Comments on: My So-Called Dislike Of Buildings http://shaungroves.com/2009/09/my-so-called-dislike-of-buildings/ Official site of Shaun Groves - musician, speaker, advocate for children living in poverty Thu, 24 May 2012 14:41:17 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: benstewart http://shaungroves.com/2009/09/my-so-called-dislike-of-buildings/#comment-17223 benstewart Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:55:32 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/?p=4727#comment-17223 Here in Nashville Fox 17 News did a short story on churches who meet in non-traditional locations that featured the church where I serve. It's a neat little story, but my favorite part is a quote from one of our co-pastors: "...our vision is never a building, it's always people." That's not to say that GHC will never build a permanent structure--he and I were just talking the other day about the opportunities that can come from having our own place--it's just that building is not the first priority of the church. Plans for a structure should be birthed out of a need from within the community. I'm just happy to follow that type of leadership here in Jesusland. I am also hopeful that we can keep that outlook long-term. You can watch it here: <a href="http://bit.ly/2ZaVT" rel="nofollow">http://bit.ly/2ZaVT</a>. Here in Nashville Fox 17 News did a short story on churches who meet in non-traditional locations that featured the church where I serve. It’s a neat little story, but my favorite part is a quote from one of our co-pastors: “…our vision is never a building, it’s always people.”

That’s not to say that GHC will never build a permanent structure–he and I were just talking the other day about the opportunities that can come from having our own place–it’s just that building is not the first priority of the church. Plans for a structure should be birthed out of a need from within the community.

I’m just happy to follow that type of leadership here in Jesusland. I am also hopeful that we can keep that outlook long-term.

You can watch it here: http://bit.ly/2ZaVT.

]]> By: misty http://shaungroves.com/2009/09/my-so-called-dislike-of-buildings/#comment-17221 misty Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:39:16 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/?p=4727#comment-17221 Shaun, for some reason my reply button is not working so I will just do this the 'old fashioned' way. :~) I live in Oak Ridge, TN which is just outside of Knoxville, TN. Unless I missed it I did not see any in my area...unfortunately. What city are you in, Misty? Yesterday I asked on Twitter and Facebook for the names of churches that are using most of their buildings to meet the spiritual and physical needs of the community around them. I got quite a list going. Maybe something on the list is in your area? Shaun, for some reason my reply button is not working so I will just do this the ‘old fashioned’ way. :~)
I live in Oak Ridge, TN which is just outside of Knoxville, TN.
Unless I missed it I did not see any in my area…unfortunately.

What city are you in, Misty?

Yesterday I asked on Twitter and Facebook for the names of churches that are using most of their buildings to meet the spiritual and physical needs of the community around them. I got quite a list going. Maybe something on the list is in your area?

]]> By: Shaun Groves http://shaungroves.com/2009/09/my-so-called-dislike-of-buildings/#comment-17220 Shaun Groves Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:13:48 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/?p=4727#comment-17220 You guys can go to my <a href="http://twitter.com/theshaungroves" rel="nofollow">Twitter account</a> and see all their URLs. I retweeted them as people sent them on to me. Quite a list. Hope it helps! You guys can go to my Twitter account and see all their URLs. I retweeted them as people sent them on to me. Quite a list. Hope it helps!

]]> By: Vicki in NC http://shaungroves.com/2009/09/my-so-called-dislike-of-buildings/#comment-17219 Vicki in NC Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:59:55 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/?p=4727#comment-17219 Shaun, any in Charlotte, NC? Shaun, any in Charlotte, NC?

]]> By: Brad Ruggles http://shaungroves.com/2009/09/my-so-called-dislike-of-buildings/#comment-17218 Brad Ruggles Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:53:33 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/?p=4727#comment-17218 Well said Shaun. I too share your indifference towards buildings...they are a tool and can be used to accomplish amazing things for God's kingdom. They can also turn into a multi-million dollar anchor that drags behind us. I've seen a lot of great buildings used for Gods glory in my day. And I've seen plenty of very pretty and expensive anchors. Well said Shaun. I too share your indifference towards buildings…they are a tool and can be used to accomplish amazing things for God’s kingdom. They can also turn into a multi-million dollar anchor that drags behind us.

I’ve seen a lot of great buildings used for Gods glory in my day. And I’ve seen plenty of very pretty and expensive anchors.

]]> By: Shaun Groves http://shaungroves.com/2009/09/my-so-called-dislike-of-buildings/#comment-17217 Shaun Groves Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:50:08 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/?p=4727#comment-17217 What city are you in, Misty? Yesterday I asked on Twitter and Facebook for the names of churches that are using most of their buildings to meet the spiritual and physical needs of the community around them. I got quite a list going. Maybe something on the list is in your area? What city are you in, Misty?

Yesterday I asked on Twitter and Facebook for the names of churches that are using most of their buildings to meet the spiritual and physical needs of the community around them. I got quite a list going. Maybe something on the list is in your area?

]]> By: misty http://shaungroves.com/2009/09/my-so-called-dislike-of-buildings/#comment-17216 misty Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:17:20 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/?p=4727#comment-17216 My husband and I have taken to calling what most consider 'church' to 'the building'. WE are the church - not the building. We are presently not attending a building. Have you ever seen the movie 'The Second Chance'? If so, that is the kind of building that we want to attend. Sadly, we haven't found one. There are quite a few churches around our area that focus on 'missions'. But, they are focusing on international missions. Which is awesome!! We also want to be part of a building that is all about local missions. We want to be part of a building that is out in the community day after day helping the people. We want to be part of a building that supports others who want to do local missions. We have considered starting a house church. There are others that we know who do the jail ministry with us who feel the same. Who feel that the buildings in our community aren't doing the work of Jesus. I don't know what the answer is.... but, I agree church is NOT the buidling. WE are the church. My husband and I have taken to calling what most consider ‘church’ to ‘the building’. WE are the church – not the building.

We are presently not attending a building. Have you ever seen the movie ‘The Second Chance’? If so, that is the kind of building that we want to attend. Sadly, we haven’t found one.

There are quite a few churches around our area that focus on ‘missions’. But, they are focusing on international missions. Which is awesome!! We also want to be part of a building that is all about local missions. We want to be part of a building that is out in the community day after day helping the people. We want to be part of a building that supports others who want to do local missions.

We have considered starting a house church. There are others that we know who do the jail ministry with us who feel the same. Who feel that the buildings in our community aren’t doing the work of Jesus.

I don’t know what the answer is…. but, I agree church is NOT the buidling. WE are the church.

]]> By: Jim Black http://shaungroves.com/2009/09/my-so-called-dislike-of-buildings/#comment-17215 Jim Black Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:58:07 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/?p=4727#comment-17215 Good discussion! The building we are renting is a new experience for us. I've been church planting for 17 years and we've met in 8 places, but never had a 7 day a week building. We're nervous about it. We don't want the building to become a monument; we want it to be a useful tool that helps to launch a movement that can't be contained. So we've been trying hard to make it available to the community, as well as other faith communities and ministries, not to raise money, but to serve them. And it's working - we're NOT raising money!But it's exciting to see what God is doing and how He is providing for it all, as we continue to give away what He has given to us. The beauracrats don't understand, and it doesn't make fiscal sense, but we are trusting God... Shaun, you played a concert in our little place ;ast Spring (Praxis Cafe)...you were a part of how God is blessing us and letting us know that He is present and involved... Peace, Jim Good discussion! The building we are renting is a new experience for us. I’ve been church planting for 17 years and we’ve met in 8 places, but never had a 7 day a week building. We’re nervous about it. We don’t want the building to become a monument; we want it to be a useful tool that helps to launch a movement that can’t be contained.

So we’ve been trying hard to make it available to the community, as well as other faith communities and ministries, not to raise money, but to serve them. And it’s working – we’re NOT raising money!But it’s exciting to see what God is doing and how He is providing for it all, as we continue to give away what He has given to us. The beauracrats don’t understand, and it doesn’t make fiscal sense, but we are trusting God…

Shaun, you played a concert in our little place ;ast Spring (Praxis Cafe)…you were a part of how God is blessing us and letting us know that He is present and involved…
Peace,
Jim

]]> By: Shawn B http://shaungroves.com/2009/09/my-so-called-dislike-of-buildings/#comment-17214 Shawn B Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:24:49 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/?p=4727#comment-17214 I slept in a church building in lake Katrine, N.Y. with permission of the pastors and after signing a insurance release. It was a real blessing, I am hoping that happens often on my trip because even campgrounds tend to be ridiculously expensive at 30 dollars a night. I slept in a church building in lake Katrine, N.Y. with permission of the pastors and after signing a insurance release. It was a real blessing, I am hoping that happens often on my trip because even campgrounds tend to be ridiculously expensive at 30 dollars a night.

]]> By: Shaun Groves http://shaungroves.com/2009/09/my-so-called-dislike-of-buildings/#comment-17209 Shaun Groves Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:27:12 +0000 http://shaungroves.com/?p=4727#comment-17209 Your paragraph #2 is exactly what we're trying to do. We have a food pantry but there are dreams of expanding it's services in time to include things such as literacy and job training, cottage industries, parenting classes, child care, counseling, and the like. We have a lot of generous and talented people in our church and community we think could make those dreams happen, and the thought is that the building we're planning would be for those programs and that the "church" would just use it as a place to meet. So instead of paying ever-increasing rent to a school district to use their building, we could use that money to build what some have called a community center that we use for church gatherings as well. I've seen this other places. It's not that unusual, actually. And, dude, we're in agreement on your paragraph #3 too I think. You're dead on. I think the method sends a message. And a building is only a method. We have to ask ourselves every step of the way what message it sends. What does it say about priorities, about how members should use their own finances, about what matters? We're asking how the building can reflect our answers to these questions. You're totally right. Your paragraph #2 is exactly what we’re trying to do. We have a food pantry but there are dreams of expanding it’s services in time to include things such as literacy and job training, cottage industries, parenting classes, child care, counseling, and the like. We have a lot of generous and talented people in our church and community we think could make those dreams happen, and the thought is that the building we’re planning would be for those programs and that the “church” would just use it as a place to meet. So instead of paying ever-increasing rent to a school district to use their building, we could use that money to build what some have called a community center that we use for church gatherings as well. I’ve seen this other places. It’s not that unusual, actually.

And, dude, we’re in agreement on your paragraph #3 too I think. You’re dead on. I think the method sends a message. And a building is only a method. We have to ask ourselves every step of the way what message it sends. What does it say about priorities, about how members should use their own finances, about what matters? We’re asking how the building can reflect our answers to these questions. You’re totally right.

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