When Joe Runyan, winner of Alaska's 1989 Iditarod sled dog race, put together his team of dogs, he looked for powerful, dedicated canines that would pull long and hard through the toughest conditions. He says, "You've got to have dogs that really want to see what is around the next corner." In addition, he spent months training the dogs to pull together. 

When God gives a vision to a church, there are many new pathways to negotiate and obstacles to overcome. Like the dogs on the winning sled team, members of a building committee should be dedicated, persevering, and eager to take the next step. Giving the team a single focus that builds unity is critical to success. Psalm 133:1-3 says, "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!…for there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore."

How does one build such a team? 
First of all, it is critical for the team to understand and embrace the vision that is being placed before them. A member of the congregation would not be able to make a wise decision on whether or not to be a part of the building committee without having before them the vision that has been painted by the ministry staff. There needs to be a clear understanding of the goal that is being set before them so that they can formulate the strategy for reaching the goal in the most expeditious way.

Who should be invited to be a part of the team? 
This question will not be simply answered. However, the short answer is that it should be made up of individuals who represent the various ministries of the church. The church's overall vision is implemented by the programs of each ministry area. The role of building committee members should be considered on a par with that of deacons and the scriptural qualifications found in Timothy. Deacons were entrusted with important practical matters in the day-to-day management of the church so that the elders and pastors were free to deal with spiritual matters. The qualifications for deacons included that they be good managers and leaders (consensus builders), and that they had a previous record of successful service in the church. These same qualifications should apply.

Is construction experience necessary?
It is often the tendency of a church to appoint building committee members with construction and engineering experience. While it may be wise to have one or two such individuals on the committee, the balance of the committee should be made up of members who are involved in the different ministries of the church and know how their needs can be best served. Their service in the ministry areas they represent is their testing for qualification to serve in this new capacity. Obviously, it would not be reasonable to expect a man to understand the needs of the women's ministries. Likewise, the needs of the youth and children of the church are very specific, and these people groups need to be well represented. Another thing to keep in mind is that the person who is responsible for maintaining the church facility should definitely be a part of the team, along with someone who is responsible for the financial position of the church.

What is the most suitable size for such a committee? 
We have found that a team of six or seven people is most suitable. If the church feels the need for more input from various ministries, each committee member should develop a sub-committee to gather input that can be brought back to the main committee.

What should committee members know about serving on a team of this nature? 
The sled dog analogy is a particularly good one to use here. The individuals who are asked to serve must understand that their term of service will be an extended one. We have found that it takes several years for the visions to be written, the plans to be drawn, the approvals to be given, and the funds to be raised before any actual work takes place.  Patience and endurance are virtues that must be embraced. Working through the details of the plans is a time-consuming and tedious process. One should be aware of the fact that it takes one to three years—sometimes more—just to move through the steps to getting municipal approvals. In addition, one must be ready to extend grace to their fellow committee members and hired professional people. Long evening meetings to work through strategies and plans can be tiring. Those who assume the responsibilities of a building committee member will come to know the true meaning of being a servant of God, providing they approach it with the right attitude. The servant looks to help find solutions, to do the leg work, or whatever is needed, and seeks to build others up.

How does one select the best leader for the committee? 
If we look again at the dog sled team, we can learn from them. Each dog is evaluated, and the lead runner is selected for his strength, endurance and ability to lead the rest of the team. Likewise, the leader of the committee needs to possess these qualities. This person needs to be able to communicate effectively with members of the team, professional support people and community representatives. He or she needs to be able to direct and allocate responsibilities and to organize the flow of information. The leader should be well organized and able to keep to a preplanned schedule. Here, the rule of "first being tested" is especially important.

What is the senior pastor's position in this committee? 
Some pastors want to be involved, while others would rather let another individual represent him. This should be left to the discretion of the pastor. If the pastor wants to be an integral part of this team, the committee needs to embrace his participation since his leadership directs the entire ministry. The committee must remember that the vision for the entire Body of Christ comes from the senior pastor, so his input and recommendations are vital.

How should the committee interact with the architect?
Although the architect will meet with the entire team on some occasions, for the day-to-day questions and decisions, it is vital that the architect have communication with one point person. The logical choice for this person is usually the building committee chairperson. However, it could be the executive pastor or church administrator. In order for the architect to proceed in a timely fashion, he or she will need to know they can rely on the responses they are getting from the person with whom they interact.

Whenever a church makes a decision to move forward on a building project, times are adventuresome. Leaders that guide their church into the next step of a journey to expand their territory must emulate the dogs pulling a sled in the Iditarod. The team members must display courage, a spirit of unity and trust in the Lord for success. Seasoned members of building committees would probably tell you that their tenure on the team was exciting, time consuming, fun, frustrating, educational and satisfying. Frequently, unexpected roadblocks arise, but peace and satisfaction come in knowing that God is in charge of everything that happens and that His timing is perfect. The gift in being a member of a building committee is that you get to have front-row seat in seeing the hand of God at work. 

Joan Mathias is the director of development for WPH - Architects for Ministry, www.ChurchArchitects.com.