Churches turn to creative spaces in a demanding economy

Innovative structures offer churches cost-effective options for campus growth.

By Jim Avery

Reaching people means providing space that is more than just functional. Innovative churches know that when they are creating space for reaching people it must be cost-effective to build and maintain. That new building must be able to meet a particular need that fulfills the core values of the church while making a statement to the community.

Today’s growth minded churches ministering in a depressed economy must be wiser than ever when it comes to spending the offerings of its people for new construction. There are many factors to consider beyond the mere cost to build the building. Recently the head of a major denomination in the heart of the Bible-belt stated, “I refuse to allow our denomination to spend another dime on a T-shaped brick building that seats 150 people on three acres of property and will never grow.”

Churches must be willing to examine any and all types of buildings from the traditional brick and stick, to the metal, and now even the new and innovative building systems such as stress-membrane that are highly conscious of the environmental footprint they leave. Churches must consider long range flexibility with any new construction.

Stress membrane structure
Redemption World Outreach Center, Greenville, SC, needed space to provide for recreation activities for their 12,000 members and a space that would allow the church to host community health fairs, outreach events and sports activities. The church built a 48,000-square-foot stress membrane structure manufactured by Sprung Instant Structures.

Containing three indoor basketball courts, an indoor walking facility, three spacious workout areas and a food court, the building system provided a quick completion time of six months with a cost savings of more than two million dollars. The facility has quickly become a community landmark, the focal point of the city for AAU basketball and host for countless health fairs and with the church charging a nominal fee for health club memberships, more than 1,400 families joined in the first six months of operation.

“It has definitely been an outreach too; we have room here for Bible studies and space for community groups. This building has actually become the talk of the town,” says Olin McSherry, director of development, Redemption World Outreach Center.

The Dayspring Church of Baton Rouge, LA, chose a similar structure in 2009 for their new church plant for a host of reasons. Not only did they want speed of construction, but being close to the Gulf Coast, hurricanes would be a constant threat. After seeing the destruction from Katrina to metal structures and the missing roofs of thousands of traditional buildings, the leadership of Dayspring Church realized that out of six major hurricanes over a two-year period that had engulfed 41 of the Sprung Structures, there was not a single wind claim.

Furthermore, with a small congregation in a new and growing area of Baton Rouge, the church wanted to control costs while allowing for growth and the economy to rebound. After two years, the church has seen virtually no maintenance costs and during one of the harshest winters on record in Baton Rouge, the church’s utility cost for 7,500 square feet ranged from a low of $260 per month to a high of only $350 per month. The church’s pastor, Dr. Lawton Searcy, states, “These structures have made us an instant landmark, saved us thousands of dollars and brought us safely through 105 mph winds from Hurricane Gustaf while we were still in the construction phase.”

Providing space for people in your church is always a tedious decision. There can never be a single determining factor. Consider every option; do your homework and ask a lot of questions. Decide what is best for your ministry needs for today and for the years ahead.

Jim Avery is vice president of Sprung Instant Structures, West Jordan, UT.  www.sprung.com

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