third places

The Word became flesh and blood,

and moved into the neighborhood.

John 1:14 (The Message)

Jesus set the example. He came to be with us. He “pitched his tent” and lived among us, inviting us into his world. He ushered the kingdom into our global neighborhood.

place

People desire to know their place in this world. We want to have a place where we fit in. A place where we are known. A place where we can be the person God created us to be. A place in the work that God is doing in and around us.

Daleen and I are slowly, but surely finding our place here in Minnesota. When we landed in the Twin Cities, we were embraced by a community of people that make up Thirdway. We were welcomed by Daleen’s brother’s family and their friends. And we were included in the wider CRM community that lives in Minneapolis/St. Paul and throughout the U.S. We were blessed to step into a network of people that extends into our neighborhood and far beyond.

However, not everyone is so fortunate.

From what I see, many people struggle to find a place where they fit. They struggle to find a community that welcomes and embraces them. They struggle to find their place.

third places

According to Wikipedia, 'third place is a term used in the concept of community building to refer to social surroundings separate from the two usual social environments of home and the workplace. In his influential book The Great Good Place, Ray Oldenburg argues that third places are important for civil society, democracy, civic engagement, and establishing feelings of a sense of place.

Oldenburg calls one's "first place" the home and those that one lives with. The "second place" is the workplace — where people may actually spend most of their time. Third places, then, are "anchors" of community life and facilitate and foster broader, more creative interaction.'

groundswell

In the spirit of Jesus, the people of Thirdway Church decided it wasn’t enough to travel in and out of the Midway-Hamline area. They began moving into the neighborhood at a time when many were moving out. As they pitched their tents in the neighborhood, they became part of the fabric of local life. Eventually, they bought a neighborhood coffee shop with the hope of creating a third place for those in the neighborhood.

From what I’ve experienced, Groundswell is a great success. I cannot tell you how many relationships with my neighbors have been fostered at the coffee shop. Groundswell is also growing as a local hub by hosting art shows, music nights and poetry readings. There is a telling joke among transplants to Minnesota that goes something like this: Minnesotans are so nice that they will give you directions to anywhere, except their home. In a culture that may not readily invite into their homes, third places become even more crucial.

According to Wikipedia, “all societies already have informal meeting places; what is new in modern times is the intentionality of seeking them out as vital to current societal needs.” In light of this, we are growing in our ability to create third places where others are exposed and introduced to the love of Christ, the reality of God’s kingdom and His community.