Church Gyms

From Brown Church Development —-

In the 1980s – 1990s, churches across the United States built gymnasiums as a means to attract and engage the community.

These spaces aimed to provide a wide array of activities that would cater to the younger generation, offering an alternative space for them to socialize, exercise, and express themselves.

However, as times have changed, this gymnasium-focused ministry approach is no longer as successful as it once was.

At the time, churches realized that in order to remain relevant and maintain their appeal to young people, they needed to offer more than just traditional religious activities.

The concept of Family Life Centers & Church Gymnasium (aka “Sanctinasiums”) seemed to be a perfect solution.

These spaces offered a place where young people could come together while engaging in various sports and recreational activities throughout the week.

During this period, the church gymnasiums were often seen as a symbol of modernity and progress within religious communities. They represented a break from the conventional image of a church and helped bridge the gap between religious life and secular activities. The hope was that by providing a space that catered to their interests, young people would feel more connected to their faith, enhancing their commitment and involvement in the religious community. However, as time went by, the success of church gymnasiums as a means of attracting young people started to dwindle and we believe there are three primary reasons why many churches aren’t building gyms anymore.

1. No Longer a Community Need

Since the early 2000s, virtually all public K-12 Schools now provide physical education to students and are required to have the necessary facilities to accomplish it. At the same time, institutions like YMCAs and Fitness Centers proliferated across the US offering a wide range of facilities and programs to fulfill the need for physical fitness amongst individuals. With these readily available alternatives, the novelty and exclusivity of gymnasiums have diminished, making them less sought-after in most communities.

2. Poor Return on Investment

Churches that choose to invest in building gymnasiums often find themselves facing a lack of return on their investment for various reasons. Constructing a gymnasium can be an expensive endeavor and the practical ministry impact of that investment compared to other similarly priced ministry spaces tends to be very low. Although many churches like to think of their gymnasiums as “multi-use,” a true gym with high ceilings, challenging acoustics, and an institutional feel is not easily transformed into education space, relational space, or even a fellowship hall.

3. Lack of Ministry Programs

Very few churches can justify spending millions of dollars to build a gym. Some organizations like Upward Sports and Awana are doing a good job of helping churches reach communities with ministries outside the walls of a gym. With the rise of competitive youth sports clubs and travel sports, the culture of kids’ sports has shifted. Parents are looking for any opportunity to give their child a “leg up” from an early age and are not attending the more recreational sports opportunities many churches with gyms offer. For those churches who do offer effective recreation ministry, a gym is no longer a necessity.

—- What’s your experience? I would love to hear from you, any of the usual ways we all use these days.