Have you heard of a “third place”? Sociologists use this term to describe informal spaces outside the home and workplace where people can relax, connect, and build relationships.
. . . the places outside of the home (the first place) and the workplace (the second place) where people go to converse with others and connect with their community. In this casual and social environment, no one is obligated to be there and cost should not prevent people from attending. It is a place where we can interact with members of our community and even turn strangers into friends. —University of Chicago
Recently, our family discovered how much difference such a place can make.
On the evening of August 22, we arrived at Bread & Better Life Café for Tasty Terrariums, a free event sponsored by Younger Generation Church (YG), the young adult ministry of the Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church. Promoted exclusively through social media, the gathering drew more than 40 people from across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including children, grandparents, and young adults.
“Saturday was so much fun!” exclaimed Briana Graves, co-founder of Cup of Joy, Co. “Sierra and I loved getting to meet new people and be a part of something that brought the Fort Worth community together.”
In the café’s social room, we joined other guests sampling complimentary drinks, baked goods, and charcuterie cups provided by young entrepreneurs. As music played and conversations developed around us, the tension we had carried into the café started to loosen.
“It was great seeing everyone be willing to try something new, have fun, and enjoy the experience," lauded Elle Parks, DFW Culture and Community Influencer. “We had so much fun, and the dessert terrariums turned out delicious!”
Our mood lightened further when we joined more than 20 participants in the community room to create edible terrariums by layering brownies, graham cracker crumbs, frosting, and candy inside small glass jars.
The activity prompted jokes and plenty of laughter as we enjoyed each other’s company. After studying our completed terrariums, my daughter admitted, “Yours actually looks really good.” I rarely outshine her at crafts, so I savored the victory.
“I may have zero intention of eating my terrarium, but the thing I did consume Saturday night was the community,” chimed in Raquel Mares. “The terrarium was cute, but watching children, young adults, parents, and older adults naturally create, laugh, and connect reminded me that the activity was the bridge, not the point—and this space truly feels like a front porch to the church.”
By the end of the evening, the stress we had carried in had given way to the simple pleasure of enjoying one another’s company. Without realizing it, we had experienced exactly what organizers hoped that a third place could provide: room to set aside the pressures of daily life and reconnect.
And we weren’t the only ones. Alberto Mares and his wife attended in search of a creative date night but left with something more.
“We loved the ambience of Bread & Better Life Café and enjoyed getting a chance to create something unique while meeting new people and hanging out with old friends,” says Mares. “We had a blast and look forward to supporting similar future events.”
“It was such a blessing to see @ygchurch come together to affirm the community,” shared Susana Arellano, founder of Sweet Susy’s Snack Bar. “Whether it was a stranger walking in through the door, or a church member, each person was warmly acknowledged. I felt God’s presence as a YGer but also as a vendor – Tasty Terrarium Night was yet another perfect example of “being Jesus, being YG.”
Creating opportunities for connection is central to Bread & Better Life Café, a Southwestern Union center of influence that serves its Fort Worth neighbors through food, conversation, and opportunities for personal growth. In addition to operating as a café, the ministry offers free classes and workshops supporting physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
“What started as a fun family evening became an opportunity for genuine connection,” shared Yanira Mares, Pastoral Resident at Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church. “We met people we may have never crossed paths with otherwise, shared stories, and discovered how much we had in common that’s what made the evening meaningful.”
That focus made the café a natural setting for YG’s exploration of third places, and based on the success of this first event, I suspect there will be more spaces like this in the future.
“The Tasty Terrariums event was a really fun and unique thing on its own, but even more exciting, I think, was seeing young adults come together and create a space that was laid-back and chill,” says Teymi Townsend, one of the young adults in attendance. “I can see the potential of gatherings like this becoming something super beneficial for growing community and relationships.”
—Article by Lori Futcher, Photos by Teymi Townsend & A Allan Martin