What does it mean to be an embodied human? An embodied human is what we all are, it means that our understanding of reality is embodied through all aspects of the five senses. Our experience is shaped by our sight, touch, smell, hearing, and taste and how the world contributes to those. This is a key concept in Aspen Group’s work with Barna as we come to understand what Christians, both new to the faith and mature Christ followers, are searching for when they step into church.
In this episode of the Making Space podcast, pastor Benjamin Windle sits down with David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna Group, to explain the importance of making space for the next generation. They discuss the need for beautiful design, how each of them has been impacted by physical church spaces since their childhoods, and the way design fosters transcendence and closeness to God. As humans, we are constantly looking for spaces that we feel comfortable in and where we would like to spend our time. Church design matters for a multitude of reasons. This episode discusses how it can cultivate an atmosphere where pastors can equip disciples and help others in their spiritual journey, while providing a space of comfort, safety, and aid in their search for transcendence.
As pastors look towards the future of the church, it is important to recognize the needs of the future generations. Barna finds that Gen Z is incredibly receptive when it comes to spiritual openness, so we must create physical space where they can explore their relationship with Christ. In an increasingly digitized world, Aspen Group is dedicated to building church spaces that play a direct role in discipling people. Our hope is that in this episode the importance of design for future generations is illuminated. You may not have the budget to build or renovate, however small tweaks in the décor at minimal pricing go a long way for people and how they experience your space.
To learn more about these concepts, listen to the Making Space Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. You can also watch this conversation on Aspen Group’s YouTube channel!
Sponsored Post
The Aspen Group is one of my favorite organizations and receives my top recommendation. When a church is building a new facility from the ground up, or has existing facilities it needs to expand or renovate, Aspen Group has the expertise to bring a church’s vision to reality. But while this highly-competent design/build firm, what I love most about this organization is their heart.
If your church has an upcoming need to expand or reimagine its facilities, click HERE to start a conversation with Aspen today!