One of the most beneficial aspects of participating in our i3 webinars is the ability to ask questions. We always try to cover the most relevant details of church building and church design in each webinar, but sometimes it takes a question or two from individual church leaders to address particular needs about what’s best for a specific church.
Here are two questions we recently received.
Question #1: When there’s no clear vision, how does The McKnight Group move forward with a client and its church building project?
As we’ve elaborated in our recent blog posts on church vision, having a clear vision promotes unity and is key to a successful church building or remodeling project. Importantly, vision saves time and money, allowing for simpler decision-making in the church building and construction process.
If we encounter a client that does not have a strong vision, The McKnight Group’s team tries to act as a catalyst to help create one. We start by asking a series of questions to bring clarity to the project’s purpose and goals. These conversations also set priorities for the project, helping you determine what is most important and why.
Additionally, if you are struggling to determine a clear vision for your church design, building or remodeling project, we frequently send church leaders to our website to gain inspiration from our other clients and past projects. Over the years, we have collected a vast portfolio of church building, design and remodel projects—including new builds, renovations, additions, etc. Seeing these examples may help you see what is possible, dream about how the elements of these projects may translate to your church, and craft a vision for your church’s future.
Question #2: Can our church building project start small and build as we grow?
Absolutely! At The McKnight Group, we are strong advocates of master planning, a multi-phase church building process that breaks projects into realistic stages based on your goals and resources. A master plan serves as a roadmap. And because it is not set in stone, the master plan can flex and adjust as your church changes and grows.
The first phase of the master plan is often the most important. Its goals are based on what you can presently afford and the immediate needs of your church. Phase one serves as a momentum builder for future phases and allows church leaders to garnish excitement for and commitment to the “what could be” of future phases. It also helps you and your church see and believe what is possible.
It’s essential to remember that every master plan is different, and the master plan should be tailored to your church’s unique needs and capabilities. Whether you’re building a new facility, renting and renovating a facility, or anything in between, the master plan ensures each phase is appropriate for your church. It also can easily be adjusted as your goals and priorities evolve.
Whether you are creating a vision for your church’s building, design or remodel project or are ready to establish a master plan for future growth, asking questions and getting tailored advice is important to success. For 2021, we’ve thoughtfully designed our i3 webinar series to help you, as well as the church leaders you lead alongside, learn interactively as you prepare for the future. We invite you to participate in these topical conversations and continue to ask the questions that will help you lead your church through its next church building, church design, or church remodel project.