In a recent conversation with one of our guys (Richard Chancy), he suggested that churches should consider a strategy for planning facilities that comes from golf:
“A conservative approach and
A cocky swing”
I like that in this context – Almost universally, the vision for a given church will exceed what they can afford in facilities to accomplish that vision. I don’t think that’s a bad thing – our vision should outpace what we can physically realize at this point in time. However, from time to time, a church leader will leverage that desire to plan facilities well beyond what they can conceivably afford. The rallying cry in that situation is usually, “You need to have faith!” True, but when does faith become presumption?
God has ordered the physical world according to laws and relationships. On some occasions, He will act miraculously in a way that goes against those laws and relationships. Gravity is one of those laws that impacts us every day. If I contemplate jumping off a 10 story building, there’s no doubt in my mind that God can save me. There is also no doubt in my mind that, if He doesn’t, I’m a pancake. So, before I jump off that building, I want to make very sure I have heard from God and I am acting out of faith, not presumption.
The financial world, likewise, is ordered by laws and relationships. If you spend more money than you take in, you go broke - it’s just math (and God made math). There are a number of dangers associated with designing a facility beyond what the church can afford. First, the lost time and lost momentum can take a toll on a church, and you spend more money in the design and subsequent re-design. And there are extra costs for other reasons, including inflation, to consider. Per the ENR (Engineering News Record Index), the inflation in the construction industry over the past year has been 3.63% which means it will conceivably cost a church with a $4,000,000 project over $12,000/month for every month of delay. Also a 50,000 sq. ft. facility that was cut down from 75,000 sq. ft. is different, and probably not as effective, as a facility that was originally designed for 50,000 sq. ft. There can be other dangers, but perhaps the worst is when the project dies, and the physical limitations and/or the turmoil created by the failed program thwarts the growth of the church.
Please understand that I’m not saying you shouldn’t think big. On the contrary, I want you to DREAM BIG!!! I’m only suggesting that you consider the cost when it comes to the needed facilities for your next phase. If God provides the funding in a miraculous way, it is more desirable to scale up than to cut back. Over the years we have been introduced to hundreds of church construction projects that have stalled or died because they over estimated what they could afford or under estimated the cost. The result can be devastating. Here’s a good faith/presumption test: ask yourself, “Am I willing to put everything I own, personally, as collateral for this project?” If the answer is , “Yes”, then perhaps it is faith. If the answer is “No”, it’s more likely presumption, so take a conservative approach and then a cocky swing.
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