I was looking through NetNewsWire at all the blogs I subscribe too. Reading and catching up with the blogs of those I love to read when I came across this post at a site called Church Relevance, celebrating Cornerstone Harvest Church (Lima, OH) installing a tank and military plane, along with panels showing US Military might on the walls.
Environmental design for churches has changed drastically over the last two decades (at least on the fringes). It has become much more than church interior design. It has evolved into creating entire worlds and environments.
For example, when Cornerstone Harvest Church (Lima, OH) recently revamped their Heir Force youth ministry, they hired Little Mountain Productions to develop the environmental design. The result was a youth ministry design that featured a lifesize M-1 Abrams tank and 40 foot wing span plane coming out of the walls.
Here are couple of the pics — more on the site.
A few comments are saying that seems a bit odd for a kids ministry but then the moderator comments that the ministry is called Heir Force. One of the supporting quotes says,
I think its pretty neat. Churches are very bland these days. The fact that the military theme is not one you normally see in church is what’s going to make this memorable. Grade A for thinking outside the box. I thought the plane was pretty wild.
I had to stop and write a comment — this literally stopped me dead in my tracks and gave me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. This must be a sign of the times that the Church (it seems this one in particular) has lost it’s first love. Wow, even now i am at a loss for words. Here’s what I wrote on the site.
This is so far from the message that Jesus shares. Please tell me this is a joke.
A plane ok — but why a tank and the military theme. Would love to see how the message of Jesus means that the place of worship needs to be miltary themed.
This sickens and saddens me that weapons and the military (things that control and kill) are being turned into things of worship. Sorry to be the one that thinks this is worng after all the “gee isn’t this cool” comments, but please really, what message is this sending to the kids and the community?
Not the same as the one Jesus asked to share.
Please go share your view and let me know what you said and thought.
