Ready to invite a friend to an intense and fun kickboxing class at your local church? Those stained glass windows provide more than a colorful background for small group exercise. The church packs a punch for small quality fitness classes that offer authentic and experience-driven group training.
Boutique fitness studios have been exploding on the fitness scene for several years. Participation in boutiques doubled in one year from 21% in 2013 to 42% in 2014 according to research from IHRSA. And boutique chains have been adding new studios at a rate of 450% per year since 2010 according to the fitness-focused investment firm Piper Jaffray. A boutique fitness studio is generally viewed as a small gym (800 – 3500 square feet) that focuses on group exercise. [from Lifefitness.com]
So, if you think your church will never get to the multi-site mega-church size – – – Be thankful, find encouragement, AND get ready! God has big plans for you.
Here’s what you know because you’ve already experienced it. Our online world, with AI being shoved down your throat, social media saturation, advertising overload, device addiction (that phone that’s in your hand right now!), and ‘by-default’ automated everything (forget about real customer service/interaction) we’re all fed up with it and revolting as much as possible. It’s so bad that when you call Apple customer support their recording concludes with, “Remember that our Apple Advisors are here to help. Please treat them with kindness.” There is now a huge trend away from impersonal facilities, mass gatherings and prefab one-size-fits-all experiences. Instead people will go the distance and intentionally budget time and effort for leaner spaces that host welcoming, immediate, intentional and deeper community.
Church has always been the center of fellowship and worship. but like big biz it can get too big too. Now more than ever people people want simple church – small group. We’ve come to realize that authentic and more robust and transformative fellowship and worship isn’t something to be turned on and off – what we “do” to tick-the-box. It is instead, who we are, the people we more intimately get to know and call friends, the deeper commitments we make – it’s a lifestyle.
Your church building and the members of it can help people in your community rediscover what real fitness is all about. You can offer simple and enjoyable ways to be active. You can host meals that are flavorful, healthy and anticipated. People go to recreation facilitates in part because they want a re-creation of the early church where life is lived together through practical care, the application of shared values and the collaborative pursuit of something better and higher — God.
You may not realize it but right now your smaller churches is in the sweet spot – a God ordained position for such a time as this. God wants to totally redefine your community’s attitude about church and how they live life.
We’re looking for churches that are ready to grow into the richness of God’s calling. Eager to be intimate. Vested in the process of God’s creation. Patiently persistent to make gains in accountability. Roll up your sleeves if you’re all-in because while this isn’t difficult to do it does require you to BE all that God intends.
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