2024 FPC Directory Updates

Living Large in a Tiny Space

Posted by First Presbyterian on

As we wrap up our January outreach focus on our mission partner, The Field's Edge, we did a mini interview with John-Mark and Briana Echols:

Can you tell us a little about what's being built in Phase 1? When it is finished, how many residents will be able to live there?

John-Mark: Phase I includes our Community Hall which houses our offices, clinic, market, and flex space. It also includes the first pod of homes: one missional home, 9 single occupant tiny homes, and a community bath/kitchen/laundry facility. We will build our workshop for Microenterprise programs and get our garden and animal programs started out there, too.

So Phase 1 will house a total of 9 formerly homeless individuals, four of whom are currently living in our RVs until the completion of the village. Eventually we will build a total of 100 homes. 
We know that discipleship, mental health care and counseling, and mentorship factor into The Field's Edge's holistic program. Can you tell us a little about what you expect to offer in these areas when you launch?
John-Mark: Discipleship is a huge component of our work. All of the faith components of our ministry are optional, but we operate on Biblical principles and our greatest hope is for our neighbors to know the grace and mercy of Christ. There are four fundamental relationships that we will work to restore: relationship with God, self, others, and the rest of creation. The bulk of the discipleship work is done within the context of relationship with our neighbors so staff, missional residents, and regular volunteers will have opportunity to participate in that. The plan for mental healthcare and counseling services is continuing to be developed. We have relationships with several agencies in Midland that provide these services and we intend to provide space at the village for both in person and virtual appointments for our neighbors to receive the care that they need. We are working with Centers for Children and Families to do a mental health screening as part of our application process and from there we can work with the neighbor to determine what is best for their care. It's really important to us because it's the bread and butter of why we do what we do. I can't stress enough how important it is that we strive to become a forged family in which all of these services occur surrounded by supportive relationships. This video from The Chalmers Center really communicates the core of our mission. 

We know your family will be living at The Field's Edge in a tiny home, too. In fact you've been "living tiny" for a long time! In a culture where families often think they "need" more square footage, what lessons about hospitality and togetherness has God taught you through tiny living? And, just because I'm curious, where do your kids sleep? 

Briana: We are 5 humans and 2 large dogs living in 400sqft, but we do have a large loft area upstairs that is not included in our square footage. The bedroom on the main floor has bunk beds for our big kids and a single closet about 4’ wide for all of our clothes. Although our ceiling height is only 4’ upstairs, we have quite a bit of square footage in that space. We have a king size bed and a pack & play upstairs - and still have room for an incubator for my new quail project! Ha!

One of the biggest lessons that we continuously learn from living together in a small space is abounding patience and gratitude. Four years ago we made the decision to live with less so that we could give more of our finances, our time, and ourselves to minister to others. Rosaria Butterfield uses the term “radically ordinary hospitality” in her book The Gospel Comes with a Housekey. She defines it as “using your Christian home in a daily way that seeks to make strangers neighbors, and neighbors family of God.” When I had a large home, I was more focused on “entertaining” than gospel-centered hospitality. We don’t need a spotless home, a huge space, or the perfect meal to display the love of Christ within our homes. We often open our doors to guests. We squeeze in, stepping over one another occasionally, but we strive to welcome people in and love them well.

I often tell myself that my life would just be easier if we lived in a larger home. Our children would fight less, sleep training our baby would be easier, hosting people would be simpler... and maybe they would be, but this time of closeness has been such a blessing. We strive for a lifestyle of togetherness. As our children age, we’ll probably have to drag them out of their rooms to spend time with us. We’ll have to say no to certain weeknight activities. We’ll have to be intentional about our family time, but we will continue to meet around the dinner table with our family and neighbors for years to come.

Don't forget that Briana will be the guest speaker at our February First Ladies Luncheon. Click to learn more: