Why buy a building?
Sandra Van Opstal and Karl Ostroski
Effective urban ministry is done incarnationally. Incarnational is the idea that “we seek not to simply bring the gospel to the lost or oppressed from the outside, as if by remote control, but to be the gospel by becoming part of the communities we seek to serve.”1 Buying a building will be a sign to our community that we are committed to being present. A building opens doors to ministry that could not be done without a spacious, consistent, physical location. It serves as a long-standing reference point for where the people of God are meeting. It puts us in the community. These are specific things we can do with a building that will increase our presence and impact in the community:
- A place to provide services for the community. (Computer lab, Micah Legal Aid, after school programs, seeker-groups, job training, ESL, etc.)
- A building allows us to become advocates as we seek to influence justice in our community. As property owners we will become more aware of what policies affect our community (e.g. zoning) and we will be more informed in how we influence them.
- A physical location makes it plain to the community that we’re here – we’re present – we’re with you.
As a church, our building is ours to use however God may call us. We won’t be limited by the space and regulations of a rental property. Although “the church” is not a building but a people, a building gives an opportunity for the people of God to gather. Here is what we see as potential benefits to us:
- Cost effectiveness. We’re investing in property, not just paying rent. It builds equity for other potential needs (e.g. providing low-income housing).2
- Space for church functions (offices, worship meetings, training, prayer gatherings, Sunday school, weddings, etc.)
Some may say that a building costs too much. However, purchasing property that adds value is good stewardship of our resources – and we have much. Why is it that God gathered 500 people to Logan Square with the resources we have? Maybe because he wants to use those resources to bless other people and further his mission in Chicago. Many churches in this community would love to own a building but don’t have access to the finances needed.
It may be surprising that people as cheap as we are were asked to say why we think spending thousands of dollars is a good idea. But we think it is. We truly believe that this building will provide opportunities for which we’ve dreamt and hoped. As we’ve gotten to know our neighbors, seen their needs, and been blessed by their presence, we’re more convinced that this is a next step for our church.
1 Scott Bessenecker, The New Friars, IVP, 2006.
2 Bob Lupton in Renewing the City makes a case that in order to be urban ministers we need also to be involved in real
estate. He takes Lawndale Christian Community Development Corporation (here in Chicago) as a model.