Third Spaces

Third spaces, don’t worry, this isn’t a latest news about the multi verse or some sort of space fiction like Star Wars. Third spaces are what we call the places we meet with young people, outside of school but not quite in ‘Church’. This might be an after-school youth drop-in like The LX in Harpenden or Illuminate Café in St Albans. Or it might be a group where there is a specific focus, like a Haven local.

One of the joys of these spaces are the conversations we have and the time we get to spend with young people. At school there is always the looming bell for the end of lunch or the end of the lesson. At a third space, with more time, and perhaps a different, more comfortable environment, conversations somehow end up weaving into a place of deeper honesty.

Just this week we asked the question to the young people attending the LX Drop in ‘What comes to mind when you hear the name Jesus?’. We had conversations from ‘Why do we call God ‘He’?’ to statements saying, ‘He is friend’ and ‘He is someone who is there for me’. (Bearing in mind, some of these young people aren’t followers of Jesus.)

Something I love about third spaces is getting to introduce young people to a variety of different Christians, as we work with other churches and youth organisations. One of these organisations, Young Life, have just launched their new club on a Tuesday evening at Marshalswick Baptist Church. Geoff and I have been going along to help support this club, as a third space that we can invite students to outside of school. With this club only recently launching, it is amazing to see the confidence and open conversations and questions that have already been asked. We have had conversations about the trinity, about why Jesus is called both God and the Son of God, as well as personal questions relating to their own experiences and deep longings for a sense of belonging and purpose.

In essence, these third spaces allow young people the freedom to come and unmask. To openly and honestly explore their beliefs and questions, without the pressures of school, people, time, etc. We see young people coming in who are bullied everywhere else, but have friends and feel a sense of belonging in their third space. Being a part of creating these spaces and helping see young people thrive is beautiful and a hugely rewarding part of our work.

Mary