Wildesign Group Architects Inc.

We often encourage churches to resist the “If You Build It, They Will Come” mentality. While facilities can help or hinder a ministry, they should not drive the ministry—if they do, then the tail is wagging the dog. It’s true that new or enhanced spaces can attract attention and may even draw people in for a closer look. But they will not stay unless they connect with a vibrant ministry—or if the church is becoming a nice community club with some morals, good things for the kids, and nice facilities. That’s why, when we work with churches, our goal is not just to complete a renovation or building project, but for the church body to embrace the purpose of the new space—as a tool for ministry.

So, naturally, Michael Craven’s recent blog title caught my eye, “If You Build It, They Will Come, Ecclesiology.” Responding to Michael Spencer’s recent “The Coming Evangelical Collapse,” Craven suggests that:

“The new ecclesiastical premise is that the worshipping congregation exists for the lost, the person not actually in the church. Build a building, strategically located (based on the latest demographic trends/data), make it nice, and hope they come. Given this new target audience, we then make some compromises. The sermon can’t focus on doctrine and theology; that might be confusing to visitors. So we jettison expository preaching—aimed at equipping the saints—for topical preaching addressing felt needs. This changes as the felt needs change and the Body never gets anything more than lowfat milk!”

Craven clearly welcomes the lost to worship services. But he challenges this new ecclesiology that has replaced theological depth with business models and strategies. Churches can certainly benefit from those strategies, but they can evolve from helpful approaches for ministry effectiveness into the ministry itself—that’s the tail wagging the dog.

Any facility evaluation and subsequent building project must be grounded in the mission, vision, purpose, giftedness and passion of a church fulfilling its part of the Great Commission. When that happens, then the dog is wagging the tail. And finished building projects can be tools for ministry use, renewal, launching, and/or energizing—all for the glory of God.

There are a lot of good church conferences available these days. There are so many, that it’s likely you can’t make it to all of them. Fortunately, some of the people who do get to go also make time to blog about it.

If you really wanted to get to Exponential ’09 recently, but just couldn’t make it, don’t fret. We’ve compiled a list of blogs and bloggers who were there, and thinking of you. You hardly have to miss a beat.

Ed Bahler blogged about,

• Are We Cowards?
• A Broken Spirit
• So You Think You’re a Leader
• Brains Without Boldness

Brad, over at Aspen, blogged his Gleanings from Exponential 09.

Dave Ferguson, pastor at CCC in Naperville, posted the official video of Francis Chan’s introduction and a picture he won’t forget anytime soon.

Mary Beth Stockdale posted,

• What is Missional?
• Notes from Erwin McManus
• Notes from Francis Chan
• Matt Chandler on Making Disciples

Church planting “junkie” Doug Foltz uploaded his notes from 17 sessions as documents that you can get from his blog. Fortunately, he also created a tag so I can just send you here.

Pastor Brian Hofmeister posted his notes in about a dozen recent updates on his blog as well.

Finally, you can also check out a few of the articles featured on Exponential’s website.

Any other good Exponential ’09 resources I’m missing? Did you blog your experience? Leave a link for everyone in the comments!

Church Solutions posted an article recently on moving forward with a building project in a down economy.

“Tough economic times can put a real strain on contributions to your church’s building funds. However, the same economic climate can increase attendance, as families find comfort through spirituality and faith support groups.”

The paradox of more people and less money creates tension for facilities and leadership. The article, “Maximizing Building Efforts in a Bad Economy” suggests easing the facilities tension by starting with a master plan. This involves,

1. Reviewing your current facility needs
2. Planning for future growth

An experienced architect can walk you and your building team through the master planning process. Other suggestions from the article include:

• Choose durable materials for the building structure. It will be more costly in the long term to choose less expensive materials now, and have to replace them in a few years.
  
• Use value engineering strategies to incorporate systems that will save on utilities over time. Again, these may cost a little more up-front, but will save money in the long run.
  
• As you look at cutting costs on the interior, consider which items are more costly to replace. One suggestion is using high-end sound cables from the beginning so you can more efficiently upgrade your system over the years.

For the entire article, click here.

The other challenge ministry leaders face in times such as these, the challenge that the Church Solutions article does not address, is leading people in Truth and inspiring hope. Our friends at Aspen want to help you with this.

If you’re in the Chicago land area, plan to join them on Thursday, May 21, for a free lunch at Maggiano’s in Naperville. Ed Bahler will facilitate a discussion on “how some leaders are cutting through the noise of their confusing world and guiding their people.” For more information, or to register, email Kristin at kruther@aspengroup.com.