Where will The Journey Church meet?
I saw a tweet last week by pastor David Nasser that said, “If they can shut your church down by taking away a building, you were never a church.”
We believers are the church! Countless church bodies across the globe meet regularly without any one location being labeled their home. There is something freeing and fascinating about that notion to me. This concept is foreign to me since I’ve never existed in a body of Christ without a structural home. However, it shouldn’t seem strange at all having read countless examples of this in scripture.
So let’s answer the inevitable question of where this church body is to congregate. Here in Marietta, I think we have some great options! Let’s think out loud (something I love to do openly) and consider a few locations near by.
These are not in any specific order according to availability or priority.
#1 - Mid Ohio Valley Players
This is a smaller theater located downtown that would definitely be worth a look. It seats 250+ and has a parking lot right next to it. I love the thought of getting into a relationship with another nonprofit such as this who we could serve as we utilized their space. This could be a way for us to serve our community as we found ways to invest in their building and make the community better while we met there.
#2 – The Colony Theater
Directly across the street from the Mid Ohio Valley Players is the Colony theater. Hidden behind the entrance pictured above is a 1000 seat auditorium. They are currently in the process of a 4.5 million dollar facelift that won’t be completed for another year at least. However, this is definitely something to keep in mind for down the road. This would be yet another opportunity for us to utilize something here in downtown Marietta and invest in our city.
#3 – Marietta College Campus
The college campus here in Marietta would be another option that would lead to an entirely different set of opportunities. They have a few places on campus that would be great places to meet. This location would allow us to bring the church to the students right on campus! As long as we could get them out of bed, they could just walk on over on Sundays.
#4 – Armory
The Armory in Marietta is yet another option that we should pray about. Located in downtown Marietta, this also has parking lot located right next to it and has a location that everyone could find. This may also have multiple rooms that would come in handy with children’s and nursery needs.
#5 – Odyssey 7 Theatre
Several church plants across the nation are starting to have amazing success meeting in their local cinema. Cinema’s love these relationships because they don’t interfere with show times, people are going to be in their facility on Sunday’s anyway, and it’s nothing but profit for them. There are multiple rooms with various seating capacities and they’re made for great acoustics. The multiple rooms also provide great places for children and nursery spaces. Not to mention, like the other theaters, chairs are already setup and ready to go. This option has tremendous potential and needs prayer as well.
#6 – Churches for rent
There are currently a few churches for sale and for rent in the Marietta area. These places are definitely worth investigating.
These are just a few options that have been swirling around in our heads. There are also various buildings downtown, vacant spaces in plazas, and not to mention several church plants begin by meeting in public schools. We have a lot of options and ideas brewing that's for sure. Please feel free to contact us with any suggestions that you may have in addition to these!
I can't wait to plant this church!
Cody Parman