This short series is devoted to the local church that might derive some benefit for outside resources. Scripture teaches that the ultimate authority in the local church is the body of elders/leaders God has raised up (1 Timothy 3, Titus 1). But sometimes the better part of wisdom with this body of leaders is to utilize the help of outside resources with specific knowledge. This series suggests five situations which might benefit from an outside resource.

The first situation is that of designing a new facility or even a remodel to an existing facility. The fact is that spiritual qualifications of church leaders are not the same as architectural or construction qualifications. Yet I have heard many stories of churches deciding to take on a massive construction or remodel project on a “do-it-yourself” basis. Certainly, church members may contribute sweat equity to the project to a certain extent, but the potential for disaster with a self-run building or remodel project is high. Here are some potential disasters:

• Fatal design flaws. One church I know of built a multi-million-dollar new sanctuary with an expensive bank of massive windows around the top. While it was beautiful to behold, the church members who designed it did not take into account the fact that the sun was blazing through those windows directly onto a large portion of the congregation right during the morning worship service.
• Massive cost overruns. Unless someone in the church is an expert in building material costs and effectiveness, the potential for spending too much money is high. This is not only poor stewardship of donated resources, but it also may strain the church budget by requiring significantly more finances than originally estimated.
• Delays and discouragement. Inevitably, the strategy of “Let’s design everything ourselves” is accompanied by “let’s do all the work ourselves.” Almost without fail, this is going to result in long delays based on available volunteer labor.

Tips for Avoiding Potential Disasters:

• Speak to other local churches in your area and get first-hand information on their experiences with architects or general contractors.
• Be wary of professionals trying to drive costs up. Look for a reasonable balance between cost and design.
• Find out if a professional offers a discount for non-profits like churches.
• Don’t be taken in by an initial sales pitch. Speak to former customers, especially if large sums of money are at stake.
• Work with a contractor to utilize volunteer labor at certain junctures such as demolition which can be easily done by church members.
• If possible, find a contractor who is a member of a church as he will be more likely to be sympathetic and knowledgeable concerning your needs.