Your church kitchen does not just have to be a means to an end. It can be part of the end itself. Group kitchens often become functional and uninspiring places, but that is to miss the opportunity that it offers to serve your mission and grow you community.
Here are some ways that your kitchen can become a core contributor to the purpose of your church group.
The kitchen is a place to build skills
A well-equipped kitchen that is pleasant to work in is the perfect place to develop baking and cooking abilities. Either you and your team can hone them in order to help cater to the community, or it can be a place where you can invite the community in to learn essential skills. Or why not both?
Members of the wider community may not have access to equipment and space, to practice kitchen skills, and your kitchen can offer somewhere for those who don’t have the opportunity to learn at home.
Of course, your kitchen will need to be well equipped, safe and hygienic. If yours is not, it might be time to renovate. We recommend a semi-commercial kitchen design, which is easy to clean, and durable enough to handle heavy use.
Your kitchen can be at the heart of your outreach
Young, aged, vulnerable, or lonely people can find themselves without support, or even without hope. Sometimes all it takes is a warm meal and an even warmer welcome to remind them that someone cares.
Occasional, regular, or semi-regular events can offer valuable fixtures for those who need support and company. The kitchen is a vital component of that, since meals are a perfect focal point for conversation and company.
If you are going to cater frequently or at scale, then a semi-commercial kitchen is essential. Domestic-style kitchens (e.g. vinyl-wrapped MDF) deteriorate far too quickly to handle the volume of a community group or church kitchen. We recommend polyester powder-coated mild steel kitchen carcass which is wipe-clean and durable by design.
Alternatively, if budgets require you could opt for a wooden kitchen, but to protect the longevity of the kitchen, make sure you choose wood with sufficient build quality. Steelplan’s Woodplan range, for example, uses a tongue and groove system, which interlocks along the length of the assembled sides, which doesn’t create the stress points of a screw-together system.
Drawing people into fellowship
Your kitchen is also an ideal catalyst to grow your congregation. Fun family and seasonal events build your reputation in the community, draw people to your church, and show them a glimpse of what your group stands for and the kind of environment they create. That can be the start of a process that brings them closer to your community.
Do not underestimate the value of appearances. Of course, your mission is about far more than what’s on the surface, but attracting people to your church will be easier when the building itself is bright, warm, and welcoming. Your choice of kitchen design will help a great deal with that.
Steelplan Kitchens’ mild steel design come with a choice of 18 colours, and our Woodplan range offers 70 fascia colours. Whichever you choose, there will be a design to suit the personality of your community. Want to explore a kitchen renovation or have questions about a new design? Get in touch on [email protected] or 0208 254 0090, and our friendly team will be more than happy to offer some advice.
