For generations, the American church was the natural epicenter of a neighborhood. It was the place where people met, married, gathered with neighbors, instilled values in their children, and mourned those who passed away. Over time, the church began creating space for secular activities, as well, with gymnasiums and basketball courts, childcare centers, and fellowship halls. Churchgoers were experiencing a one-stop shop for their social needs, but access was often limited to those committed to a church. As the social fabric of the 21st century becomes increasingly secular, many houses of worship are finding that their greatest impact lies in their ability to pivot from being a spiritual anchor to being a civic anchor, or a house of public good. By leveraging their physical assets and volunteer spirit for purely secular community needs, churches can foster a sense of belonging that transcends religious boundaries. 

When the church engages the community in secular ways, it is not "watering down" its mission; it is expanding it. By serving as a landlord for local nonprofits, a host for the arts, or a provider of essential social services, the church proves its value as a vital organ to its surrounding neighborhood. As believers in Christ, we are lovingly commanded to “go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mk 16:15 (NIV). The Church was never intended to have four walls that only share the Good News within: it has, since inception, been about going out and doing good outside. In an era of increasing isolation, these sacred spaces have the unique power to bring people together by simply opening its doors. 

Church was Designed for Community – Activating the "Third Space"

The most immediate resources the church offers is its architecture and location. In urban and suburban settings, there is a shortage of “third spaces,” or locations that are neither home nor work where people can gather freely. These are spaces where social bonding and casual conversations flow freely without pretense or agenda. These are spaces where people can just be.

Placemaking is an opportunity for the church community to acknowledge this need and potentially transform its underutilized rooms and halls into: 

• Coworking Hubs: With the rise of remote work, providing high-speed Wi-Fi and quiet corners can turn a parish hall into a buzzing local office during the week. 

• Art and Performance Centers: The natural acoustics of sanctuaries make them ideal for community theaters, local orchestras, or art gallery nights. 

• Recreational Arenas: Hosting indoor sports leagues, meeting spaces for hobby groups, or even "Movies on the Lawn" create low-pressure environments for individuals and families to connect with each other and others. 

By breaking the sacred threshold through intentional collaborations—strategically partnering with local non-profits, organizing community fairs with health organizations, or supporting social endeavors with city councils—churches become the "boots on the ground" for essential services. Churches know their communities and communities should know their churches, too. Learn how churches in past cohorts have activated third spaces in our Case Studies. 

Church was Designed for Partnership – Addressing Practical Neighborhood Needs

Secular engagement often thrives when it solves a specific, tangible problem. Churches that shift from "offering a service" to "meeting a need" become indispensable to their local ecosystem. Congregations are often composed of diverse professionals—accountants, carpenters, first responders, teachers, nurses, engineers, builders, entrepreneurs, attorneys, taxi drivers, and coders. These are people who see the same city through unique lenses, and who have developed skillsets that can address the neighborhood’s immediate and long-term needs. 

Placemaking is about assessing these skillsets within their congregations so the church may position itself to best support the neighborhood, including: 

• Hosting free workshops on financial literacy, resume building, or knowing your rights. 

• Establishing a community garden for access to fresh fruits and vegetables. 

• Building a tool library to share technical knowledge and physical resources. 

• Designing housing units to address unmet social needs of unhoused people.

Church was Designed for Hospitality – Loving thy Neighbor

For many non-religious neighbors, walking into a church can feel intimidating. There is often a dress code barrier, a scriptural knowledge barrier, and a customs barrier with how to pray, sing, or interact with the person seated beside you. This is often daunting to a church attendee from another church. Churches can lower this barrier through expectation-less hospitality. This might mean hosting a “Meet Your Neighbor” event in the parking lot one Saturday a month or turning a street-facing room into a pay-what-you-can coffee shop. 

Placemaking is about allowing the community to experience the hospitality of space without the pressure of religious commitment. When faith is visible throughout the week, the message of the gospel is felt by all. 

The world will always evolve, much like it has for millennia. And the church must be as bold as time to evolve, as well, while maintaining its message of hope. Preaching the gospel is not about words, it is about action. And placemaking is the art of affirming through our works that the church is still relevant, it is still important, and it has a place—and space—for everyone.