Church Design

Aspen Group Blog

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

Blog Feature

Culture | Ministry | Physical Space

How ‘Touch Starvation’ Presents the Local Church with an Opportunity

By: Benjamin Windle
May 25, 2022

Do you remember the first time you shook someone’s hand after Covid restrictions were lifted? The moment for me was when I had someone visit my house, and even though restrictions had eased, we had this awkward social moment of not knowing if we should shake hands, or just say hello. It was kind of funny because we didn’t quite know what to do with our hands. For the first time in my life, I went many months without the normal day-to-day interpersonal experiences of shaking hands, hugging, or even sitting in a chair next to someone. It presents us a fascinating learning moment.

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Blog Feature

Church Construction | Ministry | facilities

Gaining Ministry Momentum in the Construction Zone

By: Evan McBroom
June 01, 2021

Is it possible to build excitement and momentum within your staff and congregation during a church construction process, even when things get a little dusty? The answer is yes! The construction process can grow ministry in unexpected ways. Our team partnered with The Bridge Church in Bradenton, Florida on a sanctuary renovation recently. Goal one was to help them keep their sanctuary open during construction, an approach we refer to as “Ministry in the Dust.” Now, the team looks back on the project with a fondness for how it energized their congregation. What did it take to build ministry amid construction?

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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 Construction | church facilities | Ministry

Ministry in the Dust: A Unique Approach that Impacts Ministry and Lives

By: Tom Shields
April 20, 2021

While most people wind down the work week on Fridays, those of us in construction pick up the pace. Especially if we’re working on an Aspen Group “Ministry in the Dust” project. Recently, we had the privilege of partnering with The Bridge Church in Bradenton, Florida, using this type of approach for their sanctuary renovation project.

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Blog Feature

church facilities | Ministry | Relaunch Church

Pastors: Why You Need Your KidMin Leaders’ Input Before You Relaunch Church

By: Missy Purcell
April 15, 2021

As a KidMin Specialist for Orange, I coach children’s ministry teams throughout the country and get a glimpse behind the leadership curtain of many different churches. During COVID-19, no area has been fraught with as many safety and logistical challenges as your children’s ministry. If you don’t have a kidmin leader who’s part of your church leadership team, it’s time to include them! 

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Blog Feature

church facilities | Ministry | Relaunch Church

Questions to Ask Before You Relaunch 4 Key Ministries in Your Church

By: Marian V. Liautaud
April 07, 2021

Most churches have learned how to use digital tools to continue to share the gospel and help people find an anchor in this storm. Week by week throughout the pandemic, churches have become more adept at producing online worship services and conducting small groups and children’s ministry via social media and video platforms.  Now, the urgency of trying to figure out how to shepherd congregations virtually is giving way to a new question—what shape will ministry programs take in light of all we’ve learned during the pandemic?

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Blog Feature

Leadership | Ministry | Relaunch Church | Rapid Relaunch

3 Ways the Classic City Conference Will Help You Recalibrate for 2021

By: Evan McBroom
December 17, 2020

Recently, I spoke with Pastor Ricardo Smith, also known as Pastor Ricky, the founder of Classic City Conference, and Josh Gregoire, Aspen's Church Relations Coordinator, to discuss this sold-out in-person event, still open to virtual attendees. Designed to reach pastors, ministers, church leadership teams, and community leaders around the country, the Classic City Conference features top-level speakers that will challenge, encourage, and equip attendees.

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Blog Feature

Leadership | Ministry | Relaunch Church | Rapid Relaunch

How to Push Through the Wall of Grief, Pain, and Disappointment As You Run the COVID Marathon

By: Evan McBroom
December 11, 2020

At the beginning of the COVID experience, within the Aspen leadership team, we discussed the importance of pacing ourselves as leaders because we had a sense that the pandemic was going to be its own marathon. Perhaps this season has felt like that for you, too—a marathon with more miles than you ever anticipated.

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Leadership | Ministry | Relaunch Church | Rapid Relaunch

Small Church Focus: 7 Tips to Keep Your Ministry Practical, Personal, and Sustainable

By: Marian V. Liautaud
October 27, 2020

What do you need to recognize about shifts in culture now that will affect your church in the coming year? How can you find unity within your church? How can you keep running the race? These are questions we explored in a recent conversation with Karl Vaters, one of the leading voices for equipping leaders of small churches. Karl is the Teaching Pastor at Cornerstone Christian Fellowship and author of several books including, The Church Recovery Guide: How Your Congregation Can Adapt and Thrive after a Crisis, which was released this summer.

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Blog Feature

church facilities | Ministry | Relaunch Church | Rapid Relaunch | Design Week

Creating Space for Connection in the COVID-19 Era

By: Derek DeGroot
July 29, 2020

Churches are working hard to determine when and how to reopen their facilities in the midst of ever-changing COVID-19 parameters. As you relaunch your church for this next season of ministry, I want to offer some basic principles about design and space. There are two basic roles of your ministry space:

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Blog Feature

church facilities | Ministry | Relaunch Church | Rapid Relaunch | Design Week

How to Use Your Church Parking Lot for 7-Day-a-Week Ministry

By: Mary Bellus
July 21, 2020

Typically, when we think of church parking lots, we consider issues of traffic flow, volunteer attendance, maintenance, and how many parking spaces we need to support our weekly guests. But during this COVID-19 season, we’re seeing a shift in thinking about parking lots. They're no longer merely a means to access the building. These expansive, open-air spaces have become an extension of the building and a crucial part of relaunching ministries in this COVID-19 era.  In the following post, we share innovative ideas from our design team for how to maximize your church parking lot for weekly ministry during the pandemic and beyond.

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