This is a picture of the front of our new church building. Over 6 years ago, a planning committee got together at our church to plan for a youth facility add-on to our current building, and it has ended up with a completely new church. There are many great things about this. Our current building is old, leaks whenever it snows or rains, and we are outgrowing it. The new building will allow us greater office space, we will have a full-time counselor working out of the church, we are starting a pre-school/daycare program based out of the church, the youth finally have their “own” room, people are investing their resources (time & money) and their lives into this project. People are excited about the greater ministry opportunities a larger/nicer/newer building will offer us. I am excited for this church as well. However, I can’t stop thinking about something. This home.
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This home is within a block from our current building, and is on the main road to the new church building. A mother (single? I don’t know if there is a dad or not) lives here with many children (I’m not sure how many, but I know at least 3). Their children are all active in our after-school program. I don’t know how these children can grow up in a home like this; a home that many people in our church (electricians, carpenters, construction workers) could help fix up.
So what would have been a better use of our money? To re-direct some of the building campaign money to help out a family who desperately needs it, and is actively involved in one of our ministries. How beautiful of a witness would that be? But we don’t do that. If we did that for one family, wouldn’t there be others we would leave out? Most likely. But, should that be the reason for allowing a family living in a home so close to our church to go on looking like this? Something tells me I shouldn’t be at a church when they start a building-fund capital stewardship campaign…
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Amen, Bro. Amen.
So put something together anyway. Who needs a building fund?
This seems to be the case in so many places. It’s sad to see a family struggling, a church that has the capacity to help, and yet a family STILL struggling. Of course, there is a place in your heart (so it seems) to reach out and help people who are in need. Maybe you could do something with that passion, and really make a difference in many lives. Just a thought. God bless you!