By Matt Robertson
1. Are we ready to build? Building a church is a major change in the life of a ministry and embarking on this path can make or break a church. If not the church, potentially the lead pastor. There are a number of tools available to churches that can assist in discerning whether or not the church can handle this major change. For years, I have utilized a powerful tool called the Transforming Church Index to assist a church undergoing any major initiative from leadership alignment to building. If you have answered the readiness question, then consider the next question.
2. How will we get it done? Now this question has an entire subset of questions that fall under it like: Do we hire an architect, builder, design builder, construction manager, owners representative, etc. to lead us through the process? Where are we going to get the money to build: our bank account, a loan, bonds, a capital campaign, or a combination? Related to the money question and one of the most important to address first is: What can we afford? If you were personally ready to buy a home, you wouldn’t go looking at million dollar mansions if you make $50,000 per year, unless of course you have $900,000 in cash. Churches should always answer the affordability question before any architectural plans are drawn, otherwise there is great risk in having tens of thousands of dollars invested in pretty pictures that you may never see built.
3. Why do we need to build? Out of all of the questions, this is absolutely the most important. Is it because First Baptist of Ourtown just built and you are trying to keep up with them or because lost people matter and we need to reach them? Is it because your growth trends show that you must build or you will be out of space? Can your leaders succinctly articulate why you BELIEVE that your church needs to build? Check out the YouTube video by Simon Sinek which captures the need to understand the why question:
This is from a business perspective, yet it has great value for the church.
If you found this article helpful, you can learn more from ministry expansion experts at Building On Purpose 2020.