Empty Churches Show Us the Mission They Missed
The Evolving Nature of Church Spaces
Recently, a New York Times article highlighted an intriguing trend: the rising number of abandoned churches being sold, often to those who intend to repurpose these historic structures.
While some buyers turn these former houses of worship into homes, others seek to use them as community centers—a vision that aligns more with the church's foundational purpose. This trend points to a larger narrative of what it means to be a church today in physical and digital spaces.
The Halo Effect and the Sunday-Wednesday Mentality
Churches, especially those in rural settings, often struggle to tap into their full potential. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of learning from the Partners for Sacred Places about the Halo Effect, where churches serve as community anchors beyond worship services. Growing up in a rural and then suburban church setting, this is what I think of when I think of the church.
Yet many churches fall into the rhythm of being active only on Sundays and Wednesdays, leaving their sanctuaries and fellowship halls unused much of the week. This limited approach can stifle a church’s impact, underscoring why some may ultimately close their doors or be repurposed, again, ironically into precisely what they arguably ought to have been in the first place.
A few congregations respond to this challenge by inviting the community into their spaces through secular events—board game nights, coffee shops, and fitness classes. Some even seek to become mortgage-neutral by having tenants use the space for these purposes separately from the church's work, as highlighted in The Coming Revolution of Church Economics by Mark Deymaz.1
The results can be promising, but many still hesitate, concerned that such events compromise the sacredness of their space.
However, the desire for community and belonging does not diminish with a church’s disuse. The same communal need persists and often finds a home in more secular spaces, whether within former church walls or outside.
A Wake-Up Call for Digital Ministry
Just as physical church buildings face the question of how they serve their communities, digital ministry contends with similar issues.
Digital spaces—whether Discord servers, Twitch channels, or social networks like Threads—thrive where people seek connection, fellowship, and shared experiences. These platforms create “digital parishes” that offer a community for those who might not step foot in a traditional church.
Yet the church’s absence in these spaces has left a gap filled by secular influencers and parasocial relationships.
People are still looking for connection, searching for that sense of belonging in online networks and communities.
As a digital minister, I see this void as a call for the church to step up. If the church does not engage in these spaces, someone else will—potentially without the hope and transformational message a faith community can bring.
There’s a harsh reality here: the church’s relevancy is at stake, both in physical and digital spaces. If we do not cultivate an authentic community, we risk becoming another relic for sale, which is another article on the obsolescence of traditional churches. Digital ministry isn’t about putting content out there; it’s about building communities that foster discipleship and growth.
Just as we’ve seen churches repurposed in the physical world, there’s a risk that digital spaces could be claimed by voices that lack the heart and purpose the church could bring.
Building Bridges Through Community
In a poignant example, the Times article shares a story about one former church building in Western North Carolina that was repurposed as a home.
When Hurricane Helene struck, the community rallied to support the new residents, forging bonds that echoed the unity and love a church is called to embody.
As a rural-born, church-going, people-loving Christian, this riles me up. This story should challenge every rural, country, and city church to ask themselves: Are we creating these bonds? Are we providing spaces—both physical and digital—where people feel supported, known, and connected?
Should it take someone nearly losing their home to feel the community step up?
Should it take the death of a church community to see that opportunity?
The gospel calls us not just to preach but to be there, to show up, and to serve.
Whether that means repurposing a building to serve the neighborhood or meeting people in digital spaces, the mission is clear: be present where people are.
For the church to remain relevant and impactful, it must acknowledge and engage with the needs of the world around it. In both tangible and virtual ways, we’re called to be more than a building.
But, we should also be as fully a church building as possible.
Use that space.
Fill those rooms.
Offer every square inch of that ugly green carpet.
We’re called to be a community that resonates deeply with all who seek it, wherever they are.
As we move forward, may we strive to fill our spaces—both physical and digital—with the presence of love, support, and transformation.
World 2-8 Complete
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Q: Why did the digital pastor bring a router to Bible study?
A: To make sure everyone stayed connected.
As a side note, Deymaz’s work needs an update on the post-pandemic and heavily digital landscape. How does this revolution work online?