Little did I know that J and his wife M would become some of the most amazing people I’d ever meet. They had painstakingly restored that church into a neutral gathering and event space known as The Social Clinton. Their work wasn’t just about preservation; it was about creating a space for the community, free of agendas, where people could simply come together.
“I hail from generations of working-class Kentuckians, people who sometimes lived on the margins. As a pastor, I’ve led and ministered to people of every imaginable background.
ReligionUnplugged.com
I’ve seen up close the shifts Burge is talking about. Decades ago, church often seemed to serve as a refuge for people who were struggling in life. Not anymore. Now they avoid religion.
I’ve asked a great many of these non-churchgoers — not pressuring anyone, mind you, just curious — why they don’t go to church.”
This encounter was especially ironic given my history. For years, I curated underground supper clubs called Urban Soulcials, where I showcased independent artists, creatives, and up-and-coming talent. These gatherings were all about creating spaces for people to connect outside the usual venues—much like what J and M were doing with the Clinton Social. The synchronicity of our meeting was undeniable. Their story resonated deeply with me, especially because of my background with The Porch and Our Compound in Oklahoma, where I’ve been working on similar principles—creating spaces for people to gather, learn, and connect outside the boundaries of traditional institutions. J told me he wanted to reclaim the space so that it became what churches were meant to be—a place for people.
“I love my church. I look forward to attending every week! But the truth is we were never meant to just attend church. There are people all over the world dying for this faith. There are people held captive by sin and poverty, waiting on someone to come share the news about Jesus. Christians don’t have the luxury to add church to their lives like it’s an optional elective.
WeAreThatFamily.com
Church isn’t the place where we draw the line at the door and say to those inside the walls “We are good. We are right. We are done.” Because when we do that we are saying to those outside, “You are bad. You are wrong. You don’t matter.”
Instead we are commanded to turn our churches into a hospital for hurting people, not a club where we are comfortable. When we walk in obedience, it’s risky. It’s scary as hell. It’s the wildest thing we will ever do. When we are willing to walk away from our comfort zone and say to God, “I will do whatever you tell me,” we’re embarking on a journey that will change our lives. And nothing will ever make us feel more alive or fulfilled.”
I didn’t come to Florida in 2022 looking for a church.
A couple of years later, through connections made on The Porch, I was introduced to Bernadette who offered me the opportunity to help a business owner she knew with setting up their website — they are located in Florida. After a few months of working on the house in Oklahoma, I decided to visit them in person. I also wanted to meet Bernadette face-to-face because she was someone who has continuously surprised, teaches, and intrigues me.
The business owner had a space available for me to stay, so I agreed and made the trip. However the owner needed to return unexpectedly and I was not ready to go back to Oklahoma. That’s when I started looking for a work/live space similar to that I was in — a loft space—and that’s when I found the church on Craigslist under “loft space”.