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