If you’ve been blessed enough to have a growing congregation, you might notice that you’re running out of room in the current space you occupy. Every week you’ve seen more and more community members pass through your doors to receive the word of God and to connect with the wider Christian community. Lucky for you, you can accommodate all these new faces by welcoming them into the flock with a few remodels to account for the larger sizes.
Remodeling your church can be a tough balancing act for church leaders, requiring wisdom and forethought in execution so that all the community stakeholders rally behind the improvements. So how do you consider everyone’s needs while allocating your resources in the most efficient ways possible to get a smiling congregation in the end with new facilities that everyone is proud of? Here are some of the best ways that you can reorganize and remodel your church.
The Modern Church
We’ve come a long way since the days of the glorious ancient cathedrals of Europe. As impressive as those are, modern-day churches are considerably different. Indeed, the architecture of churches these days is remarkable in how much it contrasts with traditional design. Consider the megachurches that have sprung up. These congregations are quite large, and the atmosphere of their services can sometimes seem like a sporting event rather than a Sunday gathering. Other churches, though, are designed to be more intimate. There has been a push for the simplistic living among many factions of the Christian community, and part of this movement is restoring the community-oriented model of Christianity that belongs to antiquity. There’s no right or wrong way to design your church in the modern era. How you plan your church layout should depend on the needs of your church and its members.
It’s Not for Everyone
Some things are best left the way they are, untouched except by time. God admonishes us to preserve those things that are precious, which includes some older churches. No one would rightfully suggest that we remodel Notre Dame, for example. It is a historically significant site that played an important role in the development and spread of Christianity. Likewise, there are many examples of churches like these around the world from all denominations of the faith that deserve our protection.
Ask What the Flock Needs
One important business practice is receiving feedback from your employees and customers to find weak spots, areas of improvement, and suggestions for a more optimal work environment. In addition to providing useful information, this process also brings your flock into the decision-making process, allowing them to feel like an important part of the renovations to the Church.
Consider Who Will Use the Church
You should ask yourself about the needs and wants of your flock and the wider community that your church serves. Do any of your members have children? If so, are there adequate facilities in the church to take care of the kids while the adults attend service? Is there a classroom for the Sunday school, or playground equipment outside for the kids? Knowing who your community members are and what they need is important—after all, God welcomes everyone to church.
Accessibility
We would never want to leave any of our older brothers and sisters out in the cold. Likewise, members of our community who might have some disabilities such as vision or hearing loss may require special attention. You should keep accessibility at the forefront of your remodeling. Whether there is a handicapped ramp to the front door, for example, can instill a sense of welcoming to those who have certain health conditions or are older but wish to visit your church for Sunday service.
Clean-Up
Cleaning up is part of any big gathering, so you should plan accordingly during your remodeling. Cleanliness is next to godliness, so we must always make an effort to keep things as tidy as possible, especially in the Lord’s house. There are several things you can do to facilitate a clean environment. First, make sure there are plenty of available disposal cans around the entirety of the church. This will stop or slow down any litter that might find its way to the corners of the church. Also, consider a disposal hopper. You need at least twenty inches for a hopper that can make disposal easier. Keeping your church germ-free not only keeps your flock safe and healthy but it also instills a deeper sense of pride by the members of your congregation.
Pray on these tips and listen to whether God speaks to you through any of them. You will likely discover that there are some angles to your remodeling project that could use some reconsideration.
Do you need help connecting with your congregation? Click here to find out how we can help!
Recent Comments