So much goes into designing church services that are inviting, inspiring, and transformative. Here at Aspen, we believe that same intentionality should also be applied to the physical spaces in which we meet and worship. That’s why we’ve partnered with Barna Group on a new series of research reports called Making Space: Why Church Design Matters in Ministry.
This series is divided into three journals:
Volume 1: Making Space for Inspiration
Volume 2: Making Space for Community
Volume 3: Making Space for Formation
Volume 1: Making Space for Inspiration, available now in digital format, sets the foundation to better understand the characteristics of certain spaces and how people commonly interact with them. Just as a visitor might journey through your church building, we start with an overview of the feelings and perceptions people might bring with them into a space, and what the Church can learn from this.
Get your copy of Making Space for Inspiration!
Through our research, we’ve discovered key trends regarding what draws people closer to feelings of transcendence and connection to the divine. It delves into the way church and other spaces form and shape us as we experience Jesus and engage with others in community. It incorporates the concepts of transcendence, comfort, a sense of home, how we bring our emotions into a space, and what it means for a space to be personal.
Also launching this week is season one of the companion podcast series,Making Space, hosted by Benjamin Windle and Jay Kim. From a pastoral perspective, they’ll unpack the Making Space research and sit down with various leaders and thinkers to discuss how nature affects our spiritual lives, the value of historic buildings in our digital era, what the church can learn from the design of retail spaces, and they’ll offer key takeaways for your ministry. Make sure to listen and subscribe!
Making Space for Inspiration will help you explore how the church building and the land it sits on can contribute to the Christian spiritual and cultural formation that pastors desire to instill in their congregations today. It’ll help leaders find value in the physical spaces they utilize and make space count spiritually, no matter the ministry goal or budget. Get your copy today!
Aspen Group, a leading design-build-furnish firm providing integrated solutions for new church facilities, additions, and renovations recently announced the promotion of Vice President of Design and Integrated Services, Derek DeGroot, to the role of President. DeGroot follows Brad Eisenmann in the role, after Eisenmann’s 28-year service to the company.
DeGroot is a (2003) graduate of the University of Illinois-Chicago’s architecture program. Beginning his career in residential design, soon after, he discovered Aspen Group, joining the company in 2007. Serving Aspen Group in previous roles of (Project Architect) and (Director of Design) DeGroot became VP of Design and Integrated Services in 2019, leading the effort to reinvent the company’s approach to service delivery of both design and architecture for churches throughout an expanding geography from primarily the Midwest, to now serving churches through studios in the Southeast US and other regions as well.
Aspen Group’s CEO and Founder, Ed Bahler, said of DeGroot and his assignment as President, “Derek has led a charge of innovation and excellence within our integrated design-build model. His vision has led to an expanding ability to create church and worship spaces that truly inspire and create ministry impact. He is now ready, along with other strong leaders here at Aspen Group, to expand that spirit of innovation and execution excellence throughout the entire organization.”
Bahler, reflecting on Eisenmann’s long tenure with the company, expressed his gratitude, saying, “I am thankful for Brad’s service, his character, and for his calm and wise leadership. And his commitment to caring for the people and the mission of Aspen Group. He has served Aspen Group incredibly well, through a multitude of seasons.”
When asked his thoughts as he steps into the new role, DeGroot shared, “I’m eager to follow in a long Aspen Group value of caring for the Church deeply as we design, build, and furnish facilities to positively impact the ministry of those churches, while we lean into a spirit of reinvention Brad (Eisenmann) and our leadership team began fostering before and through the pandemic.” DeGroot continued, “We have an incredible team of people who bring their personal faith convictions and best professional thinking to benefit every church we serve. I look forward to serving with them all in this new role.”