Thanks to sociologists, the phrase third place is part of most people's lexicon. It refers to that place away from work and home where people can hang out. Think of third places as postmodern versions of ancient wells. In a sense, coffeehouses are wells. They are the natural gathering places in our culture.
I just read an interview with Howard Schultz, Starbuck's chief global strategist. He said, "The physical environment has become as important as anything we do, including the coffee."
Think about the profundity of that statement. Starbucks isn't in the coffee business. They are in the third place business.
Schultz said, "The environment and the experience is the brand. It's a very important distinction that people use our stores all over the world as an extension of their daily lives, and sometimes the coffee is subordinate to that."
One of the ten buzz commandments is Thou Shalt Hang Out At Wells. We need to find creative ways to turn our churches into third places. I know there is a fine line here. But I'm hearing about more churches building community centers and restaurants and coffeehouses and gyms that serve a dual-purpose. They serve the community and the church.
For what it's worth, we haven't started renting out Ebenezers but we have about forty requests sitting on the table! We have created a place where the community can congregate.
Here is the challenge we face as churches: how do we become part of the daily routine of people's lives?
One reason why we built a coffeehouse is because we didn't want it to be a place where a few hundred people gathered once a week. We wanted it to be a place where hundreds of people gathered every day of the week!
And the cool thing is that every penny of profit goes to our community outreach and missionary endeavors.
I think part of being shrewd as snakes is learning from business models. We can't let Starbucks beat us at the Third Place game! We need to find creatives ways of turning our churches into wells.
Coffee for thought.
I just read an interview with Howard Schultz, Starbuck's chief global strategist. He said, "The physical environment has become as important as anything we do, including the coffee."
Think about the profundity of that statement. Starbucks isn't in the coffee business. They are in the third place business.
Schultz said, "The environment and the experience is the brand. It's a very important distinction that people use our stores all over the world as an extension of their daily lives, and sometimes the coffee is subordinate to that."
One of the ten buzz commandments is Thou Shalt Hang Out At Wells. We need to find creative ways to turn our churches into third places. I know there is a fine line here. But I'm hearing about more churches building community centers and restaurants and coffeehouses and gyms that serve a dual-purpose. They serve the community and the church.
For what it's worth, we haven't started renting out Ebenezers but we have about forty requests sitting on the table! We have created a place where the community can congregate.
Here is the challenge we face as churches: how do we become part of the daily routine of people's lives?
One reason why we built a coffeehouse is because we didn't want it to be a place where a few hundred people gathered once a week. We wanted it to be a place where hundreds of people gathered every day of the week!
And the cool thing is that every penny of profit goes to our community outreach and missionary endeavors.
I think part of being shrewd as snakes is learning from business models. We can't let Starbucks beat us at the Third Place game! We need to find creatives ways of turning our churches into wells.
Coffee for thought.
12 Comments:
"how do we become part of the daily routine of people's lives?"
this is one of the major questions of the church. in dan kimball's book emerging worship he gives a stat that people spend less than 5% of their week in church. if that's the case, and it most likely is, then the question becomes even more important.
whether it's by creating a third place environment for them or actually going to meet them, this during-the-week connection is imperative in making followers of christ.
i think it's both/and.
I always feel like I'm the resident antagonist when I post, but, if Patrick Lencioni's "Death By Meeting," is right, than conflict is what fuels and energizes sharpness of thought. So here's my two cents worth:
1. "how do we become part of the daily routine of people's lives?"
I think that is exactly the question we DON'T want to ask. In Schultz's book on the origins of Starbucks, "Pour Your Heart Into It," (Hyperion: New York, 1997) he writes that the success of Starbucks is not in trying to get into their daily routine, but rather getting them to step out of it. In his intro he writes, "One thing I've noticed about romantics: They try to create a new and better world from the drabness of everyday life. That is Starbuck's aim, too. We try to create, in our stores, an oasis, a little neighborhood spot where you can take a break." I understand the heart of the question, but I think our imagination will flow better if we ask, "How do we help them get out of their routine" rather than "How do we get in."
2. "We need to find creative ways to turn our churches into third places"
I agree. But I think one of the reasons we suffer at changing our culture is found in the "wording" of your question. We have, generation after generation, perpetuated the Old Testament concept that the church is a location, a building, a sanctuary. We persistently talk about where we GO TO CHURCH rather than how WE ARE the church. What say we redeem the word back to it's original concept of referring ONLY to the Christ-followers and not where they meet? If we did that, we might feel more comfortable building coffee-houses, gyms, community centers, etc. and not feel like we have sold-out. Let each building be named by it's function rather than "church," and people might feel more comfortable stopping in. I think that is why Ebenezer's meets the success it does ... it doesn't say "National Community Church" on the front. I've always like Erwin McManus' invitation to seekers to come out to their "block party" as opposed to "come to church."
Would you want to consider adding a few details to the Ebenezer's website like if there's free wi-fi and what the hours are? Nothing too philosophical ;), but it could be a tipping point for someone looking for a place to meet or an off-site working location.
Thanks, Lori! We're getting ready to launch a brand new site for Ebenezers in the next few days. I'll be sure to include that information. Great suggestion. :)
Wow you have some really spot on ideas about how to reach the next generation.
I dont believe it is by chance that God has given you the coffee house. You said something about the business adventures of T.D. Jakes and Eddie Long a while back and that struck home. Why should the church have to depend on the business people to donate to the church to further spread the gospel? I believe the answer is it should not have to depend solely on the backs of the congregation when the church has the ability to do somethings as well.
You guys are doing that and it is great. One of my goals in life is to try to finance the goals of churches. I believe that the church is blessed with a wealth of resources. Music, Inspiring messages, and locations. Why should the church not exploit these things to further the spreading of the gospel?
In business if you do not use all of your resources to be succesful you are missing the mark. I believe that God has called the church to do the same thing and we are sadly missing the mark because we do not want to hurt people feelings. It is about Christ and making sure everybody in the world hears the life changing message! How does that kid in Africa feel that he never heard the gospel because the church did not have the money to reach him? That is something the church should take a long hard look at instead of saying we are being gready charging money for this.
I am no expert but if the resources of the church are exploited to go further with the vision of the church than possible with traditional models what is wrong with that?
I guess I pose this more as a challenge to think outside of the box to raise money to finance the kingdom. God has blessed you guys with a lot and with that blessing comes the responsibility to steward it. I think you guys are doing an awesome job but there is always a opportunity to go farther.
Have a great day and God Bless what NCC is doing!
The question I would ask is, If our churches become modern day wells, what will be our churches? Don't ignore the fact that behind the wells of Jesus' day were synagogues and the Temple. Both of which He clearly endorsed and participated in. I agree with lane in that it seems that "church" has become a misunderstood term. We can't afford to do that. I would hope some of these points can be addressed as I see some questionable elements in this post.
Lane,
Great thoughts. You can't technically go to church :)
Meeting in renting facilities like we do--movie theaters @ metro stops--have some challenges. But one thing I like is that people don't confuse a building for a church :)
Mark
It seems there is an entangling here. Methodology and Theology. The church is the church...OK, but let's be good stewards of our resources and pursue great methods of proclaiming the name of Jesus in our culture.
So, I'm in! Let's be good at breaking through. The truth is...would people rather be at Starbucks or at your church? Just a thought…Hopefully we all have been so concerned about our environment that people would rather be at church on Sunday than at Starbucks....Remember people who don't know Jesus are not the church.
Thinking out loud…
brandonbaca.blogspot.com
Doctrineman,
Look at the places Jesus preached. He was a "middle of the marketplace" preacher. He connected with people at their ancient third places!
The spirit behind the post is this: too many churches aren't intersecting with culture in any meaningful ways. We've created a Christian ghetto or Christian subculture. But are we really being salt? Are we really being light?
All I know is this. People are coming to our coffeehouse. They are discovering we have a Saturday Night Service. And they are coming to church as a result.
Many people would not walk in our doors if we were a "church building." But people feel comfortable coming to a coffeehouse. And the end goal is to lead them to Christ.
And the cool thing is that all profit is helping support our outreach evangelism and missions endeavors.
How can you argue with that?
I don't think every church should build a coffeehouse :)
In fact, if you can't meet the starbucks standard it might be counterproductive. If you do it you have to do it big and do it right.
My two cents,
Mark
Hey I just read your article in Outreach magazine. I thought it was great. All about the "Buzz". Thanks a bunch.. I'll be studying it a bunch.
Jason Hughlett
I have been thinking a lot about “3rd Place ministry.” I think it is something that the church should be re-visiting not catching up with the culture or taping into for the first time. Look at Acts chapter 2:42-47.
I am a pastor at a church in Miami. Miami is very, very relationship oriented. I have been trying to create environments that are conducive to relationships. I think this would allow the natural relationship between believers who have “all things in common” such as the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, to take place and grow.
I also believe that the postmodern person is one who does not believe that truth can be found but they are still looking for it. In a third place environment they can see the truth in the lives of the believers that are there. Of course the believers, especially the leaders, have to be very intentional about what they are doing. A leader should be looking for the natural “discipleship” opportunity.
My question is this. Does anyone have any good ideas about creating a third place environment in homes for home Bible studies? The home environment violates the third place idea in that it is not a neutral place.
Let me know
Matt in Miami
ditto to all that has been said here.
Hey Matt in Miami, My name is Joseph in Miami. I am a church planter and former pastor/missionary now getting my Ph.D. at FIU in history. I am building relationships with graduate students and hanging out with the homies down at Stick & Stein's in Homestead. Let's talk sometime...
joseph.holbrook@fiu.edu
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