“The church is not a building.” I’ve heard this statement many times and honestly, I’ve probably thought it a few times myself. And it’s true. The “church” isn’t a building. It’s the people.
Buildings burn down, they get flooded, they crumble and decay. It’s true.
But does that mean church buildings don’t matter?
Absolutely not. A building can be such a powerful tool for the church to use to help gather people, provide for people, and teach people. Buildings can become a place where people turn when they don’t know where else to go. And while it’s the people they are seeking, the building creates that common space for them to know where they can find someone.
I think back to when I was in high school and my family was going through a difficult period. I was confused. I was questioning a lot of things. Where did I find myself headed after school one day? To our church building.
I was seeking out my youth pastor, and I figured that was a good place to start. He was there, and he walked with me around the grounds and talked with me about everything that was on my mind.
Several years ago, when there was a tragedy at a school near Nashville, someone I followed on Instagram was moved to put together goodie baskets to share with the families of the school for the upcoming Easter holiday. Where were the donations collected and the baskets prepared? At a church building.
My husband’s grandmother served for years with a group of others who connected with local schools to pick up the extra food they had on Friday afternoons so families in need could benefit from it instead of it having to be thrown away. Where did they bring all that food, sort it, and distribute it to people in need? At their church building.
There are so many examples of how churches use their buildings to help people, impact people, and change people’s lives. Is the church a building?
Definitely not, but our buildings matter.
When a building is put in the hands of people who are motivated to use it, it is an incredibly powerful asset.
Some of my favorite ways that I’ve been a part of this, include:
- Vacation Bible School
- Men’s Bow Shoot and Wild Game Dinner
- Women’s Christmas Tea
- Married Couples Movie Night
- Family Movie Night
- Winter Wonderland Family Event
- Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration
- Trunk-or-Treat
- Single Moms & Widows Oil Change and Hair Cuts
- Feeding and Housing the Homeless Community
- Free clothing events
- Community Bike Night
- Fall Festivals
- Craft Shows
And these are aside from the ways churches regularly use their building, like weekly services, Bible studies, preschools, and youth group events.
It’s amazing when you tap into a group of people and let their creativity flow, all the amazing ideas they have on how to use the church building to impact the community, help people, and create opportunities to spread the important message of hope that is available through Christ.
So, no, the building is not the church. But it’s such a valuable tool. And for us to get the full benefit of having a building to use, it needs to be cared for, budgeted for, and maintained. It is so worth the effort because the impact it can have, when used intentionally by the church, is limitless.
Wondering how to get better control of your building and grounds? Let’s chat.
