In my years as an executive pastor, not ever having facilities staff, I had to develop a team of volunteers and contractors that handled the facilities maintenance program. I remember talking to one of the contractors one day when the "ongoing nature" of facilities maintenance came up. I said, "The facilities game never ends!" Since then, I've said it dozens of times. I know from first-hand experience that taking … [Read more...]
Faith And Church Building Programs
The Huge "Leap Of Faith" Required Of The Church When It Comes To Land And Buildings
It occurred to me for the first time early in the life of our church when we were in the beginning stages of raising funds for land and a new building. To buy land and build a building, the church has to run a capital campaign to raise funds. And, to run a capital campaign, church leadership must “vision cast,” which means having some idea of what is going to be built. Right? But, how do the leaders know what's … [Read more...]
A Place For Everything And Everything In Its Place
Learning The Ins And Outs Of An Operational Must!
The more I serve in this capacity, the more I realize that much of what I’ve learned over my years in corporate applies to managing the church. “Doing church” each weekend is a lot about logistics. You know, having everything you need, where and when you need it. Pulling this off, especially in a multi-purpose facility, is difficult. Over time, everything gets shuffled, and the clutter and inefficiency stifle you … [Read more...]
Church Security Practices
Five Things To Consider When Evaluating Your Church's Security Practices
It's always a good time to review/evaluate your church's security practices. Is your church ready for anything? Can you protect the senior pastor and everyone else should somebody decide to do something stupid? Here are a few things to consider: Be Intentional - The first step is to raise the awareness of the staff and key volunteers. Everyone must understand the threat. Preparation - As the story … [Read more...]