Aspen Group Blog

Knowledge to navigate the intersection of church culture, leadership, ministry, and facilities.

Derek DeGroot

Derek DeGroot is President of Aspen Group. After graduating from University of Illinois-Chicago’s architecture program, Derek began his career in residential design. At the same time, his church was embarking on a building project. Derek quickly realized that churches needed to find a better way to build. Soon after, he discovered and joined Aspen Group in 2007.

Blog Feature

Church Design | Church Construction

What IKEA Can Teach Us About Church Design

By: Derek DeGroot
July 26, 2021

As a designer, I think a lot about how the spaces we occupy inherently provoke responses. Our physical body and our mind are often driven to an action based on the physical environment we’re in. If you’ve ever been to an IKEA, you know this to be true. The massive furniture store that originated in Sweden and has now taken over the United States has turned ordinary people into furniture super-shoppers.

Read More

Share

Blog Feature

Church Design | Millennials | Gen Z

4 Ways Your Church Can Help Younger Generations Grow

By: Derek DeGroot
June 07, 2021

As churches, schools, and universities grapple with how to meet the needs of a new generation of young adults, they often overlook the part their physical buildings play in influencing spiritual formation. In response, we’ve created a downloadable resource to help your church leaders answer important questions about how your building or campus can be a part of—not a hindrance to—your discipleship process.

Read More

Share

Making Space for Millennials Executive Summary

Making Space for Millennials Executive Summary

Discover the impact Millennials' values, allegiances, and assumptions will have on your church.

Blog Feature

Church Design | church facilities | Design Week | Gen Z

Making Space for Gen Z Disciples

By: Derek DeGroot
April 28, 2021

At Aspen Group, we believe that architectural design affects behavior. Behaviors become habits. Habits form us. People instinctively move and operate in a space based on what the design is guiding them to do. As churches and schools grapple to meet the needs of a new generation, they often overlook the part their physical buildings are playing in influencing faith formation—their responses, behaviors, and habits. The following four crucial components of design address the cultural forces that are complicating the discipleship journey. How can your built space help answer a new generation’s deepest needs?

Read More

Share

Blog Feature

facilities | Community Impact | Educational Environments

Making Space to Form the Next Generation in Higher Education

By: Derek DeGroot
February 16, 2021

Creating space for ministry impact extends beyond church buildings, especially as we consider what it means to disciple the next generation. Shaping the future leaders of the church means that we need to create space for forming people in the midst of rapidly changing culture.

Read More

Share

Blog Feature

Church Design | interior design | Relaunch Church | Rapid Relaunch | Design Week

Designing Churches to Shape Culture and Solve Problems

By: Derek DeGroot
December 01, 2020

The built environment is complex, changing, and needs fresh thinking to solve today’s challenges. The pandemic has created new problems to solve and accelerated the problems already occurring. Recent data from Barna highlights shifts in our culture and how they are—or soon will be—affecting the church.

Read More

Share

Blog Feature

Church Design | church facilities

3 Reasons Why Your Church May Be Ready for a Makeover

By: Derek DeGroot
October 02, 2019

It happens to most churches. You’ve been in the same church building for many years. It was great in the 70s and the 80s, but as your ministries have evolved, your building hasn’t. What worked well when you had adult Sunday School classes or when your children’s ministries didn’t include a large-group worship time, may now be misaligned space. Too often it's the physical space within a church building that defines the type of ministry that occurs. When we miss ministry opportunities because we have a facility misaligned with who we are as a church, it can become a serious stewardship issue.

Read More

Share

Blog Feature

Church Design | Culture | Great Outdoors

Rest for the Weary: 4 Ways Your Church Can Be a Place of Respite

By: Derek DeGroot
August 21, 2019

In today’s world, we are constantly connected. Whether it’s Wi-Fi on planes and trains, or Bluetooth-enabled cars, or even waterproof devices that allow us to check e-mails in the shower, people are wired—and weary. Based on an Aspen/Barna study, the next generation is looking for a place to rest from their highly plugged in, fragmented lives. The church may be the perfect place for them to find it.

Read More

Share

Blog Feature

Culture | Millennials | Physical Space

Four Things Millennials Wish the Church Would Be

By: Derek DeGroot
January 15, 2019

The mass exodus of Millennials (those born between 1984-2002) from the Christian faith has caused many leaders to wring their hands about the future of the church. Some have answered Millennials’ criticisms that the church is irrelevant and boring by trying to be trendy and hip. But an Aspen/Barna study—Making Space for Millennials—reveals that Millennials may be looking for just the opposite.

Read More

Share

Blog Feature

Church Design | Communication

The Power of “Proxemics”: Creating 4 Zones for Connection at Church

By: Derek DeGroot
June 06, 2018

In 1963, Edward T. Hall coined the term “proxemics” to describe the perception of the physical space around us. When social scientists examine this perception of connecting space, they generally speak of four zones: Intimate (<2’) Personal (2-4’) Social (4-12’) Public (>12’) We need to design for connection across all four zones to foster healthy, dynamic social lives. Let’s take a look at each of these zones.

Read More

Share

Blog Feature

Church Design | Millennials | Physical Space

3 Purposeful Ways Churches Can Make Room for Millennials

By: Derek DeGroot
May 22, 2018

Many studies have been conducted and much has been written exploring the trend of Millennials (born roughly 1980-2000) leaving the church. A survey done by Barna Group, for instance, shows that between high school and age 30, 43% of Millennials who were once active in their faith have stopped attending church regularly. Additionally, more than 50% of these young adults with a Christian background say they are less active in the church compared to when they were 15.

Read More

Share