Our current cm facility is not ours
Your Question:
“How can the CM survive, and flourish in a movie theater, a school facility, or at another church’s facility with no storage or flexibility?”
The Issues:
Comfort, consistency and safety are all qualities that are challenges in a transient facility. You may have to “import” all these conditions into the transient facility. Making the children, parents, and CM team comfortable and safe requires much attention.
Scripture Foundation:
“…And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped. At the command of the LORD the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the LORD they camped. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp…Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted, they set out. At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out.” Numbers 9: 16-23
Short Answer:
Being “transient” is not easy. There is no sense of “home” or “ours.” It can wear even the best volunteer or employee down. The negative effects of being transient must be balanced by a strong sense of “team spirit,” and a clear focus on the presence of the Lord and the ministry vision.
Remind everyone on the church and CM team that God is with you, and that He has provided a “tent” in which to serve Him, and to proclaim His goodness. To just “do church” in a borrowed facility might be viewed as too much work without a clear sense of why it is being done, for whom it is being done, and regular opportunities to “enjoy the fruit” of the work.
The transient phase must also be met with strategic organization and planning. To transport the entire church effort in vans or trucks takes specific equipment made especially for this challenge. The transportation crew, set up crew, and tear down crew must be a “tight” group of volunteers who work well together and who are thanked and appreciated overtly on a regular basis. Every member of the church team (volunteers and paid staff) needs personal encouragement from the senior pastor and associate pastors/supervisors. This encouragement needs to include social interaction, spiritual encouragement, and the 3 “Fs” of ministry: Food, Fun, Fellowship.
Even though you are not meeting in your own facility, there should still be a maintenance or janitorial team. When ministry is happening, those involved in the ministry shouldn’t need to stop their work to clean up a mess or fix something that is broken. Having at least 1 person, with a 2-way radio, who is on site ready to help clean or fix something is priceless in this transient phase. For a specific document regarding this transient phase, download the document entitled, “Holding Church In Someone Else’s Facility” from this site. There are many valuable resources (equipment sources and articles) available in the “Developing The CM Facility APPENDIX.” Click on the link below for more help.
Visit other articles in the “Developing The CM Facility APPENDIX“
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