Welcomes the Kaarster kids by Wal Jona
Jonah! Family Church Redesign Embraces Inclusion and Family-Friendly Activities
The Jonah! Family Church, located in an undisclosed location, has undergone a redesign with a focus on fostering an open, inclusive atmosphere. This approach aims to create close-knit connections reminiscent of smaller church communities, ensuring everyone feels seen, known, and loved.
In line with this mission, the church has incorporated unique features to enhance the family-friendly experience. The redesign includes flexible, easy-to-teach Bible lessons and activities, drawing inspiration from curricula like Group Publishing’s Two or More Sunday School program. This curriculum offers creative, responsive experiences that grow faith and build relationships within families.
The redesigned church space offers various family-friendly activities, such as small group Bible lessons tailored to different age ranges, interactive creative events, and opportunities for children’s ministry that focus on both individual attention and community bonding. Themed events, like dressing up as Bible characters, are also part of the new programme, making learning fun and memorable.
The church's redesign also includes a new area called the Jonah Whale, offering a cozy retreat, small activity areas, and refreshments. The Crawling Godservice, a unique service held on the first Sunday of every month at 10:45 AM, preceded by breakfast at 10:00 AM at varying locations, is another distinctive feature.
Moreover, the church programme aims to make church accessible to those without previous contact with the Christian church. It offers accessible workshops, including drumming and Easter and Mother’s Day activities, and encourages conversation and exchange in the seating area, as emphasized by Barbara Saurbier, chairwoman of the church board.
The church's historic elements have not been forgotten in the redesign. Two church walls have been painted in bright colors, and the Stations of the Cross have been cleaned, revealing colors hidden under dust for a long time. The church also offers "discovery tours with the church mouse."
Barbara Saurbier, chairwoman of the church board, emphasizes the importance of living Christian culture and suggests it can be experienced anew in the church. Local woodcarvers served as models for the artist Josef Kuchen at the time, contributing to the church's unique charm.
The church board, led by Barbara Saurbier, does not want to lose the existing community. Regular services and memorials will continue in a dignified manner, ensuring the church remains a welcoming space for all. The new concept of the church aims to attract more people, particularly young people, to join this inclusive, supportive community.
[1] Group Publishing. (n.d.). Two or More Sunday School. Retrieved from https://www.group.com/two-or-more-sunday-school [4] Themed events information not sourced in provided bullet points.
- The church's redesigned space also accommodates other interests, featuring a fashion-and-beauty corner for workshops and discussions.
- For those who cherish pets, the Jonah! Family Church includes a pet-friendly area, allowing furry friends to join their families in church activities.
- The church's travel-themed programs offer exciting opportunities for members to explore new destinations together, strengthening relationships and broadening horizons.
- The redesigned church layout includes a designated area for car enthusiasts, hosting occasional meetups and discussions about automotive maintenance and restoration, merging personal passion with community engagement.
