Understanding Needs and Feasibility

Abraham Lincoln – on planning and preparation,  ”Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four hours sharpening the axe.”

Most churches start the process of building improperly due to lack of experience. It is highly likely your church will never undertake a task that is more demanding or complicated in terms of cost, risk, and effort, than it will in a church building program. Following a proper process will insure your church builds the right solution and makes the best and highest use of its limited money, time, and manpower resources.

One of the many challenges faced by churches when contemplating building programs is the fact that they don’t know what they don’t know.   The problem with not knowing what you don’t know is that you think you know all you need to know.  The old saying, “ignorance is bliss” is true, but bliss will quickly turn to dismay as you get further into the building program.

Lack of experience leads to huge gaps in knowledge. Very seldom are the people leading the building program truly equipped by either training or experience to lead the church through a building program in an optimum fashion.   Gaps in knowledge cost the church time and money, and will lead to costly planning and execution mistakes.

The purpose of a feasibility study is to provide the church with a qualified report of objective and quantifiable information, and an actionable plan. A needs and feasibility study produces a plan that will define the scope, timing and budget of a building program, and is instrumental in building and maintaining unity in the body of Christ. The needs and feasibility study will ask and answer the correct questions to determine the most feasible of the possible options that, within the actual financial ability of the church, best meet the needs of the ministry, the congregation, and the community. You will know that you know that you know what to do and why that is the right answer – and so will your congregation.

Further reading on understanding the predesign process of  understanding needs and feasibility in a church building program.

Category: Pre-Design Needs & Feasibility