I remember having this love/hate relationship with worship space.
We have a space that seats around 250 people. The 70?s-style wood paneling covers more than two thirds of the walls in the room. There?s this strange disconnect from the stage to the congregation ? the stage is a little too high, so they have to look up at me during the worship service. The hardest part is that the stage was originally constructed to be a school auditorium for plays. Because of that, I run into constant problems fitting things onto the stage, making it look clean, etc.
Sounds like a pretty irritating area, right? You?re wrong.?I wouldn?t trade it for anything in the world. Here?s why: I constantly have to push myself to fit my creative thoughts into a small area that wasn?t even made for what we?re doing. This pushes me. And I love it.
Truth be told, if I had a 500-seat worship center with theater-style seating equipped with the latest and greatest gear as well as a big stage that would be my giant blank canvas, I could do some pretty awesome things. However, I don?t think I would grow the way I?m growing right now in my creativity. I?m constantly having to figure out ways to make something work in a space that wasn?t made for what we are doing.
So, my question to you, church creative, is this:?When we have everything we need to make something work, are we truly growing?[quote]When we have everything we need to make something work, are we truly growing?[/quote]
When extraordinary becomes regular, we get comfortable. And creativity does not like passivity.[quote]When extraordinary becomes regular, we get comfortable. And creativity does not like passivity.[/quote]
Most of you are from churches that run between 150-500. You?re trying to push the limits with your creativity in your worship services, and sometimes, you feel like you are hindered in the space you have. Let me be the first to say,?I?m there with you.?There are days when I want to kick, yell, and scream at my worship space (usually when I?m up in the attic running cables). I understand the frustration.
Church creative, I want to remind you of two things you might have forgotten:
- You have a space.?Honestly, be happy for that. I can name 20 churches off the top of my head that meet in a space they do not own. Be thankful that you have a space where you can get creative. It?s a blessing.
- Own the space.?I can guarantee you,?you can do something different with your space.?Every now and then, I?ll go sit in the back row of my worship center and just stare. I?ll sit there for 20 minutes and just look at the space. Slowly, ideas come to me.
So next time you?re wishing you had that new piece of equipment or that new space to work in, just remember: You?re being forced to push yourself.?The ball?s in your court. Are you going to do the mundane, or are you going to push your creative limit?[quote]Are you going to do the mundane, or are you going to push your creative limit?[/quote]
Because truth be told,?your creativity has no limit.
