Field Trip
Yesterday, I took a team of leaders on a field trip to the Twin Cities. We visited four churches that had recently built new or additional facilities.
We had the privilege of meeting three of the senior pastors. (The fourth congregation is between pastors right now.)
It was a valuable learning experience for all of us, and although it is impossible to give you every insight gleaned, I'd like to share a few key "take home" points:
1. Be careful not to overbuild.
2. Build what you really need with a masterplan for future expansion.
3. Maintain a missional mindset -- but be sure to remember the local church is at the very heart of the mission.
4. Building expansion can either catalyze or implode a congregation. Much of it depends on morale going into the project, discerning leadership, and perceived need.
5. Coffee shops in church foyers are warm and inviting.
6. A capital fund drive should be about MISSION rather than just mortar.
7. The mother ship needs to stay strong for long term mission effectiveness. It is possible to "over-extend" in church planting and global efforts, to the detriment of the local church. (the opposite is also true -- some churches only think about themselves to God's dismay and their demise.)
8. A church's facilities speak the congregation's priorities more accurately than the official written mission statement.
9. You can get a fairly clear picture of how things are really going in a church just by touring the facilities and spending twenty minutes with the pastor.
We had the privilege of meeting three of the senior pastors. (The fourth congregation is between pastors right now.)
It was a valuable learning experience for all of us, and although it is impossible to give you every insight gleaned, I'd like to share a few key "take home" points:
1. Be careful not to overbuild.
2. Build what you really need with a masterplan for future expansion.
3. Maintain a missional mindset -- but be sure to remember the local church is at the very heart of the mission.
4. Building expansion can either catalyze or implode a congregation. Much of it depends on morale going into the project, discerning leadership, and perceived need.
5. Coffee shops in church foyers are warm and inviting.
6. A capital fund drive should be about MISSION rather than just mortar.
7. The mother ship needs to stay strong for long term mission effectiveness. It is possible to "over-extend" in church planting and global efforts, to the detriment of the local church. (the opposite is also true -- some churches only think about themselves to God's dismay and their demise.)
8. A church's facilities speak the congregation's priorities more accurately than the official written mission statement.
9. You can get a fairly clear picture of how things are really going in a church just by touring the facilities and spending twenty minutes with the pastor.
Your lists of insights are great. I have felt so clearly the one about the building speaking so loudly the true beliefs of the congregation. I sure don't our church to shout loud and clear "money is king here. If we can aford it we can have it!"Janet
ReplyDeleteI have found in the world of universities as well as the world of churches that often times a leader (dean/pastor) main objective to building something new is to have it on his/her list of accomplishments. Even better, it can be named for him/her.
ReplyDelete