July 19, 2023
Fern Creek Christian Church in Louisville, Ky., plans to repurpose 100 percent of their office space to ministry space for children. We contacted more than a dozen ministers and church construction experts to ask about their thoughts on "going officeless." . . .
June 29, 2021
Efforts to repair and restore the structural integrity of First Christian Church’s historic and architecturally significant 166-foot tower that rises above downtown Columbus, Ind., received a second $500,000 boost last week just before a “Save Our Tower” campaign launched that seeks to raise $2.4 million.
September 9, 2020
By Jim Nieman First Christian Church of Columbus, Ind., recently received a big boost in its ongoing effort to fund repairs to its eye-catching and architecturally significant tower. The National Park Service’s Save America’s Treasures program awarded First Christian a $500,000 grant for the estimated $2.4 million project to repair the structural integrity of the 166-foot tower. “We’re thrilled for the award and for the project being recognized nationally,” said Jeff Logston, chairman of the First Christian Capital Projects Fundraising Committee. Still, he said, “we have more work to do. We’re going to need the community to help us get
November 14, 2018
By Jim Nieman If you’ve been to Columbus, Indiana, you’ve seen First Christian Church—or at least its iconic 166-foot, brick-and-mortar tower. “You don’t see many pictures of Columbus that you don’t see First Christian Church’s tower,” says Steve Yeaton, senior minister of the church. The church’s building is possibly the most architecturally significant among Christian churches and churches of Christ. The 1942 structure is the product of Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen (assisted by his son, Eero, who later designed the Gateway Arch in St. Louis). It is the first contemporary church in Columbus, and it is one of the first
November 14, 2018
(This article is a sidebar to “Acclaimed Church Building Copes with Aging.”) By Jim Nieman “Our church is our people.” Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen honed in on that church member’s statement as he designed a new house of worship for Tabernacle Church of Christ—now known as First Christian Church—in Columbus, Ind. Saarinen and his son, Eero, stressed that point in 1940 in their “response to the building committee’s charge.” The Saarinens also wrote: In accordance with the wishes of the building committee, our endeavor has been to design not a mere church but a church expressing the religious aims
August 12, 2018
By Mel McGowan StoneBridge Christian Church in Omaha, Nebraska, strives to serve as a metaphorical bridge to God, one another, and the community. Omaha is a vibrant, thriving community situated between prairies and mountains. StoneBridge’s visionary leadership team wanted to capture Omaha’s uniqueness as part of their story and reflect that energy through their facilities. StoneBridge’s team is dedicated to social compassion, relevance, authenticity, friendliness, and approachability; they desired to bring their facilities into alignment with their philosophy. They wanted to create a space that was inviting, comfortable, and fun. My journey with StoneBridge began in 2009 while I was
July 8, 2016
By Jennifer Johnson It”s been a busy year for Stephen Burris. In January, Burris, along with Mark Krause and Kendi Howells Douglas, bought Urban Loft Publishers, an independent publisher of books focusing on urban ministry, church planting, theology, sociology, and even urban planning and architecture. “My friend Sean Benesh started the company a few years ago, and when he offered me the chance to buy it, I jumped at the chance,” Burris says. “It was both a defensive and offensive decision; defensive because we are aware there are many large publishers buying up small ones and putting them on the
February 15, 2016
By Mel McGowan I used to believe that, at any moment, Jesus would whisk us out and that since “it”s all gonna burn,” church funds should be spent only on “emergency shelters” just to keep the rain off of our heads””not expensive, attractive church buildings. Beauty was irrelevant, since we”re all on an emergency rescue mission, selling fire insurance to whoever would listen. Then I had the opportunity to meet storytellers who helped me see the arc in the metanarrative of his story, from the garden to the city, from creation to brokenness to restoration. He introduces himself as an
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