These are interesting times to live in. Last week at The Leadership Summit hosted by Willow Creek, Bill Hybels entitled his opening address “Leading in a New Reality”. He likened the economic turmoil to a rogue wave that has turned businesses and churches upside. To me, this “rogue wave” also seems like a tsunami that has crashed on the shore, permanently altering lives and landscapes. Few believe it will ever return to “the way it was”. However, I am not alone in believing that the same forces that have destroyed wealth and work and confidence have also provided a significant opportunities for the church. When the things that people have built their lives on and trusted in (especially in America) prove unreliable, it is an opportunity for them to find true wealth and security in Jesus. Many churches have experienced significant gains in attendance since last fall. Despite lost jobs and income, the drop in giving at these churches has been relatively small. At the same time, they are seeing the need to reallocate funds to help people that have lost jobs and houses. This is a new reality for all of us who lead – whether in church or business or in our families.
For our ministry-business, reality has certainly changed significantly. For years, we have attempted to keep the churches we work with from building more than they can afford. When all seemed well with the economy, Continue Reading »
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“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.” Though this statement by Alan Lakein refers to personal time management, it also explains what we do with many of our clients who expect to expand their facilities in phases. We rely on years of experience in church architecture and the guidance of God to help us impart wise counsel on the best strategies to use to plan for the future.
We help our partner churches develop strategies for bringing the future into the present; strategies with economic benefits that will be realized both now and later. As part of our initial analysis of a church’s needs, we look at their history to determine the ministry spaces that will be needed and incorporate them into the plans. A church may be projecting a large increase in the size of their congregation ten years down the road, but that does not mean that they should build for that now as it would overwhelm the people using it. In fact, too many empty seats makes people feel uncomfortable, giving them the impression that the church is dwindling rather than thriving, contributing to a reduction in the number of people who attend services. On the contrary, if a church builds for only their current needs without intentional planning for future phases within the current construction, later expansions will be more costly and intrusive. Continue Reading »
Tags: 80% rule, expandable
Posted in Classroom, Designs, Growth Planning, Newsletters, Stewardship, Summer 2009 | No Comments »
Jun 16th, 2009 by Colleen
Teamwork and Perseverance! These ingredients, needed for any project, were essential for the Willowdale Chapel project due to the challenges faced by the church. A 25,700 square foot addition was built for the growing congregation. The new facility includes a worship center for 800, a children’s education wing, and a large fellowship lobby along with the framework for a future balcony and a second floor youth facility.
This project provided an opportunity to learn, grow and develop during a time of change, the recession and a limited budget. It is an example of how the “complete project team” is essential. The process, while tedious and challenging at times, ultimately brought satisfying results. Continue Reading »
Posted in Newsletters, Summer 2009 | 1 Comment »
Large spaces, such as a Fellowship Lobby, are both useful and necessary for many ministries – but making that space feel comfortable and purposeful rather than overwhelming and impersonal can be a challenge.
To begin scaling down a large space, first consider the overall usage. What different types of activities or meetings will occur? Is there a need for larger groups to meet or mingle as well as areas for more private conversations? Space for people to lounge as well as dine? Areas of display? Realizing the many uses of the space, both formal and informal, will help you scale it down. Depending on the size of the space and how many different functions it needs to handle, there may not be enough room to designate an area for each function. Prioritize and determine what functions can be combined to create an area that can multi task.
Spaces can be defined through millwork, furniture, soffits, a change in flooring material or something as simple as a change in wall color. Even though you are creating these “zones”, you want to remember to make sure the overall space feels cohesive. The aesthetics need to feel consistent and the areas should flow easily from one to the next.
Posted in Inspirations, Newsletters, Summer 2009 | No Comments »
