican Church, which meets in an elementary school gymnasium in Aurora, Illinois.

According to Currey Blandford, pastor of Life Church, which meets in a park district community center, church leaders with permanent buildings often say they’re jealous of his church, especially when they go through fundraising campaigns. Without the burden of building upkeep, churches like Blandford’s are able to focus on other aspects of ministry.

But the advantage of rented space extends far beyond the financial benefits. Immanuel Anglican Church in Chicago is proud to meet at Uplift High School, where their rent money supports the school’s students, 95 percent of whom live in low-income housing.

Stephanie O’Brien, pastor of Mill City Church, said, “Our mission field is our neighborhood.” For her congregation, this means meeting at a middle school in the heart of Minneapolis. “A school is still a sacred space. God is in that space, too,” she said. “A lot of churches are only in their temporary space until they can find a permanent one. We are where we are because we feel it’s where God is calling us.”

“A school is still a sacred space. God is in that space, too.”

Of course, churches using borrowed or rented space have challenges to overcome. Seating and equipment must be mobile—able to assemble and disassemble quickly. D. J. Jenkins, lead pastor of Anthology Church of Studio City, California, said, “Setup and teardown every Sunday is an enormous and tiring endeavor.” And there are aesthetic issues to consider. Basketball hoops don’t exactly scream worship service. Here’s how these churches make the most of their adapted spaces. Read More

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Image: Christianity Today