The biggest problem that a lot of experts in church building see when they talk to churches or congregations about their church building projects is a lack of education and understanding of the church development process. At the first meeting, the church representatives often say that they know exactly what they want and need for their new church, but many times after working with an expert they better understand what types of designs and programs may be best for them.

There are many steps that a church should take in terms of having a strategic plan before they go into the church design process. Whether a building committee is used or a group of informed parishioners gets together more informally, all of these issues should be considered:

*Strategic planning: What are your goals for the church in five, 10 or 15 years? What part do you see the church playing in your community?

*Demographics: What is the area around your church like? Is the congregation getting older or are there lots of young families? How will those demographics change over time and what will they need?

*Finances/fundraising: How much money does the church currently have available for a church building project? How much could the church realistically raise from the congregation, and how would it go about doing that? What is the range of budget you can expect to have?

The key is to not just think about what your needs are right now but to consider who is around you and who you are trying to reach in addition to serving the people who are already walking through your door. Knowing who you want to reach in the future is really vital to the success of your project and getting a building that really meets your future needs.

What's the best way to bring seekers into the door and impact them with your ministry? Of course the wishes of your current church members are important, and every aspect of your community will have a wish list for a new building, but a main goal of your ministry should be reaching out to new people who want to be a part of your church and providing a welcoming place for them to come and explore God.

All of these questions will help you get a clear vision of what it is you really want from your new church building project. That way when you talk to an architect about your project he or she will know how to guide your thinking and help you make the right choices based on his or her experiences in church design.