Culture & Attitude
19.11.08
Counting The Cost
Stewart Brown - 11 September 2008
If someone asked my advice about building a new 21st Century building for their church, my response would be….
“Are you sure you are really ready for this – are you prepared for all the twists and turns, the setbacks, the highs, lows, frustrations, tests of your faith and character?”
If the answer was yes, then go for it!
I would liken our journey to date with the Xcel Centre [our soon to be built multi-purpose building in the North East of England] to that of a marathon. In a marathon you start off full of energy and excitement but after a while you begin to tire and feel pain but you continue onwards. Then you start to get your second wind and things go well again for you, then suddenly you hit the wall where every stride is a real struggle but you know you have to keep going on and on to the finish line.
In a similar vein financing a God given vision can seem like a marathon in that constructing a building can soak up a lot of time, talent, effort and of course money.
On our journey prior to construction there have been six major costs that have been evident and that we have had to embrace as a leadership team. Here is a brief insight into the costs we’ve encountered:
THE FAITH COST
At the start of 2008 I was reminded in Genesis 26 v 12 that Isaac paid the faith cost when he planted crops in a time of famine. The same year he reaped a hundredfold because the Lord blessed him. Isaac was obedient to the Lord and in a time of famine was exceedingly blessed.
So even if the economic climate is against you when you believe it’s your time to build- it’s time to build. In Ecclesiastes 11v 4 Solomon reminds us that He who observes the wind will not sow and he who regards the clouds will not reap. In other words if you are waiting for the perfect conditions to embark on any project you will never get them.
The present outward circumstances surrounding our project is that the financial climate isn’t great. Naturally speaking it’s not the ideal time to construct a £5 million pound building. We are all called nevertheless to walk by faith and not by sight.
Hebrews 11v 1 reminds us that faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Your faith in God is the tangible substance – the glue that sticks, binds and will hold you and your project together.
Yes your faith will be tested but such is the nature of living and walking by faith.
THE FINANCIAL COST
Having settled the faith cost we now come to the financial cost. How do we finance the project?
Firstly let me say that each partner/member of a congregation has an important to play and they firstly need to buy into the churches leadership.
Secondly, Pastors can encourage and remind their congregation that as Christians we are giving and living with purpose. By giving into a building project you are sowing into the Kingdom Of God towards an eternal purpose. They are sowing into a building that will be used to reach people that they haven’t even met yet. How exciting is that!
Thirdly we need to Count the financial Cost both individually and corporately. Everyone has a part to play in this.
In 2 Corinthians 8 v 3 the apostle Paul testifies to the generosity of the Corinthian Church and bears witness that according to their ability and even beyond their ability they were freely willing to give.
There is a financial price to pay be it by way of Annual vision offerings or longer term giving schemes. Consider these words from Jesus.
In Luke’s Gospel Chapter 14 v 28-30 Jesus says…
“For which of you intending to build a tower does not sit down first and count the cost whether he has enough to finish it lest after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish all who see it begin to mock him, saying this man began to build and was not able to finish”.
In this discourse with the multitudes Jesus is outlining the cost of following him by using the building of a tower as an illustration. We could break this part of scripture into four headings namely:
1) Cost
Estimating The Cost
In estimating the cost of any building project whilst receiving and relying on input from professional advisors, it is also important to try to balance the cost of what is being constructed along with the faith to complete the project. Your building should become a blessing and not a burden.
Yes in any construction project there is, in general a fairly hefty cost involved in financial terms but the cost of not building in terms of lives not transformed by the saving grace and power of Jesus Christ is a greater cost to bear than the financial costs.
2) Construction
Considering The Construction
Then there is the cost consideration and process of construction
Many years ago on a holiday with family and friends in Spain I remarked on the number of buildings that were being built and how they were in various stages of construction. My friend mentioned that some of these buildings had actually remained part completed for years as various building companies had simply come and gone.
In order to avoid this scenario and in consultation with your professional advisors, be satisfied that any contractor you appoint has a proven track record of building similar and indeed larger buildings coupled with the financial stability to complete the project. It is also worthwhile finding out a contractors track record of delivering past projects on time and within budget.
3) Criticism
Coping With Criticism
Next comes the potential cost to your reputation
Any building project designed to advance the Kingdom of God by its very nature invites criticism. You may have never done this before but that does not mean it is not achievable. At this point I am reminded of Nehemiah who had to endure adverse criticism, ridicule and distraction during the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.
So in order to prove to yourselves, your professional advisors and to financial institutions that the project is feasible prepare a comprehensive business plan.
Outline the past, present and future projections of your church as well as detailing any other important trading aspects and activities that would take place in the building. If you require Bank or other external funding remember that lending institutions do not lend based on faith. They will be looking at a churches track record along with the business plan to identify and have confidence in the ability to repay.
4) Completion
Construction To Completion
Finally there is the cost of completion
Be confident that once completed your building will be functional, practical and profitable for the Kingdom of God. If you have borrowed money to finance the building there is the joy of having to pay for the monthly mortgage on it! Your business plan can help you here if you incorporate a three year trading model from completion. This enables you to accurately track progress in relation to income and costs during the early and sometimes stretching years.
THE TEST COST
I would have to say that tests and trials will come your way on a pretty regular basis in fact probably enough to write a book about! In going forward with any building project it’s how we react to those tests, deal with them and overcome them. On our journey we have had to learn to:
Expect The Unexpected
You will be amazed at what you will have to deal with when you decide to build. Expect anything from environmental to ecological issues, the planning process, planning conditions, regular meetings/consultations with advisors and all the fees involved with that. Then there are lists of objections, variations and amendments to overcome. All this on top of running the church and ministering to the congregation.
Throughout this process and it is a process, you simply have to trust God and also be prepared to be flexible. Expect the unexpected and know that God will lead you and guide you every step of the way. Prayer through this season is essential and remember what it says in the book of James… Count it all joy when you fall into various trials.
THE PERSISTENCE COST
You will need to develop the art of being tenacious. You will encounter many hurdles before during and after construction. At times it can seem easier to give up but when the going gets tough, the tough get going. In some cases all you can do is pray, stand and let God break you through to the next stage. In other cases you have to be persistent, dig in and refuse to give up.
Within your leadership team you will feel at times that God is testing each individual by challenging hearts and spirits as to how much you really want this to happen. Be also aware of course that Satan is not too impressed with your endeavours but as the Apostle Paul says in the book of Ephesians.. Having done all to stand, stand firm therefore.
God is faithful and He will take you onwards and upwards. All we can do for our part is keep on keeping on and when we hit our “Walls Of Jericho” shout out to the Lord for his help and deliverance.
THE FOCUS COST
How do you keep your focus when on the one hand you have the existing church to deal with and on the other hand you have a new building needing built?
As long as we keep the main thing, the main thing then we will be fine. It can be easy to get distracted and involved in matters that than detract from what you believe God has called you to accomplish. Again like Nehemiah we must keep our focus and our eyes fixed ahead. Yes we need to give the project our best and undivided attention but also never forget the importance of now. It’s all about bringing people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. This is why we do what we do.
Keep your focus on the main thing and remember to also:
Seek Wise Counsel
On any building project it is important to appoint and be confident and comfortable with a team of professional advisors. They can help you in a variety of ways and also ease the burden. Proverbs 15 v 22 tells us plans fail for lack of counsel but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
All advisors of course cost money but it is money well spent. We are buying their professional expertise and experience.
It also helps greatly to visit other churches and speak with church leaders who have experience in what you’re facing and take the opportunity to ask them about the obstacles and situations they encountered and how they overcame them.
THE LEADERSHIP COST
John Maxwell commented that… “Everything rises and falls on leadership”.
Let me say this: Before you build a great building firstly build a great team. We at Xcel Church are blessed in that we have a strong diverse core leadership team in place and we recognise that we couldn’t do this without God and without each other.
As a leadership team you must also recognise that to get the best out of each other you have to operate within each others strengths and continue to maintain unity of purpose. As to the costs of being a leader on this visionary journey, well everyone on your leadership team should already have counted the costs in terms of time, investment, commitment, attitude, and heart prior to embarking on your project.
Finally leaders must also recognise that not everyone may want to come on board for your project but hey that’s ok.
Final Remarks
Always look and plan ahead for the best is yet to come. Yes there will be lots of challenges to face but we have a big God to help us to deal with and overcome them.
No matter what stage of the project you’re at, let me encourage you to continue to count and indeed pay the cost – it’s worth it!
Stewart Brown
Stewart has over 30 years experience in banking and is now the Business Manager at Xcel. Along with his wife Christine they also oversee our missions ministry of Xcel Church. They have two daughters Laura and Lynne.
At time of writing this article the Xcel centre was under construction. The Xcel Centre will be one of the largest conference centres in the north east of England and exciting new home of Xcel Church. When open, it will offer a range of conference and meeting facilities in modern, contemporary surroundings including a state of the art childcare facility and a contemporary café.