Church Buildings: Asset or Albatross
Your building can be an amazing gift to the community, a resource for ministry, and a tool for mission—if it’s the right building, in the right place, and able to be cared for. Without those things, the building can become an albatross, weighing down the ministry and sucking resources away from mission.
Falling into Financial Strength
Just as fall will eventually give way to winter, and winter will give way to spring. Similarly, a congregation’s financial health will change over time. Intentionally focusing on the skills that lead a congregation toward financial strength will help a church navigate every season of its life.
When the People are Strong
“Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors, and see all the people!” In all my years of knowing that rhyme, I’ve only ever considered it to mean the numbers inside. However, I think it means something much more important. It’s a reminder that the people are the church. People who are free to serve according to their gifts are people empowered to do the work of ministry, whatever form it takes.
Is your Congregation Spiritually and Emotionally Strong?
Options for the future require robust spirituality and the ability to address conflict, change, and uncertainty. Discerning the future is easier when a faith community has a joyful sense of God at work, healthy approaches to conflict resolution, and a willingness to adapt and experiment.
Backside of the Life Cycle Curve
Churches on the backside of the curve experience numerical decline and a reduction of leaders, loss of vision, a narrowed focus, such as keeping a prized program afloat, and deep worry about long-term survival. A congregation that finds itself on this part of the life cycle curve can still revitalize itself by refocusing its efforts on developing or realigning with a vision, rebuilding relationships within and outside the congregation, and creating new or revitalizing existing programs.