Church Facilities

  Every year, we hear a lot of discussion about new trends and changes in church ministry. Ideas such as how do we reach the next generation, should we restore traditions, and what worship style works best for our congregation are often at the forefront of these conversations.   As a result of these potential

  By Stephen P. Ashkin To answer this question, let’s look at the following case study. It should help church administrators better understand the reasons they should embrace sustainability. It involves one of the largest family-operated distribution company in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware area. Recently, it became involved with a program sponsored by

  By John Stein As malls empty out, these retail spaces are being repurposed, and churches are taking advantage. Worship spaces are a common reuse for these abandoned stores, gyms and restaurants. It’s almost commonplace now to see faith communities worshiping in repurposed gyms, shoe or sporting goods stores, even movie theaters. One clear consequence

  By Doug Foltz Most multi-site churches begin with the dream by a visionary leader. Sitting with these leaders and hearing the dream is an energizing experience. I remember a couple of years ago sitting with Danny Schaffner, lead pastor of First Christian Church in Champaign, Illinois. His dream was big. The church had grown

  Flooring will be one of the most important finishes in your new church building. Modern manufacturing processes have produced some great new options, but that doesn’t mean you should pass by one of the most traditional and (especially recently) versatile flooring options: carpet. Advantages of Carpet Put simply, carpet is quieter and more affordable

This article originally appeared in the January 2005 issue. By Ken Collins The Rev. Kenneth W. Collins is the pastor of Garfield Memorial Christian Church in McLean, Va. You can visit him on the Internet at www.kencollins.com.  Vestment is the term for special clothing worn by the people who conduct a worship service. Vestments have

By William Gagnon Imagine it like a prize fight: paper towels vs. hand dryers for the high-speed, energy-efficient, cost-effective, hygienic hand-drying championship of the world. The fact is, when it comes to an eventual decision about the way to dry hands after washing, it’s not much of a contest. Across the globe, facilities of every

In the last few decades, church stage design has become an influential trend that can have an enormous effect on entire congregations. Increasingly, churches that employ this modern and updated decorative strategy attract a wide audience, all worshipping together in a contemporary setting. As multi-sensory worship experiences and creative sermons become more and more popular,

Incorporating themed environments and wall murals continue to be popular for kid’s church rooms. They’re great ways to hold a child’s attention, perfect tools for teaching stories and concepts, and they almost always guarantee a child will come back to the church for multiple, long-term attendance. It’s no wonder children’s ministries continue to use theming

Church signs can be a very powerful marketing tool, and, in fact, many church leaders have noticed an increase in attendance after putting up their signs. Looking for ways to improve your marketing with signage? Wondering how to use your church sign as a marketing tool? For a bit of inspiration, check out these ideas:

  This article originally appeared in the February 2007 issue. By David England David England is the national sales manager for Campbellsville Industries, Inc., www.cvilleindustries.com. He has been assisting churches and church architects for 27 years in the design, anchoring and installation of church steeples. We frequently receive e-mail messages and letters from around the

  This article originally appeared in the November 2011 issue. By Eric MacInerney, AIA Eric MacInerney is managing partner with Heimsath Architects, www.heimsath.com. Cafetorium. Sanctatorium. Sanctunasium. Family Life Center. Multipurpose spaces of all types are very common elements in church design. And, why not? They make great first-phase buildings, they allow you to fundraise from

  This article originally appeared in the May 2012 issue. By Ron Bovard Ron Bovard is author of the book Windows for the Soul, published by Waddell Publications, holder of the US Patent for 21 aspects of glazing and framing systems designed for the preservation of stained glass windows, and owner of Bovard Studio, Inc.,

  This article originally appeared in the January 2011 issue. This article is courtesy of Lifeway Christian Resources, www.lifeway.com. Does the layout of your church’s office help or hinder the work of the staff? Could you be more effective as a ministry assistant if your space was better arranged? What impression does the office have

  This article originally appeared in the August 2014 issue. This information is courtesy of Quality Church Furniture, www.qualitychurchfurniture.com. Church steeples are the standard church exterior décor product that is considered to be very important. The church steeples are basically referred to as religious standings. As any of the church needs chairs and benches, it

  This article originally appeared in the February 2010 issue. By Larry Lydick Larry Lydick is director of marketing and sales for Fiberglass Specialties, Inc., www.fsiweb.com. Any church purchasing a steeple is often entering into a major project with a limited amount of experience as to what questions to ask and what items should be

  This article originally appeared in the August 2008 issue. By Sandra Burrowes Before you plan the next promotional activity for your church library, consider these helpful suggestions and guidelines. Welcome all to an open house. Plan an open house once a year. September? Advent? Springtime? Serve light refreshments. Give away bookmarks. Let the congregation

  This article originally appeared in the February 2008 issue. This information is courtesy of Bowling United Industries, www.buichurch.com. Does your church building have the majestic and dignified appearance a church should have? Or is it plain and unassuming? The transformation from plain to impressive can be easy with a fiberglass steeple. A beautiful steeple

  This article originally appeared in the December 2006 issue. By Vernita Kennen Our church library needs a mission statement? You must be joking. It’s no joke! Much like the old wisdom says, “If you don’t know where you are going, how will you know when you have arrived?” Every church library needs a reason

  This article originally appeared in the November 2006 issue. By Joan Huyser-Honig Joan Huyser-Honig is a writer for the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Bowl, font, pool. Sprinkle, dip, soak. No matter what age your church baptizes people, ask yourself this: How consciously are you living your baptism as a way of life, not

    This article originally appeared in the September 2006 issue. By Gary Nicholson Gary Nicholson is an architect and the director of Church Architecture at LifeWay Christian Resources, www.lifeway.com. What’s the best floor to use in your church classrooms for children? Carpet or tile? This question has been around for many years. Some people

  This article originally appeared in the March 2005 issue. By Frank Leadley Frank Leadley is a food facilities consultant. If you need to feed large groups of people, what could be better then outfitting your church kitchen with restaurant-quality cooking equipment? The fact that you can have 35,000 BTU (British Thermal Units) burners in

By Terry Fontaine Operable partitions, also commonly known as airwalls, are versatile, movable wall systems that are produced by several manufacturers. While they’re known as walls and partitions, they’re actually entire systems that have a variety of components and parts. Across the variety of manufacturers and styles, there can be a massive amount of difference

By Steve Cohen The key to creating a facility that adds value beyond Sunday lies in the design of public space—the areas where people meet, eat, learn and relax. In the modern congregation, there are many types of public space, including lobbies, social halls, recreation rooms, youth lounges, coffee shops and corner nooks. While each

Every industry has its trends, and churches are no exception. As 2018 has gotten well underway, there are a few trends we’re seeing in church signs across the country If you’re trying to keep your church’s signage relevant during the upcoming warm months when you’ll have plenty of passersby paying attention to what you have

By Julie Wenckowski Like you, I’ve participated in plenty of church planning meetings where we’ve asked ourselves: Where can we get more space for the youth group? How can we better serve our community? What is the best location to store the worship equipment when not in use? Questions like these prompted our leaders to

By Matt Morrison There are several types of floors that church properties can select from for their nurseries. Many select carpet. It helps “quiet” a nursery room. Plus, we now know that carpet absorbs airborne pollutants, helping to prevent them from being inhaled, which helps protect health. Carpet also helps prevent slip and fall accidents from occurring and is softer under

By Michael Wilson According to an August 2017 study by Forrester, a research organization that conducts surveys into business trends and directions, today’s business buyers are increasingly self-directed. By this, they mean that business-to-business (B2B) purchasers such as church administrators making buying decisions for their churches, increasingly rely solely on their own judgment. These buyers

  Modular worship buildings & religious facilities are perfect for churches, synagogues, temples and mosques to use as administrative and training space. With your growing attendance, modular buildings are a perfect solution for additional classrooms and office space. When your congregation needs additional flexible space quickly, permanent or temporary modular church buildings can bring you

Those once gleaming benches and bright colored walls of your sanctuary now look pretty dingy. You know that the whole vibe of the space is several years out of date, too. It might be hard to justify the update when it comes to looking at your budget, especially if it seems to be working just

For a traveling ministry, effective use of time, space, and physical labor are of utmost importance when trying to bring their message to as many people as possible in a given time period. A mobile stage provides a safe, durable, reliable, and efficient venue for this purpose. Apex Stages is a leading manufacturer of mobile

By Neal Peters “God entrusted these facilities to you. They are His and He expects us to be diligent.” –Tim Cool, The WHY behind the WHAT: Church Facility Management Churches are so much more than buildings. They are places of worship, community, and connection. They have great meaning beyond simply floors, walls, and windows. That’s

Trends in church architecture are seeing a shift towards digital integration and bringing the community to the church through non-worship activities. As time passes, the design of the churches and worship areas must evolve with the people who utilize them. Trends in modern church-building look much different than their predecessors. Here are 4 trends we’ve

Designing a religious institution, whether it’s the construction of a new church or renovation of an existing facility, requires a delicate and poignant approach — one that pays tribute to the authenticity and history of the space, but is also mindful of the events and activities that take place within these religious environments. The most

By Rick Ritacco For anyone in charge of a high-traffic building, the perpetual, twofold mission is clear: go green and save green. The facility’s keeper makes no move without the mission in mind, always on the lookout for opportunities to support it. When facility managers think about potential areas for eco-friendly improvement, restrooms may not

By Jess Bern Outdoor LED signs appeared in the mid-1990s. Churches quickly realized how this cutting-edge technology supports an ageless message. The content on an outdoor LED sign inspires and informs church members and nonmembers alike. An LED Sign—Part of the Ministry An LED sign gives passersby some insight into all the good things going

By Amy Seretsky About 10 years ago, a New York man wrote columnist Dear Abby (Abigail Van Buren) the following letter: Dear Abby, I’m a single father of an 18-month-old and am wondering why so many public places have no baby-changing stations available in areas where men can use them. I find it hard to

By Melanie Smollen My husband was leading worship at a church I had never been to before. I planned to join him and attend the later service. When I arrived, I had no idea what door to enter, and I ended up walking in a side door that opened right up into the sanctuary while

By Ryan Nelson As the former art director at Mars Hill Church, Eleazar Ruiz is sensitive to how physical elements of a room or a service affect our posture towards God, our attitude towards worship, and our experience of a sermon. “I visited an Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle, and the design and silence of the

By Paulla Shetterly Church leaders throughout America search for ways to reach and inspire the “unchurched generation.” They invest a large amount of time and energy developing approaches for inviting those persons searching into church. As they strive to recruit new members or returning former attendees, these leaders also look for methods that effectively articulate

Multi-purpose room, family life center, fellowship hall, church hall or parish hall. Call them what you want, they are a key part of a church’s interior design scheme. Over the years, the multi-purpose room has evolved from a gathering space for donuts and coffee to gymnasium style rooms that host sporting events, classes, team building,