"I believe creating a second access point allows us to stay on mission," he added.
If you want to spend all of that money to make the churchgoers and future churchgoers more comfortable fine, but don't try to pass it off as only an outreach project.
Our church has major parking problems and a simular problem getting in and out. The solution? We got permission from the shopping center across the street to use their parking on Sundays. Regular atendees park there and we run a shuttle service to the church and there is ample parking for guests in the church lot. Much cheaper.
If the church does grow as they anticipate from this change, they will again have the same problem a few years down the road. Why do some churches have vision when it comes to growing the congregation but no vision for the facilities?
Probably because the money isn't there until after the fact. If you don't want to go deep into debt, you grow the membership and then you grow the facility. It'd probably be nice to go out and by that 100 acre campus and then grow into it, but it usually doesn't happen. You buy the one acre with seating for 200 and then try to shoe-horn two thousand more people over the next decade.
A church I'm familiar with has a problem that is more and more common these days, which is that city council members simply don't like land being given over to churches, and land they already own they can't get permission to build on. So again they are forced to shoe-horn a growing membership into the buildings they already have.
The church I'm in was fortunate enough to get a large acreage in a rundown area where nobody cared what they did. They've since gone out on a limb (debt) to buy the adjoining lots. So they aren't landlocked like so many.
The church that I’m a part of down here in Fort Lauderdale (Calvary Chapel) solved the attendence expansion and parking problem with satellite churches in Boca Raton, Hollywood, Plantation and now even in Key Largo.
The fiber-optic service transmissions beats having to construct a brand-new sanctuary building and spending a minimum of $25 million for the tilt-up construction alone.
Plus, people from other parts of South Florida do not have to slog through miles of traffic or be confined to Internet whorship broadcasts. they can attend Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale in thier own local “small-congregation” setting.
Why do you assume that he's being dishonest when he says this is about reaching people?
Our church has major parking problems and a simular problem getting in and out. The solution? We got permission from the shopping center across the street to use their parking on Sundays. Regular atendees park there and we run a shuttle service to the church and there is ample parking for guests in the church lot. Much cheaper.
Great and creative solution. Unfortunately I doubt that shopping center is also across the street from this church; I'm guessing they've spent a lot of time trying to come up with easier and less expensive alternatives.
If the church does grow as they anticipate from this change, they will again have the same problem a few years down the road.
Is the possibility of reaching thousands of additional people a bad thing? Should they just stop trying to reach people?
Why do some churches have vision when it comes to growing the congregation but no vision for the facilities?
What would "vision for the facilities" mean for this church?
Why must churches look to "draw" people from miles away? The Bible tells us to "go" into all the world and preach the gospel.
At what point does a big church and big congregation just become a testament and monument to "mans" accomplishments.
I once went to a mega church of this same size. They had a near $100 million expansion program. The new auditorium seats 2000 more people. But also has FANCY water features and fine tile work, and mega tv screens.
I got tired of hearing "EVERYTIME" of what "A WONDERFUL" new building "GOD" gave us, and to thank him. The worship of "God" for all this, after awhile, seemed nothing but worshiping man, but using Gods name, to justify it.
I got tired of impressing myself with this or that, and decided I needed to be smaller and more humble.
What is different today, about our modern "cathedrals" than the massive ancient cathedrals of yesteryear? Those cathedrals also were built in the "name" of God, and for "his" glory. But in reality were one bishops or rulers quest to outdo another.
"Church" isn't about buildings and infastructure. Its people. If buildings are needed, lots of buildings can impact more people than one. If ONE church can grow to 22,000 people, why not plant 20 smaller ones, with the capability to grow to 22,000 (or plant 20 new smaller churches each)?
I'm tired of food courts, and coffee stands, and waterfalls, and escalators, and fine tile, and 1 bazillion inch high def tvs.
I want the Word. I want to worship Jesus, not the things he "gave" us.
The Bridge to Somewhere.
Probably because they have no vision for spending less than the current congregation puts in the offering plate. They need to grow the congregation in order to increase giving in order to pay for new facilities.
In protestant non-denoms the fad is to have “traffic problems” and a “parking ministry”.
I’ve noticed that Catholics in large parishes around here can get into and out of the church without being supervised.
Coincidence ?
I remember a few years ago people were talking about this church and one freeper said the church was “a mile wide and an inch deep.” I agree. I remember visiting there maybe about 10 years ago or so and it was really crowded. Many people had to sit on the floor and you had to walk a long way after you park and traffic getting out was pretty bad. Yes I agree with the person who said it was like a Braves game.