spaces

Why We Value the Four Spaces

At Olympia City Church, we believe authentic apprenticeship happens across multiple relational environments, not in a single gathering or program. Our four spaces (Reunion, City Group, Fight Club, and Family Triads) reflect how Jesus himself apprenticed his disciples and how the early church grew together.

Jesus’ Model

Throughout Scripture, we see a consistent pattern of God’s people gathering in different configurations for different purposes. Jesus himself modeled this approach masterfully. He preached to crowds of thousands, equipped seventy-two disciples for mission, invested deeply in the twelve apostles, and shared His most intimate moments with Peter, James, and John. This wasn’t arbitrary, Jesus understood that different group sizes create different dynamics, and each serves a unique purpose in forming disciples who can carry on His mission.

The early church continued this pattern. In Acts 2, we see believers devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer; activities that required both large gatherings and smaller, more personal connection in homes. This multi-faceted approach wasn’t optional; it was essential to their formation as the people of God.

Understanding the Four Relational Spaces

In the 1960s, anthropologist Edward T. Hall identified what he called “proxemics,” which is the study of how humans use space in relationships. He discovered that people interact differently depending on physical and relational distance, and that these different spaces serve distinct purposes in human community. Building on Hall’s research, author Joseph Myers applied these insights to church life, identifying four spaces where authentic belonging occurs: public, social, personal, and intimate.

These aren’t hierarchical levels where the goal is to move everyone from public to intimate. Rather, they are four distinct and equally valid environments where different aspects of discipleship flourish. People need significant belonging in all four spaces to experience holistic spiritual growth. This understanding challenges the common assumption that intimacy is always the goal, recognizing instead that genuine community and transformation happen across multiple relational contexts.

The Four Spaces We Need

Reunion: Public Space (85+ people)

Vision - Inspiration - Corporate Identity

In our largest gathering, we experience the power of collective worship and teaching. This is where we celebrate Jesus’ work together, share a common story, and remember we’re part of something bigger than ourselves. Here we proclaim the Kingdom to the multitudes and learn about Jesus through teaching that reaches many at once. With more than one CityGroup, these times together often feel like a Family Reunion.

CityGroup: Social Space (55-70 people)

Mission - Community - Lighter Connections

This mid-sized gathering fills what leaders call “the missing space.” It’s large enough that newcomers are comfortable and don’t feel like all eyes are on them, yet small enough that no one falls through the cracks. In City Group, we explore what it means to live out the ways of Jesus in our community and mission together. This is where neighborly relationships form, where we share snapshots of ourselves and begin to see how we might serve together. Following our teaching series, we ask ourselves: How will what we’re learning reflect in our community? What are we going to do about it?

Family Triads: Personal Space (3-4 families)

Connection - Belonging - Shared Life

Groups of 3-4 families gather every other month for shared meals and deeper connection. This is where we build genuine relationships, invest in each other’s lives, and experience the warmth of community. Family Triads provide a place to truly belong; to be known and to know others in a way that strengthens our bonds and reminds us we’re not alone in following Jesus.

Fight Clubs: Intimate Space (6-12 people)

Accountability - Discipleship - Deep Transformation

The deepest growth happens in intimate relationships where we can be fully known and challenged. In Fight Club, we experience closeness and support as we challenge each other to live out the ways of Jesus. This is where discipleship happens most intensely—where we fight together both for the gospel and against sin in our lives. Through mutual accountability, encouragement, and prayer, we become like Jesus. Jesus with Peter, James, and John modeled this deepest level of transformation.