Little Things Are Not Little
When a congregation opens its building for others to use, it may seem like a small, kind gesture. However, the resulting impact can be very big for both the church and for the space partner.
St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in Elkhart is experiencing this impact along with individuals served by Mosaic of Northern Indiana, a not-for-profit, faith-based agency that recognizes that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities desire and deserve greater independence and closer ties to the community.
Once a week, individuals from Mosaic come to St. John’s Great Hall for games and arts and crafts. It’s just one way Mosaic provides opportunities for individuals to experience being out in the community – not just for the people served by Mosaic, but for others too, according to Rebekah (Becky) Branch, Community Relations Manager for Mosaic in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties.
“It is important to Mosaic to help our community learn how to interact with people who are different than they are… to help the public understand that our people are also made in God’s image,” Becky explains.
Pastor-in-Charge at St. John’s, the Rev’d Terri Peterson, says the partnership is likewise creating opportunities to connect people of the parish to the folks of Mosaic: “We host a bingo day, where our members call numbers. I know how connected to God these [Mosaic] folks are. They have a special relationship with God, insight into prayer and joy of the spirit. When others see that, it boosts their faith.”
The Church Buildings for Collaborative Partnerships program helped Pastor Terri prepare St. John’s for the arrangement with Mosaic. The church updated its building use policy for expectations. A letter of agreement for use of the building was created and approved by the Diocese of Northern Indiana.
“We (Mosaic) feel more comfortable with an agreement in place. It gives legitimacy. We have an insurance policy and so the church has a copy of it,” adds Becky.
In gaining Vestry approval for Mosaic’s use of the building, Pastor Terri made a connection to the past.
“75 to100 years ago, the women of the parish brought in special needs kids for activities and even carried them down to the basement. This is a part of our history!”
That history continues in fun ways with the Mosaic partnership, including bingo that was originally requested by Kathy, a Mosaic individual who loves to play. Pastor Terri acquired the game pieces and folks from St. John’s are calling the numbers.
Becky says Kathy was overjoyed when she heard the bingo news: “Her eyes got so big. She could not believe that someone would go to that length for her to have a new opportunity to play bingo with people she knows.”
What any church does with its property is a reflection of how well it is providing Kingdom-expanding stewardship of what God has provided. A free or low-cost agreement that results in space sharing fellowship may not seem like a big deal, but Becky of Mosaic believes it is:
“When Mosaic first came to St. John’s, one of our individuals said, ‘Wow, this is nice.’ It’s the idea that this space is nice, and they’re inviting us in. It’s not lost on our folks. Being able to see the tables set up, people greeting them, it’s very special because they’re not always welcome everywhere. It’s these little things that are not little.”
Written by Linda Buskirk, CBCP Project Director, March 2025