pat loughery

If you are part of a church that is thinking of starting a third place, and you have ended up on this site as part of your research (this happens for us now and again, it seems), allow me to suggest that you consider not starting a third place if any of the following things apply to you:

1. If there is already a third place in your neighbourhood.
2. If you are thinking of designating a room(s) in your church building for the third place.
3. If you are planning to create a third place as a way to evangelize, or grow your church.
4. If you are planning for this to be a place that is seldom/rarely open (ie. one evening per week).
5. If you think this will make you a bunch of money to fund your church.
6. If you think this is the new model for missional church… the next thing to do in church… everyone’s doing it.
7. If you have a hard (impossible?) time with living in tension.
8. If you feel the need to see results (quickly?) in terms of the number of people who join your church, find Jesus, etc. through the third place.
9. If you are not completely aware of the neighbourhood you are wanting to start the third place in. Do your homework. Live there for a few years.
10. If you have not gone through a process of discerning what the Spirit of God is up to / creating /doing in your neighbourhood.

It may sound silly, but I can’t tell you the number of church leaders who have approached us to “learn the ropes” and more than one of the above applied to them.

If you would like to arrange a time to chat with us further about third places, mission, or neighbourhood engagement, drop us a line any time: info@frwy.ca, or consider coming to our Cultivate Learning Party on Saturday, March 20 in order to spend the day learning alongside us.

Great thoughts by Pernell Goodyear on how (not) to start a 3rd place in relationship with your church and neighborhood.

I’d also suggest learning the early story of Church of the Saviour in Washington DC, written by Elizabeth O’Connor, which began as a coffeehouse just after WWII and grew into a network of mission churches.