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| Eight Considerations for Leading a Successful | | | | Before an architect is authorized to begin work on |
| Church Building Program | | | | building design or plans, it is imperative the |
| There are many reasons for a church to decide | | | | congregation produce a written church building |
| to enter into a building program. It may be that | | | | program. This program should include: What they |
| the community is growing, the church is growing, | | | | believe; how the church carries out those beliefs |
| or church space is saturated. Whatever the | | | | in worship, education, fellowship, evangelism, |
| reason, the following considerations will help you | | | | recreation, community involvement, etc.; how |
| develop and conduct a successful church building | | | | they conduct worship service; what constitutes |
| program. | | | | their program of Christian education, including the |
| 1. Write A Statement Of Mission | | | | space needs of all age groups; how the church |
| Writing a statement of mission is a very | | | | plans for fellowship experiences and the |
| important first step in the process of planning | | | | equipment needed; what work areas are needed |
| your new facility. The purchase of land, the | | | | for the pastor, church staff and teachers; needs |
| master planning, and the design of the facility are | | | | for sanitary facilities, and other space to insure |
| all related to, and dependent upon, the mission of | | | | the comfort and safety of those who will use the |
| your church. The church should plan what | | | | building. |
| it’s going to do in the building as an | | | | By thinking through all these matters, the major |
| expression of faith in obedience to God’s | | | | aspects of a building project are established well |
| call and the mission He has given. The church | | | | before the building itself is designed. Your major |
| must know why they are here as a congregation, | | | | goals will be established, while allowing flexibility in |
| what they are going to do, and how they do it. | | | | creating the details of your church design. |
| When this is understood, then the church can plan | | | | 6. A building that reflects its people |
| adequately for the space and equipment needed | | | | The building must be an expression of the whole |
| to do their work and express their faith. Your | | | | congregation (within reason) and not the vision of |
| statement of mission should include present | | | | one person, or a small group. To accomplish this, it |
| ministry and outreach, as well as plans for the | | | | is necessary to involve as many people as |
| future. | | | | possible in the study groups and in writing the |
| 2. Timing | | | | church building program. The design of your |
| When is the best time to build? Conventional | | | | building should reflect your churches personality, |
| wisdom says its time to build when the church | | | | goals, age, income, beliefs, hopes, wishes and |
| reaches 80-85% of its worship capacity for the | | | | desires. What the members of a congregation |
| first time. While the 85% capacity rule of | | | | believe, and how they practice those beliefs in |
| thumb is sound and proven, the more important | | | | worship, fellowship, education, evangelism, |
| thing is for the church to reach it that first time! | | | | recreation, community involvement, etc. really |
| Growth patterns, whether positive or negative, | | | | should determine the shape, size and style of |
| tend to feed on themselves. If you enlarge your | | | | building they build. Being able to communicate this |
| facilities as you approach saturation, you permit | | | | to your architect will help make the design of the |
| growth to continue. If you don’t, you then | | | | building welcoming to both members and seekers |
| impose an upper limit on growth and upon | | | | as well as more effective as a ministry tool. |
| reaching your facility saturation point the | | | | 7. A building that says welcome |
| growth rate slows, eventually stops and often | | | | Let the building say to your neighbors This is a |
| reverses itself to a less saturated plateau. If the | | | | friendly place. We want you to come in and join |
| space situation is not properly addressed, | | | | our fellowship. Let us help meet your needs. We |
| churches frequently find a decline sets in and the | | | | care about you. If parking is readily accessible |
| church begins a roller coaster ride of | | | | and well lit, the entrance is easily seen, there are |
| growth and decline, repeatedly bumping up against | | | | few steps to climb, and the building is warm and |
| the saturation point. | | | | friendly; then a new person sees the welcome |
| 3. Understanding building as part of a process | | | | signs they are looking for. You must make a |
| A church building project is a major experience in | | | | conscious effort to make it easy for new people |
| the life of an individual and of a congregation. For | | | | to visit your church. |
| a great many people this experience has opened | | | | 8. Spend your money wisely |
| new spiritual horizons and led to a deeper and | | | | Don’t overspend on your building program. |
| closer walk with God. For some, it has been a | | | | It is very easy to get caught up in the |
| source of bitter disappointment, frustration, and | | | | enthusiasm of building and leave the budget |
| deteriorated spiritual life. The difference in | | | | behind. Staying focused on your goals and within |
| outcome is not just happenstance; it happens | | | | your budget are key ingredients to insure a |
| because of the attitude, concept, and | | | | successful building program. There are a variety |
| administration of the entire project. You should | | | | of legitimate ways to save money in a building |
| view the building effort as a process’ in | | | | program, including using off the shelf |
| the continuing life of your church. A new building is | | | | church plans. Through the practical application of |
| a milestone in your growth, and that growth is | | | | their experience, a church building consultant can |
| intended to continue onward until Christ returns. | | | | help your church reduce the cost and the effort |
| So, while doing the necessary thinking and planning | | | | in building. It is often a good idea to get an outside |
| for the building, you must allocate time and | | | | consultant involved as they have both the |
| resources not only for current responsibilities, but | | | | experience and objective viewpoint to help |
| also for the future growth opportunities for your | | | | maximize the results of a building effort. |
| ministry. | | | | The general rule of thumb for how much financing |
| 4. Develop a work calendar | | | | you can safely afford is three times your annual |
| A key step towards a successful church building | | | | income minus less any debt you already have. |
| project is to insure that the work of each | | | | This will vary depending on circumstances, but it is |
| committee or study group is clearly defined and | | | | a good place to begin. One important thing to |
| understood. It is imperative that they see their | | | | remember is not to start construction until you |
| particular work in relationship to other groups and | | | | have secured your all of your financing. Nothing will |
| the building program as a whole. Organize your | | | | kill enthusiasm in a building program faster than |
| meetings, specifying the results you hope to | | | | running out of money before the job is done. |
| achieve in a certain time frame. This calendar | | | | While it is assumed that the church will seek |
| should be specific and written down. This task is | | | | God’s wise counsel through His Word, do |
| necessary so as to establish benchmarks to know | | | | not underestimate the power of prayer and |
| where you are in each phase of your building | | | | meditation. We like to say that the devil will show |
| goals and to insure that all of the requisite parts | | | | up in every building project, as he hates when |
| come together in a timely and seamless fashion. | | | | God’s Kingdom and God’s people |
| 5. Base your Master Plan on your philosophy of | | | | are growing. |