As the church growth movement waned, many aging and half-empty church buildings were left behind. Once the moniker was ‘bigger is better,’ the words’ repair, replace and refurbish’ have become driving forces inside the aging church of today. Due to lack of maintenance, the structure has been left desolate and vulnerable in too many churches. As many point out, the destruction of the church is not due to the lack of attendance but the lack of proper upkeep of the facilities birthed by the former ministry. Churches, as they fall into disrepair, are being sold to be used as offices, clothing stores, or even pubs like O’Neills in North London.
Maintenance can seem overwhelming amid the turmoil of trying to solve a myriad of problems. Over the last fourteen months, I have led my church through over a half-million dollars’ worth of infrastructure issues and still have at least that amount to go, with little to no funds to accomplish the rest of the task. So, what to do?
Evaluate all needs.
Many church leaders do not know the extent of their issues. They hobble together a plan of action as a reaction to a problem that has come up. This mindset has struggled against the rising tide of more and more issues coming to the surface. Instead of reacting, the church should act by evaluating all areas of the church property each year. Much like a new homeowner or future landowner receiving a site survey and property inspection, the church should hire outside professionals or at least use someone inside the church with working knowledge of the facility to develop a list of current or potential problem areas.
By listing all areas of need, the leadership can rank each area from highest to lowest priority, with the highest priority being the most urgent issues that must be addressed. After reviewing the areas of need with resources (money, skillsets of members, friends of the church), the leadership can begin planning the next steps.
Plan now and for the future.
In pastoring revitalization churches, I have learned that a ‘now issue’ takes precedence over a plan. Sometimes, it’s a program, person, or situation, but typically, it is a short-term issue and can be resolved quickly. However, with any problem, it takes the focus off of one area and places it on another. When dealing with maintenance issues, the real problem is focus or the lack thereof. Many times, a band-aid is placed on an issue instead of resolving the issue by solving it. More money is spent on band-aiding a maintenance issue rather than addressing the underlying problem overtime.
With a plan based on evaluating the facilities’ needs, the church leadership team can begin to solve long-term problems by planning ahead for the resources that will be expended. This will take tactical patience not to overreact to a problem but to stay true to the plan that has been developed. There will always be more problems than money at first, but over time, the leadership will plan by setting aside finances each week or month to use the pay-as-you-go principle instead of going into debt.
Parlay success in one area to sustain the momentum.
Many members do not find replacing plumbing or even a roof appealing. They might even ask why we are spending money in this area rather than in ministry. That is a good point, but without caring for God’s property, there will be no ministry to host at the current location. The fact of the matter is it’s not exciting to repair or replace items, but it is essential for the long-term health of the ministry.
Ministry is about strategic micro-steps moving forward inches at a time to accomplish a long-term goal. By investing in the church’s infrastructure today, you are signaling to current members and future guests that you care about their comfort as you share Christ. Celebrating wins, even new paint in the children’s classroom sends the message that together, the church can accomplish more. With each small or large project, momentum is gained that will sustain the church in periods of downturn. Let me encourage you to allow the church to be God’s success in all you do, one step at a time. Over time, you will turn the tide of deferred maintenance and begin to get ahead.
The work you do today will matter tomorrow if your church leadership invests time in evaluating, planning, and integrating the success of each project into the larger vision for the church. Remember do not allow resources to get in the way of God’s vision for the local church.