Redeeming Public Spaces for Worship

Redeeming Public Spaces for Worship
Darryl Dash/Teresa Neumann Reporting  (Dec 2, 2005)

"We value the arts because God is a God of beauty. If we have a direct line to
the Creator, we should be the most creative. We should be the movers and
shakers in culture."

The church community of the Salvation Army, in always keeping current with
ways to reach The Lost, has opened a new building in Hamilton, Ontario called
FRWY Café Pronounced "freeway," the non-profit cafe is a 7,000-sq. foot
converted bank building which serves coffee and contributes to the
revitalization vision of the city's downtown area.

"When we planted a church, the original idea was to start by building a
community and then develop a café," explains Pernell Goodyear, pastor and ethos-
shaper. "We wanted to create a place that is neutral ground, public space. We
asked what it would take to create a place that is normal, that would reach
people in our culture."

According to reporter Darryl Dash, rather than attracting people to church, it
aims to live out its values and incarnate Jesus in the community and provide a
place for people to develop friendships, discuss issues and interact with
others.

Though not hiding the fact that it is actually a church community, Goodyear
says many people are nevertheless surprised when they discover the café is also
a church. "A lot of people are floored when they find out," says Goodyear. "If
they have been here already, they are generally pleasantly surprised."

As part of its commitment to fostering the arts, and because the café is
located in an artistic neighborhood, says Dash, the café features a live DJ on
Thursday nights and live music Friday nights. "We value the arts because God is
a God of beauty. If we have a direct line to the Creator, we should be the most
creative. We should be the movers and shakers in culture," explains Goodyear.

"We live in an area full of artists," says Goodyear. "In a postmodern, visually-
driven culture, it is important for us to value the arts."

On Sunday nights, the church community meets at the café. The idea, notes Dash,
is to use public space for worship, rather than separating worship space from
public space.

One story Goodyear shared, reflects the influence Christians can have in the
marketplace. When the fire inspector came to check out the building before the
café opened and discovered the purpose of the café, he opened up to Goodyear
about his life and his search for God, whom he said he could never find in
church. At the end of the meeting, Goodyear and the inspector were reportedly
in tears.

Before he left, the man told Goodyear the regular inspector was sick and he
doesn't usually do these inspections, but that "he was meant to come here
today."

"We are not a Christian café, so much as a high quality, non-religious café,"
says Goodyear. "We are simply a group of people trying to help out the city,
and to incarnate the message of Jesus in the neighborhood."


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http://www.christianweek.org/stories/vol19/no18/story3.html