A Space for the Soul

Dave stood at the top of the scaffold, a paint sprayer in his hand. With furrowed brow he looked across the expanse of ceiling waiting to be painted. “I don’t even know how to use this thing. Are we crazy?” he asked. “Can we make this space become the place we want it to be? Do we know what we’re doing?” Questions are part of the journey at soulspace.

Three years earlier, Anne and Dave Campion had sat down with a group of Christian friends who encouraged Anne to pursue her vision, a God given vision that has since become ‘soulspace’, an emergent Christian faith community. Soon after this meeting of discernment, Dave bought a ceremonial church stole – the kind that is worn by some ministers as a symbol of leadership – which he planned to present to Anne once they found a meeting place.

Although Anne firmly believed that soulspace is wherever the people of soulspace find themselves, whether that be in a restaurant, park, or in the Campion’s home, she felt that it was important to have a place to welcome others, a place to create and display art, a place where people can experience God.

The search began for a meeting place – a search that was met by hopes and disappointments, opportunities and obstacles. Now the search was over and the work began to transform a warehouse into a worshipping place.

As soulspace participants made renovation plans, they quickly realized that choosing the wall colour together would be next to impossible. The task was delegated to Anne and Renata. One morning Renata called Anne “I had a dream last night and I know what the colour is supposed to be!” Out of a thousand paint chips, Renata had no trouble finding the exact colour she had seen in the dream.

As renovation work began, Anne was amazed at the energy and engagement of soulspacers. “While working together, the ‘you’ changed to ‘us’ and we began to imagine what the space could be.”

A work weekend ended with communion. The group stood in a circle around the only piece of furniture they had, a table laid with bread and wine. Anne was taken by surprise when Dave presented her the stole that he had bought three years earlier. She reflected, “I am the pastor and will take leadership, but in reality, we collectively carry the mantel of leadership and will learn from each other.” Each person took a turn putting on the stole and sharing a hope.

The new meeting place creates an atmosphere for the open, informal soulspace gatherings. Circles of couches and comfortable chairs are scattered throughout. Various pieces of art, loaned by soulspacers, decorate the walls. Lamps and candles provide the lighting. One youth who had never been to church commented, “Man I really like this space. It could make me want to be religious!”

At soulspace, people are invited to journey at their own pace. Beauty, art, and creativity are an essential part of the worship which combines intellectual and sensory experiences. Anne and Dave realize the fulfillment of the vision in a young child’s comment “I can come to this place because they make a space for my soul.”