Renaissance Church is about to step into a brand new season. We are moving to a new location. Let me tell you the story. 

Last year we found out that the beautiful building we’ve been gathering in for almost a decade is being sold. Because we’ve met in so many different spaces since we began in 2003, we did not worry. But we did understand that finding a new space would be a challenge in light of the tough real estate market in Rhode Island. I searched for months to find a building in Providence that would suit us. Nothing. Well, nothing we could afford. 

This time when searching I expanded the search to areas just outside of Providence like Cranston and East Providence. I found that there was a lot more available to lease, and the rental rates were significantly less than Providence. The idea of being located outside of Providence is a big deal for us since we’ve been located in Providence for over 20 years. Besides the more affordable rent there were two specific things that caused us to be open to the idea. 

First, it has been our story since the beginning that God plants us somewhere and then moves us. We’ve been all over. We never get overly attached to an address. We started on the westside of Providence in the Columbus Theatre. A few years later we moved to the eastside of Providence and met in two different locations, the school in Fox Point and the Armory on Benefit Street. In 2009, the Lord led us deep into South Providence into a neighborhood called Reservoir Triangle on the edge of Cranston. About five years after that we moved to our present location, 184 Broad Street, where downtown, the westside and South Providence converge. So when the cloud of God moves, we move with it. It has been our story that our location is fluid and our ethos is constant. 

Second, during the pandemic we had a dramatic shift in our philosophy of mission. For years we would, essentially, draw a circle around wherever our church building was located and say—“this is now our mission field.” But during the pandemic we started to feel more love and connection to our neighbors where we live and the places we spend most of our time, like where we work 40+ hours a week. The reality is that those who attend Ren Church are from all over. The majority actually live outside the city of Providence in places like Cranston, Rumford, Barrington, Warwick, Warren, Pawtucket, North Smithfield, Fall River, Woonsocket, Coventry, West Warwick, Seekonk, Attleboro, and so on. Focusing our mission primarily where we live and work suddenly made the location of where we gathered on Sundays not as important. It just needed to be central and accessible to all. 

Some have wondered about the urban mission work we’ve been developing in the last decade in the neighborhood around our present location called Trinity Square. We created an arm of the church specifically for this purpose called “CityLove.” Our CityLove initiatives will continue because they are part of our ethos to care for the local poor. Many in the church serve on the CityLove team and will continue that regardless of where Ren gathers on Sundays. We also have someone on staff who devotes part of her week every week to developing CityLove. 

All that said, we found a space to suit our needs just over the city line at 10 Tripps Lane in East Providence in a quiet, tucked away area. There’s nothing at all fancy about the space. It’s a warehouse that is part of a larger building owned by Pace (a non profit). Pace didn’t need the extra warehouse space so put it on the market for lease at a very affordable rate. It’s about 7500 square feet. Plenty of parking. Concrete floors. High open ceilings. Cinder block walls. Very industrial. It’s quite unimpressive. The entrance is hidden around the back of the building. The location is surrounded by residential houses, industrial buildings, and woods. It is central and accessible. 

Our lease officially begins May 1st which is when we’ll start the process of making an ugly warehouse into a place of worship. We are excited about this next season of fusing together our best to build something beautiful for the glory of God. We see this season as an opportunity to grow together through generosity and servanthood. 

Can you help? 

Some of you reading this may not attend Ren Church weekly but are friends, family, and fans of the work. Perhaps you attended the church in your younger years. Many of you attended when you were students at Brown University or Rhode Island School of Design. Thanks for cheering us on from afar! It means so much to us. It takes a village to raise a church. We are where we are because so many of you have poured into this work in so many ways. 

As you may know, the cost of labor and materials has increased dramatically since the pandemic. About 15 years ago we renovated a space (77 Reservoir Ave) for under $50,000. This building at 10 Tripps is just a little bigger, but the build out will be similar. I am anticipating the cost will be at least double what it was back in 2009. We are raising money through what we are calling our “Spring Offering.” Now, just so you know, I’ve been pressing our Core members to give sacrificially. And they have been giving very generously! I would not feel comfortable asking for help outside of the Ren community if those inside were not sacrificing. I believe that the collective generosity of those who attend will supply most of what we need. But I know that we are going to need some outside donations to make this happen. If it is in your heart to help Ren Church—thank you!

Be sure to mark your donation “Spring Offering” - all donations are tax deductible. Thx! 

All this focus on establishing us in a new space in this season makes me wonder about the value of a worship space. For 2000 years Christians have met in all kinds of spaces—catacombs, secret basements, gothic cathedrals, modern worship centers, houses, schools, warehouses, bars, community centers, circus tents, theaters, and many other places. The actual place does not seem to matter that much. It seems like God has proven that He can work powerfully in just about any space that His people gather. What does matter is that there is a space, some kind of space, that can accommodate a local church gathering together. Consider some of the things that happen in worship spaces. People who are lost are found. Prodigals come home. People are called to ministry. Friendships are formed. Children encounter God’s love. People are healed. Lives are touched and transformed. The Word of God is proclaimed. Christ is exalted. The presence of Jesus is manifested in tangible ways. What happens in worship spaces is sacred. We experience the kingdom of God “on earth as it is in heaven.” Establishing a worship space has eternal importance. Selah. 

If you have any questions at all about any of this feel free to reach out at scott@renchurchri.org and I will respond back soon. 

Laboring for the glory of Christ our King, 

Scott A