Every year, Alabama Baptist churches spend millions of dollars building, expanding and remodeling their facilities to meet the growing needs of their congregations.
In addition to sanctuaries and education space, many churches construct areas to meet specific ministry needs.
While church building experts say this growth is important in the life of a church, they advise church leaders to avoid “putting the cart before the horse” in the building process.
Instead, they recommend that churches first plan for or establish the outreach program in mind and then build the facility to house it.
In his book, “Church Property/Building Guidebook,” T. Lee Anderton states that investing in church buildings is a wise expenditure of money.
“Social action is worthy and is a vital function of the church, but for a church to fail to acquire property and build needed buildings today will result in decline and failure tomorrow,” he wrote.
“A church cannot remain on dead center. It must grow and display this growth in physical form or decline numerically, financially and spiritually,” he continued.
Likewise, Gary Swafford, director of new work and church building services at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, stated the importance of church specialty areas in strengthening our Christian families and promoting interaction between churchgoers and others in the community.
“Specialty areas provide opportunities for Christians to meet non-Christians and to form relationships,” Swafford said.
“To the extent that the extended family has broken down, the church has the opportunity to step in and provide the sense of community that individuals need,” he said.
“Churches provide safe zones for natural community relationships, and these relationships provide Christians with the opportunity to share their testimony in a natural manner.”
Once church leaders understand the significance of providing specialty areas, they should plan their facilities to meet the needs of their church members and community residents.
“Specialty areas should be prompted by a present or planned ministry,” Swafford said. “They help us to reach people and to nurture those who are reached. Our church goal is to evangelize and disciple, and buildings are resource tools used to grow or nurture people.”
To expand their ministry into the surrounding areas, many churches are building facilities to attract unchurched community residents.
After noticing a need in the community for a meeting space, First Baptist Church, Clanton, purposely constructed a multipurpose area with a stage for music, presentations and community events.
Included in the center is a large kitchen, fellowship area and informal and multipurpose space.
To build the type of facility that best suits present ministries and future outreach plans, churches should also organize the necessary committees and workgroups to help lead the church through the building process.
In “Planning and Building Church Facilities,” Gwenn McCormick writes, “Projects involving new ministries and new directions should receive exhaustive study and evaluation.
“The committee must determine that a definite need exists for the new ministry in the community. It must also evaluate the church’s readiness for involvement in that kind of ministry,” he wrote.
According to McCormick, research should include information on the church, community and people in the area.
It should also be mission-driven and focused on a growth-mission strategy.
Basic guidelines aid in construction
There are many resources and guides available for churches building areas for special activities.
The following are some basic guidelines for individual ministry rooms, as well as resources specifically designed for church construction.
Prayer Room:
–15 to 18 square feet per person
–Room may seat one to two or 12 to 15 people
–May be furnished with Bible stand and four to six pews or one to two comfortable chairs
–Subdued lighting
–Provide for privacy, comfort and freedom from distraction
–Carpeted flooring desirable
–Location accessible from street, parking area and main corridor of auditorium
Media Library:
–Two square feet per person based on capacity of educational building is recommended; minimum of 1 square foot per person
–May include books, audiovisual materials and equipment, microfilming, career corners, music materials and equipment, study or conference room, workroom
Chapel:
–Seating capacity: 50 to 175 at 15 square feet per person
–Bride’s dressing room: 12 feet by 12 feet recommended; eight to 10 feet minimum
RESOURCES:
Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions:
–Associational and Cooperative Missions Office, www.alsbom.org/
associational
–Gary Swafford, Church Planting and Building Services, 1-800-264-1225, Ext. 323; gswafford@alsbom.org
–Worship Leadership/Church Music, www.alsbom.org/worship
–Ray Burdeshaw, 1-800-264-1225, Ext. 216, rburdeshaw@alsbom.org
–Keith Hibbs, 1-800-264-1225, Ext. 217, khibbs@alsbom.org
Written resources:
–“Planning and Building Church Facilities” by Gwenn E. McCormick
–“Designing Church Buildings for Southern Baptist Churches” by Rowland E. Crowder
–“Church Property/Building Guidebook” by T. Lee Anderton (TAB)
Why Do You Need an Architect?
–To protect the health, safety and welfare of the public and the congregation.
–To comply with state law, building codes, zoning ordinances, etc.
–Guidance in planning — there’s no right way to build the wrong building.
–To provide good, efficient building design.
–To get good value for your construction dollar.
Services
–Pre-design consultation
–Master planning
–Schematic design
–Design development
–Contract documents
–Bidding and negotiation
–Contract administration
Qualifications
–Experience
–Knowledge of building type
–Relationships
–References
–Talent
–Portfolio
Qualities
–Believer
–Integrity
–Communicator
–Professional
–Technically competent
–Design skills
Fees
–Six to 8 percent of building value proportional to time invested in project — includes mechanical, plumbing, electrical and structural engineering (TAB)
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