Traditional. Steady. Flexible. Tech-savvy. These words describe key differences between four of the most prominent generations in our culture—Traditionalist, Baby Boomer, Generation X, and Millennials. Churches are one of the few places in society that bring these four generations, plus two more—the Greatest Generation and iGen—under one roof.

  Perhaps the most powerfully symbolic icon of church past is the cathedral—a striking icon of a relationship between this world and the one above. The youngest generations (and the unchurched) still see the cathedral as the symbol of Christianity. Hollywood has depended on the steeple and gothic architecture to paint their own picture of church today, through TV, movies, and other media. And in our media-steeped, hyperconnected culture, people still long for places of contemplation and solitude.

Your church building is more than a backdrop. More than a setting for a story. It’s a main character, helping you narrate your church’s story. What people see, hear, and feel in church creates the narrative of their experience. But how can you build a story through physical space? A story that captures the hearts and minds of all who enter?

It took nearly 1,500 years after the death of Christ for Johann Gutenberg and his assistant Johann Fust to invent the first successful interchangeable type printing press. This enabled the world to move from oral and handwritten communication to mass produced print media.

Thinking of renovating your church space? Before you do, consider tapping the Millennials (ages 18 to 30) in your congregation—not only for their ideas and input, but also for their leadership. Many churches make the mistake of overlooking this important generation, especially when it comes to a church building project.

Photo via The Washington Post. When Christian blogger Rachel Held Evans recently published her Washington Post opinion piece, “Want Millennials Back in the Pews? Stop Trying to Make Church ‘Cool,’” she struck a chord with thousands of readers.

One Sunday last fall, I walked into our local YMCA unsure of what I might find. As much as I could have used some time on the treadmill, my intention was not to workout, but to check out a four-year-old church plant I had heard a lot about.

It is both encouraging and curious to see how open the next generation is to connecting with older generations. Much like they view issues of race, sexuality, and gender equality, Millennials are equally open to the idea of relationships with those much older than they are.

I recently asked my dad if he would sit down for a video interview about how growing up in the mid-20th century influenced the way he sees the world today. In his typical style, he was all in.

In the landmark Barna/CKN study, Making Space for Millennials there are some strong, big-picture ideas for making your physical space more Millennial-friendly. But when it’s time to make those ideas a practical reality, are you equipped to make the design choices that will bring your principles to life?