helovesme72
Posts: 7
Joined: 11/3/2008
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In this atmosphere most board members will urge caution and delay “until things start getting better.” If we enter a long recession, it will be hard to launch any big new building program.
That quote is from this article: http://www.drurywriting.com/keith/recession.depression.htm
It's an article that I dug up while struggling with my reluctance to participate my church's building project during these times when people are struggling to keep food on the table!
Is it just me, or does it seem a bit frivolous for a church to launch - or forge ahead with - building a new building during these times? My thinking is that unless your church is literally crumbling and unsafe to worship in, lavish plans for new sanctuaries could and should be put on hold until economic conditions improve.
Now I know that some would argue that the church should not take its lead from the world and that God will make a way, regardless of what our circumstances look like. Well, pardon me for being too practical, but I'll say that I think these kind of times are when ministry leaders should be encouraging their members to shore up should things worsen - and they probably will! For Heaven's sake, shouldn't we be encouraging members to pay off debts and IMMEDIATELY stop charging things - unless it's an emergency. Families - and the church as a whole - should be saving what discretionary income they have so that we can help one another and those who may come into our midst seeking aid. I'm not suggesting that any of us stop tithing and honoring God with our firstfruits, but I am suggesting that asking members to "invest" huge portions of their "extra" funds into a "nonessential" new building may not be the wisest thing during a recession that might soon be a depression.
My church has had building plans in the works for at least 2 years now and shows no signs of slowing up...though I'm sure a big enough reduction in contributions may force the Board to put the project on hold. Thing is, there's nothing wrong with the building we currently worship in. It's a fairly large church, though not a megachurch - membership approx. 2,800. It's an old building, but very well maintained and remodeled from time to time. There have been no talks about any structural damage, but the reason we're building is because we've "outgrown" the building. I don't buy it. A more accurate assessment would be that our current building is underutilized.
Is it just me? Couldn't we add to a 3rd Sun. morning service to the two we already hold? Lord knows we've got morrrrrre than enough qualified ministers on staff!!! (So as not to burn out the pastor.) We could add a Sat. evening service...dear Lord, I'd love to do my worshipping on Sat. eve. and truly rest all day Sun.! (When you work in ministry, you learn than your day of worship is hardly a day of rest!) There could be a Sun. evening service as well for those who'd like to sleep in on Sun. morn. There are all kinds of options for increasing use of the building we have instead of forking out several million dollars for a new building. I should add, that the current building is not even half full on Wed. evenings for Bible study. We have a very strong music min., so we get big crowds on Sundays (not to say that the Word isn't good). I dunno, it just seems wasteful to me when I see churches build a new edifice (often to compete with Johnny New Church around the block) and the one they have is closed, vacant and unused for a better part of the week.
Would love to hear the thoughts of some other ministry leaders!?!?!
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