Churches Waste Money Building “Third Places”
We were so enthused about this “Third Place” in a bustling church. We had planned it all well; an awesome coffee bar, latte machine that rivaled those at Starbucks, a fire place with soft leather seating, trendy lighting, warm colors, and engaging seating nooks creating an ambiance Starbucks would die for. We were one of the first to pioneer this “Third Place” concept for churches 6 years ago. And we expected this place to be our flagship, buzzing every day with activity and nurturing an authentic covenant community throughout the church.
But two years later you’ll find the place is quiet most days, the lights dark, and the latte machine cold without a wisp of steam anywhere. In Proverbs, Solomon suggested that without a vision people perish, and so will your “coffee ministry”, as some call them. If it’s just another consumer-oriented hangout, forget it. You’ll lose; Starbucks does it better.
C.S. Lewis wrote that the greatest evil is a good thing slightly twisted. Paying attention to the needs of the congregation is a good thing. But an over emphasis on ourselves above the deeper needs of the community leads to a personal rights mentality and imitations of selfless service, like “Third Place” hangouts, that for a time appear to be real ministry.
But something remarkable happens when we bring together:
- Passionate people with a missional mindset
- A selfless purpose or “epic story” (for “Epic Story” explore this post)
- and A nurturing place; a vibrant “Third Place”
A congregation that has a heart for each other and for the missional ministry is where it must begin. A shared selfless purpose, or “Epic Story”, then becomes a vital motivator and is a prerequisite for a Covenant Community. And a Covenant Community is a prerequisite to a vibrant “Third Place”. You just can’t pull it off without it.
But, when you get all three aligned well, a “Third Place” will powerfully reinforce and enhance the ability to connect in this covenant community and together act on that “Epic Story”. And then, a well-designed “Third Place” becomes a remarkable investment indeed.
So building a jazzed up “Third Place” without the right people or a powerful “Epic Story” won’t get you to a covenant community. It won’t get you rapid church growth either, it’s a waste of money. Send them to Starbucks.
Wow, Ed…great thoughts there. I’m catching what you are trying to say. There are a lot of questions there:
1. Can a church develop that epic story or do they need to have that heart to begin with.
2. How does a church communicate that missional vision? Who needs to have it (ie: church, people in the church, volunteers)?
3. Can a church third place be located solely inside a church (ie no outside direct entrance) and still be a vibrant part of a community?
4. What would you do if you saw a church heading down the coffee ministry path for the wrong reasons? Can you help cast that vision to leadership? And don’t the words coffee ministry just kind of sound like a bunch of ladies in the church basement?
Just a few thoughts from a really sleep-starved brain.
Ed –
where do I send the invoice for the counseling I had to go get after too many the overuse of the word ‘sbux’ in that short post. Come on friend – help a brutha out!!!!!!!!!!!!
In an effort to add something intelligent to this comment – we must remember that in most cases churches and other non-sbux locations will not be able compete with the volume of the ‘mermaid’ stores, it is possible to compete and beat them when it comes to creating the Third Place Experience……which I haven’t felt in a sbux in 5 years.
Church bartender -
You haven’t felt the Sbux as a Third Pace in 5 years. I think I’d agree with that statement, for the most part. Sometimes I think the shop has to be countercultural for it to feel like a real Third place, and Starbucks by definition can no longer feel counter cultural. Can it?
Hey there Bartender,
I agree on the churches opportunity to create a real “Third Place” experience. Church, with a Missional Mindset, can create a space where they not only “know your name” but care about your life as well. Now that is far more compelling!
Ed
As we shared briefly and now rereading the posts I’m so fired up………..we need to get the message of Entreprenual Ministry into ministry and pastoral educational programs at colleges and universities.
Third Places are ministries and should have ministers in them (and by that I mean people, not just someone with a title). We started cafes in churches as student pastors and provide leadership and life skills, ministry, mentoring, and so much more. In fact, I just recieved an email this week from a student who reminded me of that lessons learned, not during some message I spoke, but in the delivery of drinks and customer service as we worked in the cafe together.
I agree with that, too. Using your time intentionally and effectively in a Third Place is a skill rarely talked about. Creating the community of Third place is talked about even less in Christian circles. I’m wondering what information is out there in the business sector that could help with that. Hmmm.
Do you guys have a top three or four church-sponsored Third Places that would be a “must see” if in the area? (Any area…I’m wandering around the country quite a bit these days).
Oh….and can I use that gorgeous picture up above on a post sometime?????
Hey dad, I was going to post this before and had some trouble. I had a thought on the third place idea. Luke sends me out for coffee every now and then to just chill out and have some “me” time. If given the opportunity to go to a coffee bar at my local church…I don’t know if I would go. I can’t even identify all the reasons why myself. I do know that I kind of want to go where people don’t know me…where they don’t expect anything of me. They don’t need me to be witty, inviting back if they strike up a conversation, to be social, nothing. I just get to sit and enjoy my quiet time with no kiddos. One time a guy that needed to chat started talking to me at Starbucks and wouldn’t stop for about a half hour. I didn’t mind listening, he was a really interesting guy and super nice…but when all was said and done, I felt like my free time had just been wasted to an extent. Now, those are my needs…maybe not those of the greater population of coffee bar users. Also, I will tell you, buckstars (as Luke and I call it =o) has good brew (better than local coffee bars or Panera in my opinion)…and every few blocks at that. Anyway, I know you’re one who’s always up for a few thoughts from someone, so I thought I would share them. =o) Love you.
Great thought Ann. We all have those times it seems. So you’re right anonymity does have value too.
But don’t forget, not everyone is from a family of six, has three kids, 40 first cousins, and are from a connected church as you are. Many experience a much lonelier walk.
Half the kids are from a single parent home.
But, Ed, Ann is right to a large extent. I’ve actually started keeping “anonymous” Starbucks in my back pocket! On the days when I need what she was describing – companionable solitude – I go to the anonymous places where I’ve made no attempt to meet anyone or learn their names. The rest of the time (which is most of the time) I’m happy to be in one of my usual haunts where a few people know me and I have a few conversations that might matter. Would the church coffee shop do for all of those times? No, not on solitude-seeking missions or outreach-seeking missions. Unless, of course, the community figured out a way to safely wander in and out of our Third Place coffee shop.
Your both making me think here.
I’m at Panera today and really don’t want anyone to connect with me. But wait, this is a work space for me today….a “First Place” of sorts”…… not a “Third Place”.
People go to Third Places just for that connection opportunity. You didn’t go to Cheers to find solitude. You wet to find belonging.
Sooo…..when we talk about “Third Place” specifically as Oldenberg discussed it, it was about seeking connection.
That’s different than what we’re seeking when we want an escape from it all. Those places are valuable too of course. For those you go where they don’t know your name I guess.