If your church ceased to exist, would anyone notice?
Most pastors enter the ministry out of a devoted love for God, a sweet desire to bless His people, and a drive to adorn all creation with God’s beauty.
Why is it, then, that phrases like this are all too familiar:
“I only hear from the church when they want money.”
“I like Jesus, but not the church.”
What if your congregation could write a better story for your community? Do you have the necessary courage and faith to lead your people to follow Jesus to bless your community?
Pastor – it starts with you. No one should have a bigger dream for your church than you do.
Imagine getting on a sailboat and having the captain say – well, what do you all want to do now? Most people would want to jump ship before they leave the dock!
I love sailing. I have logged over 5000+ miles on the water. I’ve also had the privilege of serving on the crew of some outstanding captains.
We’ve sailed across the ocean and weathered storms. Overcome obstacles from without and fears from within.
What sets the best captains apart is not only their skill or experience. It’s also their ability to cast a vision.
The Captain has to lead with courage and confidence, but only after learning his craft. Then the captain sets the vision and sets out on the voyage.
Could a lack of vision be one of the reasons that over 80% of churches in America are declining or plateauing?
You can cast a vision that invites people into the story God is writing for your community. And God will use that to help you weather the storms of church construction.
Develop Your Church Construction Vision in 7 Simple Steps
$2 Million. That’s how much money one of our clients needed to invest in deferred maintenance on their church building.
They initially drew up plans for an $8 million expansion and renovation. But the money didn’t come in. So all they could do was fix the problems that the previous generation handed down to them.
You can lead your congregation to leave a better legacy. Here are seven steps you can take – today – to cast a compelling vision for church construction.
1: Pray for Spirit Infused Vision
God cares about the people and places. Finding yourself in a congregation where you’re leading people is not an accident.
Your church building can be a sign – a city on a hill – letting your community know that the goodness of God is here for them to enjoy.
This is the key to casting a compelling vision – being convinced of how God wants to bless specific people in a particular place. So, how can you go about developing that vision? Here are a few ideas:
- Schedule a personal retreat
- Study passages of Scripture related to building and church planting
Be inspired by the Word. Ask God to share His dreams for the church with you. He will. And when He does, you won’t be able to contain it!
2: Own the Vision for Your Church Construction Project
No one should have a bigger dream for your church than you.
You can dare to dream even if you’ve been burned in the past or feel insecure. If you’ve been called to lead, you’ve been given the responsibility to dream.
The captain of a ship needs to know where it’s going – and why. You must do the same.
And that is not because it’s practical, functional, or feasible.
No.
God wants you to embrace His vision so deeply that you can’t NOT lead in this direction. Like Martin Luther said:
“Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen”
He designed you for more than functionality. He wants you to flourish. You have God’s permission to dream – and to do that; you need to plan it out by:
- Thinking it through – only you can turn your dreams into reality by the power of the Holy Spirit. To flourish, be mindful to do your due diligence. Take action.
- Putting your plan on paper – documenting opens an opportunity to receive feedback from others who may help clarify your vision.
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4
3: Share the Vision for Your Church Construction Project
If God is for you, who can be against you?
Take a risk to share the dreams God has given you for the people and place He’s planted you in.
People respond to vulnerability and authenticity. They crave it. Why? Because we’re living in the middle of the misinformation age.
Researchers recently discovered that fake news traveled “farther, faster, deeper, and more broadly than the truth in all categories of information.”
Every other day another leader seems to be exposed for moral failure.
People are done being strung along. They can access it easily if they want to be entertained by eloquence.
What they want, what they NEED from you, is authenticity.
Share the dreams God has given you. Invite them into His dreams. People will follow a leader who is courageous enough to be vulnerable. So don’t be afraid to reach out and communicate with:
- Your fellow leaders
- Experts in your congregation with experience in construction
4: Develop Leaders by Inviting Others to Process the Vision with You
Let people wrestle with whether they can get on board or not. Intrinsic motivation wins every time.
Put yourself in the shoes of your congregation.
How long did it take you to become confident that God wants you to engage in a church construction project? Give your congregation the same opportunity.
Let them ask – “why.” Make sure they know they’re heard and respected.
Let them share concerns. You are just one part of a body that has many parts. People can see things you don’t. Their questions and concerns can sharpen your vision.
Invite people into the process. Honor their investment. Here are a few ways to get started:
- Build a building team
- Include a cross-section of people that represent your congregation and community
- Invite aspiring leaders
- Involve experts
5: Show Honor to Those Who Don’t Share Your Vision for Church Construction
No bullying or shaming allowed! It’s ok if people disagree or can’t fully buy-in. Church construction projects are not for the faint of heart.
Bless those who disagree. Let your reasonableness be evident to all.
Friends are far more valuable than followers. No one should be made to feel “less than” for disagreeing.
Don’t be mistaken, and don’t be surprised. If you engage in a church construction project, you will gain some and lose others.
But God will never leave nor forsake you. He will be with you in the midst of the process. Here are a few ways to approach those who may disagree:
- Publicly permit people to have different opinions
- Meet with those who may disagree
- Remind those who stay to bless those who don’t
6: Continually Remind People of Your Shared Goals
Your congregation leads lives full of competing priorities and interests. They have bills to pay, family to visit, work to finish, and hobbies to enjoy.
If no one should have a bigger dream for your church than you, it naturally follows that you will need to remind people of the vision God has entrusted to you.
Andy Stanley offers this guiding principle for casting a vision that sticks. He says that by the time you get sick of saying it, your people are probably just starting to catch it.
People have busy, full lives. Church may be a meaningful part of their lives, it may be the most significant part, but they still have other priorities that God has entrusted to them. You can help keep your vision in front of them by:
- Cast a vision for your church construction project during your sermon
- Communicate the vision in the bulletin
- Utilize your newsletter or email list
- Consider how to share on social media
7: Yield Your Vision for a Church Building Project to God’s Timing
“In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9
You may never realize your dream for your church. The next generation might embrace it, just like the Temple in Israel.
David dreamed of building God a house. But God told David that He would build a house, a family, for David, and David’s son would be the one to build God a Temple.
Not that God needed the help. But He invited Solomon – and you – to participate in meaningful ways as He saturates the world with His saving grace.
Our lives have the most peace and joy when we seek God’s heart more than His hand. You can trust God for His character, not outcomes.
If the outcomes match your expectations, that is just icing on the cake.
We have walked with many people through church construction projects. There are always twists and turns in the journey from planning to breaking ground to the grand opening.
If your heart can maintain a surrendered posture, these inevitable curve balls can be embraced as an opportunity to trust God again.
If you’re not quite sure how to embrace these twists and turns, a few excellent tips to get you started include:
- Talk to an outside expert to assess the feasibility of your plan
- Listen to leaders who have walked this path before you
- Celebrate each step – AND – each curve ball
Building Your Vision with Our Dedicated Church Construction Team
Are you ready to put your vision to work? Is it time to invite your congregation into a vision of how your church can bless the community?
Your church building can be a source of inspiration, a place of contemplation, a center for healing, a beacon of praise – a sign that the love of God is here to stay.
You don’t need to have all the answers. We can help you get there. At Catalyst Construction, we have had the honor of guiding many to take hold of the beautiful future God has for their church building.
From the initial planning to the grand opening, we’re ready and able to walk with you through every step of the process.
You’re not alone. You’re free to dream. We are delighted to join you on your journey.
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