Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 313

Why Church Buildings Matter: An Interview with Tim Cool

I am continuing my Sunday afternoon blog series on church facilities. This week I am pleased to interview Tim Cool. Tim has assisted more than 350 churches (over 4 million square feet) throughout the United States with their facility needs. He has collaborated with churches in the areas of facility needs analysis, design coordination, pre-construction coordination, construction management, and lifecycle planning/facility management. Tim is a conference speaker for numerous national conferences and seminars.

When a church thinks that they have a facility or building issue that is impacting their ministry initiatives, where should they start the process?

I believe that church buildings matter because people matter.  With that context, we cannot start with the building as the primary focus or the starting point of any discussion.  It has to start with the vision, mission, culture, and DNA of the church. Who are you? Why do you exist? Why do you do things the way you do?

Another way to articulate this is looking at what makes your church unique. What is your intentional difference? Human DNA is the indicator that confirms that every human being God created is different. The same applies to every church.  They are all different and it is critical to start at that point in the discussion.  Until that can be fleshed out and fully adopted by the leadership, there is no reason to talk about buildings.

If we start with understanding the uniqueness and the intentional difference of the church, then what? Do we jump to the building at this point?

I believe the uniqueness discussion is only the foundation that needs to be laid in order to drill down on the WHO/WHY evaluation. Once the leadership can identify their uniqueness, then that leads to understanding the “story” that will be told as the manifestation of that uniqueness. The uniqueness is great for the inner sanctum of your lead team or elders, but there must be an outward communication or story-telling of this uniqueness. That then leads to grappling with the how/why we do the things we do to communicate the story. Why do we do education the way we do? Why is our worship services structured like they are? On and on the discussions need to go.

On the heels of these discussions is when to then determine the best TOOL to accomplish the previously assessed components.  Notice I said tool and not building. Although I have been involved in facility development for over 28 years, I am convinced more than ever that a building is NOT always the best tool. It may be a playground, or a ball field, or a rented soup kitchen, or it may be giving your building fund to a mission’s organization. I believe the word “building” should be removed from our planning vocabulary until it is decided if a physical structure is the right tool.

In your book, Why Church Buildings Matter, you talk about well digging vs. temple building.  Unpack that for me.

The concept is fairly simple and yet profound. It is based on the John 4 passage about the Samaritan woman at the well. We know that Jesus goes to a well in the middle of the day and meets a women with a sordid past and shares life with her by getting a drink of water, physical water, and then offers and provides living water, a relationship.

We have been notorious in building temples—buildings that are used one or two days a week. Places that people in our community believe you have to act, look, and smell a certain way to enter. A place with too many “thou shalt not” rules, whether they are real or perceived.

A well, on the other hand, is a part of the community and a common place. It was not a place that the community folk would think of when contemplating a place to “meet God.” And yet, that is exactly what happened. This common place become a destination where God met a women in need of a Savior, even though that is not what she was looking for that morning as she was heading out to gather water.

The story continued, and the women went and told her neighbors that there was something supernatural happening at the well and that they needed to come check it out. And they did. How cool is that? They headed to the well and not the “temple”.

I’ve heard you use the term “facility stewardship” and how the condition of a facility can impact the “story.” Why is that important?

Based on our research, as well as those of non-church experts, the cost to operate your facility can exceed 70% to 80% of the total cost over a 40-year span of time. In fact, the actual cost of sticks and bricks is usually less than 20% of the total life cycle cost, and yet we too often fail to properly care for the facilities God has entrusted to us. That can also reflect poorly on us to the guests that venture into our facilities…which can be that item that is a distraction to their experience and opportunity to hear the gospel. That would be a shame.

Pray for Southwestern Baptist Church

Location: Johnson City, Tennessee

Pastor: Greg Salyer

Worship Time: 10:45 AM Eastern Time

Fast Facts: Founded in 1967, Southwestern Baptist has a strong heritage of missions involvement. They are now partnering to plant a church in Cincinnati through the Send North America initiative and are excited to play a role in what God is doing throughout the cities on our continent. Please pray for Pastor Salyer as he leads this church planting partnership.

Website:  SWBJC.org

“Pray for . . .” is the Sunday blog series at ThomRainer.com. We encourage you to pray for these churches noted every Sunday. Please feel free to comment that you are praying as well.

If you would like to have your church featured in the “Pray for…” series, download this information form and return it to the address on the form.

The Importance of a Supportive Spouse in Ministry: Five Key Areas

I am tempted to say that my ministry would be incomplete without my wife, Nellie Jo. It is more accurate, however, to say I likely wouldn’t have a ministry without her. She not only has been supportive; she has been a vital partner in my ministry.

Pastors and church staff members across the nation have shared with me the importance of their spouses in ministry. I was again reminded of this reality when I read a recent article in Harvard Business Review. The article was based on an incredibly impressive research project interviewing almost 4,000 business executives over a five-year period.

There were many parallels in this study and the anecdotal information I have heard from pastors and church staff members. To be clear, the HBR study looked at business executives, not those serving in churches. And they broadened the survey from “spouses” to “spouses and partners.” For those reasons, we can certainly expect divergence in the results compared to those serving churches vocationally.

Still, look at each of these key five areas and see for yourself if you can identify in your own ministry. The numbers may differ, but I think the sentiments will be similar.

The importance of a spouse for emotional support (34% of the men and 29% of the women). A pastor recently shared with me his frustration with his church and his temptation to quit ministry. I asked him what has kept him going thus far. He told me: “The call of God and the support of my wife.” Many of us in ministry have similar stories.
The importance of a spouse to accept career demands (16% of the men and 17% of the women). Someone who serves on a church staff is typically on call 24/7. Though pastors and church staff should do everything they can to give their families time, emergencies happen. Many needs are time sensitive. It takes a special spouse to handle that reality.
The importance of a spouse to provide practical help (26% of the men and 13% of the women). In the HBR article, this practical help specifically addressed child raising and housekeeping and similar functions. I know a man whose wife serves as children’s minister in a church. It is very important for him to be home on weekends, particularly Sundays, because that’s his wife’s workday. He needs to be available to take care of the kids.
Career advice (19% of the men and 13% of the women). I have looked to my wife every time I sensed God leading me to another place of ministry. She not only has been supportive, she has offered me wise and timely counsel. I was talking to a pastor just yesterday about a possible ministry change. He shared with me how important his wife is in providing counsel and advice.
Willingness to relocate (10% of the men and 8% of the women). I feel confident that these percentages would be much higher among those in vocational ministry. The ministry is more often than not a very noble and mobile calling.

Keep in mind that the percentages noted in each of the five areas were for business executives. I believe, for the most part, the numbers would be much higher for those in ministry. And though the numbers are not mutually exclusive, there are hardly any leaders in businesses or churches who do not lean on their spouses greatly. Frankly, I can’t see how any pastor or any church staff person can make it in ministry without a supportive spouse.

How do you view these five areas? Are there some areas you would add to the five? Do you have a specific story of a supportive spouse in ministry? I would love to hear from you.

And by the way, Nellie Jo, thank you. I couldn’t make it in ministry or life without you.

photo credit: via photopin cc

7 Reasons Active Members Drop Out of Church – Rainer on Leadership #047

Podcast Episode #047

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In a recent post, I listed seven reasons very active church members drop out. These aren’t your casual members. These are the ones that are there in a leadership role or a serving capacity on a regular basis. In this episode, we discuss the seven reasons they may drop out and provide ways for churches to keep these members involved when they show signs of leaving.

Moral failure.
Dropping out of a group.
Burnout.
Traumatic event. 
Dropping out of a ministry.
Major interpersonal conflict.
Gradual withdrawal.

Episode Sponsor

You can pick up your copy of I Am a Church Member at your local bookstore. And many retailers, churches can also pick up a bulk case of 20 for $5 per book to use in their churches.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free autographed copy of I Am a Church Member.

Resources

I Am a Church Member
The Activity-Driven Church
Melissa: An Interview with Frank Page
10 Reasons for Church Conflict
The Number One Reason for the Decline in Church Attendance
Focus on the Family

Friday Is for Freebies: I Am a Church Member and an NKJV Study Bible

This week’s freebies include my latest book, and a study Bible nominated for an ECPA book of the year award.

Based on an idea originally taken from this blog, I Am a Church Member discusses the attitudes and responsibilities of church members. I address in detail what congregations should really be focusing on—praying for church leaders, being a functioning member, treasuring church membership, and more.

Six chapters with these titles include study questions to guide the discussion:

I Will Be a Unifying Church Member
I Will Not Let the Church Be About My Preferences and Desires
I Will Pray for My Church Leaders
I Will Lead My Family to Be Healthy Church Members
I Will Be a Functioning Member
I Will Treasure Church Membership as a Gift

Also included is the Holman NKJV Study Bible. This new edition modeled after the 2011 ECPA Christian Book Award-winning HCSB Study Bible features every well-conceived study help placed on the same page spread as the related biblical text. It also includes 15,000 study notes, 141 photos, 62 timelines, 59 maps, 40-page concordance, 20 articles and essays on practical and theological issues, 16 illustrations and reconstructions, and 15 charts.

Other details of the NKJV Study Bible include a two-column text setting, center-column cross references, the words of Christ in red type, extensive book introductions, one- and three-year Bible reading plans, a notes section, four-color presentation page and family records section, and two-piece die-cut gift box.

All study features throughout the NKJV Study Bible are designed to put the emphasis where it must be—on making the Scriptures, God’s written Word, clear and understandable.

Enter this week’s Friday Is for Freebies giveaway

To enter this week’s giveaway, fill out the form below. Entries will be closed at midnight Saturday night. We will contact the winner via email on Monday morning. Names and addresses are deleted each week and are just used to select a winner. **RSS or email readers will need to visit the site to enter the giveaway**

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Notable Voices – March 20, 2014

4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Hiring an Employee – Art Rainer

When hiring for an organization, you want to make sure you fill positions the best and brightest candidates possible. You also need to trust the people you hire. Art lists for questions to ask yourself before making your final hiring decision.

 

How a Pastor Should Handle a Problem in the Church – Ronnie Floyd

Ronnie shares five suggestions to help you deal with problems when they arise in your church.

 

Should Pastors Be Excited About Everything? – Mark Dance

Mark explains that the problem with pastors needing to be excited about everything a church does has little to do with the pastor’s excitement and much to do on that which the church is focused.

 

Four Ways You Should Pray for Your Pastors – J.D. Greear

No matter the size of the church or the climate in which they lead, pastors need prayer. J.D. provides four ways you can pray for your pastor.

 

Easter Service Planning: 10 Things To Consider – Troy Page

Easter is coming soon. These 10 considerations will help you plan and follow up with what is likely one of your highest attended Sundays of the year.

 

5 Suggestions to Recover after You’ve Made a Leadership Mistake – Ron Edmondson

I wrote on pastoral do-overs earlier in the week. Ron suggests five ways to recover when you realize you’re in need of a do-over.

The 200 Growth Barrier in Churches Revisited: 9 Observations

I was greatly influenced by, and indeed I was a part of, the church growth movement with its emphasis on numerical growth in congregations. Today, the influence of church growth writers has waned. My son, Jess Rainer, was recently reading an older book in this genre. His interest encouraged me to review some of the contributions of this era.

It was a fascinating journey to read again works from the 1970s and 1980s by Bill Sullivan, C. Peter Wagner, Elmer Towns, Bill Easum, John Maxwell (pre-leadership guru days), Carl George, George Hunter, and others. I was particularly interested in those works dealing with the 200 attendance barrier in churches. So I took a day to review those specific works. Allow me to share with you some observations.

The interest waned in materials on attendance barriers and was replaced by deeper biblical and theological works. This corrective action was sorely needed. Though the authors of these works did not intend it to be so, many of those who read and followed these teachings, including my own, focused on numbers as an end instead of using them as just one good measurement for the health of the church.
It is unfortunate that the interest has waned so significantly though. These teachings can be very helpful. The aversion to and criticism of church growth teachings has, in many cases, caused us to “throw the baby out with the bath water.” The 200 barrier books, for example, dealt with churches struggling to move past a barrier in the 150- to 350-attendance range. Many church leaders would benefit greatly by looking over these principles.
The numerical emphasis is not as important as Great Commission obedience. But if a church is Great Commission obedient, it will have to deal with numbers. The early Jerusalem church, for example, discovered that reality: “And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47, HCSB).
Many of the issues related to the 200 barrier dealt with church members being willing to get out of their comfort zone for the sake of the gospel. That issue has not changed. C. Peter Wagner noted five reasons church members often resist the change needed for growth: the desire to preserve social intimacy; the desire to maintain control; the desire to conserve memories; the desire to protect turf; and the desire to remain comfortable.
One of the most important messages of the 200 barrier works was the imperative for leaders to let go. They can’t be control freaks. They can’t be micromanagers. They can’t always be second-guessing and reviewing what others have done. They must be biblical leaders who equip the saints to do the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:12).
These works showed us the importance of goal setting. It’s not just a numbers game; it’s a statement and step of faith. And it exemplifies good stewardship because it causes you to think ahead about the resources that will be needed.
These works showed us that the attitude of the congregation is critical to breaking the 200-barrier. I have written about this issue in many other articles. Read 1 Corinthians 13 in its original context. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth to tell them what type of attitude they should have as church members. It’s not about them, their preferences, and their needs. It’s about putting others first.
Evangelism must be a priority. I hear little emphasis on evangelism in local congregations today. The 200 barrier books reminded us of the priority of evangelism and the Great Commission. Those are critical reminders for us today.
These works helped leaders become more effective change agents. Change is inevitable. How we deal with change in our churches will determine much of the direction we go. This leadership skill is sorely lacking in many of our church leaders.

Church revitalization is critical in as many as 300,000 Protestant churches, perhaps even more. I am so grateful for the theological recovery and emphasis that has taken place across many congregations. If we wed that emphasis with practical Great Commission obedience, we might just see a wave of churches renewed for years to come.

10 Ways to Improve Your Ministry Today

By Chuck Lawless

You have many options to strengthen your ministry. Read a book. Attend a conference. Talk to another leader. Take a class, or earn another degree. Listen to a podcast. Watch a web seminar. All of these are worthwhile options, and I encourage you to consider them.

At the same time, here are some simple ways from the ministry of Jesus to improve your ministry today:

Agree up front to be obedient to God. It was in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “Not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:39), but this cry marked His entire life. He left heaven and set His sights on a cross in Jerusalem from the beginning. Your ministry can be stronger today if you can say with integrity, “Your will be done – whatever that is.”
Get over yourself. Jesus was the Son of God, yet He pointed away from Himself to the Father. His desire was to please the Father always (John 8:29), following His commands even to His death (John 10: 17-18). Likewise, the Spirit of God points toward the Son (John 16:14). Decide today that you are not the most important person in your ministry, and your work will be stronger.
Teach with clarity and relevance. Those around Him said nobody ever taught with authority like Jesus did (Mark 1:27). He taught, though, with simple images relevant to His hearers. A farmer sowing seed. A mustard seed. Loaves and fish. Vineyards. A fig tree. Salt and light. Moths and rust. Houses and foundations. If you want to improve your ministry today, remember your responsibility is to communicate the gospel, not impress with your knowledge or ability.
Take the gospel to non-believers. That’s what the coming of Jesus was all about. He took on flesh to live our life and die our death. Jesus came so sinners could be redeemed. He came for the sick, not for the well (Matt. 9:12). Take time today to tell somebody about the story of Jesus. You’ll likely find your ministry to be much more exciting because you did what Jesus did.
Develop gospel sensitivity to others. Maybe you remember the story of the bleeding woman who touched Jesus’ garment in Mark 5. The Lord was quickly on His way to the home of Jairus, where a seeming emergency awaited: a little girl was dying. A large crowd pressed around Jesus, but still He felt the distinct touch of a desperate woman. If you want to strengthen your ministry, ask God to help you today not to walk past hurting people.
Take somebody with you when you do ministry. Jesus called His disciples to walk with Him, watch Him, and listen to Him. Paul, too, followed Jesus’ model by sharing his life with Timothy (2 Tim. 3:10-11). Inviting others to do ministry with us is time-consuming and often draining, but doing so is both protective (it provides accountability) and productive (it provides training). Find somebody to help you today.
Invest in 2-3 others. Jesus had 12 disciples, of course, but He focused on Peter, James, and John. He took them to the home of Jairus (Mark 5:35-43), the Mount of Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-13), and the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-42). They saw Him in His glory and in His agony. You can strengthen your ministry by deciding to pour your life into 2-3 others today.
Release others, and then hold them accountable. Too many leaders select others to serve with them, but then do everything anyway. Not so with Jesus. He modeled faithfulness for His followers, gave them instructions, and sent them as His representatives (Luke 10:1-12). Upon their return, He corrected their misplaced priorities as He held them accountable (10:17-20). Today, let your church members do their work, and then help them through supportive accountability.
Pray for your co-laborers. Jesus prayed all night before calling His disciples (Luke 6:12-13). In His most intimate recorded prayer, He interceded for them and for those who would believe through their work (John 17). He taught them to pray (Matt. 6:5-13), including praying for laborers because the harvest is ripe (Matt. 9:37-38).  Spend significant time today praying for your co-laborers, and you might find their ministry boosts yours.
Get alone with God when you need it. That’s what Jesus did. Even when the crowds wanted to hear Him and the sick wanted His healing, He prioritized time with the Father (Luke 5:15-16). Push away from the crowds long enough to be renewed today, and then get back to the task. Your ministry will be stronger.

Tell us which of these ten you want to work on, and we’ll pray with you.

Chuck Lawless currently serves as Professor of Evangelism and Missions and Dean of Graduate Studies at Southeastern Seminary. You can connect with Dr. Lawless on both Twitter and Facebook.

photo credit: Elvert Barnes via photopin cc

Seven Do-Overs Pastors Wish They Had

We are certainly to move forward from past failures and regrets. Paul told us to “forget what is behind and reach forward to what is ahead” (Philippians 3:13). But we can learn from the wisdom of others, even if it includes their past struggles and failures.

So I asked several pastors if they had any specific instances in their pastoral ministry where they wish they had a do-over, an opportunity to reverse something they said or did. To the person, each pastor laughed at my question, not because the question was pointless, but because the answer was so obvious. Every pastor has one or more desired do-overs. Here are the seven most common I heard, with a representative comment from a pastor.

Said or wrote something out of anger. “I wish I could have waited a few hours before I responded. I think everyone needs to put a heated email in the draft folder and wait 24 hours before choosing to respond or not to respond.”
Obsessed with one or a few critics. “I spent way too much time worrying about and responding to just a few negative people in my church. I now realize that my ministry lost its focus, and I neglected the healthier members of the church.”
Failed to admit a mistake. “All I needed to do was to say I made a mistake and apologize. Instead, I dug in and let my pride take control. My ministry at that church never recovered. It was the primary reason I left less than a year later.”
Neglected a family member for a church need. “It seems like I was always able to justify neglecting my children or wife by saying that the church members’ needs were God’s work. But the Bible is clear that I am to take care of my family first; they are God’s work too. I failed too many times.”
Pushed an initiative rather than getting buy-in.  “The building program became about me rather than God’s work at the church. The members voted for it because they love me. But they never owned it for themselves. As a result, we have no momentum to move forward.”
Left a church too soon. “I am guilty of the ‘grass-is-greener’ syndrome. I now live in regret about leaving my former church. I wish I could stop asking ‘what if?’ “
Focused on/obsessed over another church in the community. “For over two years I stayed mad about a new church starting near us, and a megachurch taking families from us. I know I was not the leader I should have been. My obsessions often caused me to have bad attitudes about my own church members.”

The purpose of recollecting these mistakes and desires for do-overs is not to heap guilt or to dwell on past failures. Rather, the purpose is to hear from the wisdom of others so that we may not make the same mistakes they did.

I would love to hear from you about do-overs. Are some of these consistent with your experiences? Are there others you could add?

Trends in Church Facilities: An Interview with Gary Nicholson of Visioneering Studios

This week, I am starting a new feature here on the blog where I’ll be sharing some interviews on topics of concern and interest for the church. The first few interviews will be on the topic of church facilities. We’ve seen a dramatic shift in this field over the past decade, so I’ve asked some of the leading experts in the field for their thoughts on trends they are seeing with church facilities. My first interview is with Gary Nicholson from Visioneering Studios at LifeWay.

Do you see more churches concerned about the size of their worship centers?

Yes, the past decade has taught us to be more thoughtful about how we design our buildings so that we can get the most ministry out of the dollars we spend. Before we build something, we must consider the right size. Building too big, or too small can be a problem for the ministry down the line. Defining what is “big enough” can be difficult, especially for a young, fast-growing congregation.

What are their major concerns?

Being good stewards is probably number one. Limited resources mean the church has to be very intentional about what they build, so they can carry on the ministry without over-taxing the resources at their disposal.

Having too many empty seats in a worship setting is another huge concern. When the room seems more than half empty, the worship seems flat. It takes all of the energy and sense of excitement out of the service.

Leaders want to create an environment that is magnetic, a place the community sees as an asset. Churches want to engage their community, and the facilities can be a big part of how the church is perceived.

What reasons do you see behind this trend?

The economics of the past several years have forced us to take a closer look at how we build worship space, as well as other facilities in the church, and that is a good thing.

Beyond economics, church leaders do not want to build in a way that the building gets used only once a week. They are thinking about ways the facility can be used multiple times, even seven days a week, as a tool for interactive and dynamic ministry. Mel McGowan, the president of Visioneering Studios, uses the term modern-day Jacob’s Wells. These are places where we can encounter people on their terms: people who need the Savior, just like Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well and shared the Living Water with her.

How are you addressing this issue as a church architect?

We design to enhance relationships. What happens as people gather before worship and before they leave can be just as important as the service itself, so we design with that in mind. We design people spaces that encourage engagement, not cramped vestibules that tend to hurry people on their way.

Often, we encourage churches to put off building a new worship facility until they are in two or three services. Sometimes that means we advise them to build more support space for other programs rather than a new worship space so the facilities can accommodate things such as the children’s attendance that a second or third service can generate.

We work with churches to help them think intentionally about building so that the church can leverage the space it builds in multiple ways for ministry.

Most importantly, however, is that we design the building to fit the culture, values, and unique ministry strategy that make that congregation different from any other in the world.

Any other information you can add?

I have seen a lot of changes in church design since I started decades ago, but one thing has stayed constant: strong and meaningful worship is a key to the function of a healthy church. The facility can help or hinder that. Having the right capacity is one very critical ingredient. I can say with confidence that I have seen far more serious problems that stem from building too large than building too small, though either can be a problem.

LifeWay has long been concerned about helping churches to plan their facilities. Today, we help them envision, design, and build compelling facilities for worship through Visioneering Studios at LifeWay. In April, 2014 we are conducting two workshops for churches considering construction, one is in Nashville, and the other is in Phoenix. We can be contacted at 615-251-2466 for more information, or to schedule a consultation.