Creating A Missional Third Space
As many of you know, I have been trying to work through the specifics of my vocational purposes in our ministry here in Winnipeg’s West End. In my desire to create a missional community for the neighbourhood, I have been studying and considering a church plant. While much of the communal and pastoral aspects have rung true for me, the pieces were not coming together. I began to despair as to figuring it out how to walk this calling out.
Recently I have been reading and reviewing Michael Frost’s book “Exiles: Living Missionally In A Post-Christian Culture” (see parts 1, 2 & 3 of the review). In this excellent book, Frost focuses a great deal on the need for Christians to engage in and create third spaces, those places in our culture where natural community forms- such as pubs, cafes, etc. Throughout the prime of Christendom, churches shared this welcoming status of a third space, but with its demise, they no longer qualify in most cases. However, most Christians still see their churches as their exclusive and highly demanding third space, thus cutting them off from the world like never before.
As I considered this, I wondered if there was a way to build those missional relationships in the creation of such a third space. If so, it would have to be something that would come out of my passions and giftings. I have tried for so long to fit into forms that didn’t fit who I was. While this is something we all have to live with in varying degrees throughout our life, I have been dealing with depression and risk of burn as a result. So what to do?
After a great deal of thought, prayer and discussion with my wife, I decided on something that, for me, is very exciting. My plan is to open a used book store in our neighbourhood, one heavy on seating, inexpensive coffee and books, and regular events to invest in the community and those into it. As a non-profit project of YWAM, we will avoid many of the overhead costs and allow our prices to be competitive, even ideal for our neighbouhood.
To that end, I have begun to set the stage for creating this exciting little venture. I will be spending the next 8 months or so collecting titles (I’m already at 200 after only a few days, but need to start with a minimum of about 4,000/5,000 titles. IF any of you, especially those of you in Winnipeg have books you are willing to part with, let me know, as I need as many as I can get my hands on.
I’d love to hear what you think of this idea. Also creative suggestions for a name might be a fun project. Let me know!
