Do we sell or we keep the bldg

[Salty]

I have been pastor at our church about 18 months now
Our church needs to make a very important decision

We currently own a building - mortgage is paid off - thus the only bills are
the electricity and water.

The Auditorium can hold about 200, but is unusable in the winter as there is no heat.
That could be from Oct-Apr.
We have services in the basement - which can comfortably hold about 50 but we could
squeeze in 75
Currently we have about 10 in attendance per week

Our building has not been painted in over 20 years and definitely needs one.

There are several other shortcomings. The cost would run into the multi thousands.

We have had an offer from someone to buy our building for $5,000.

We do not want to leave our neighborhood as there are no other close by churches.
None of our members have a home that could be used temporarily.

What considerations should we be thinking?

NOTE: THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR FUNDS - JUST ADVICE.

 

[Reynolds]

I have been pastor at our church about 18 months now
Our church needs to make a very important decision

We currently own a building - mortgage is paid off - thus the only bills are
the electricity and water.

The Auditorium can hold about 200, but is unusable in the winter as there is no heat.
That could be from Oct-Apr.
We have services in the basement - which can comfortably hold about 50 but we could
squeeze in 75
Currently we have about 10 in attendance per week

Our building has not been painted in over 20 years and definitely needs one.

There are several other shortcomings. The cost would run into the multi thousands.

We have had an offer from someone to buy our building for $5,000.

We do not want to leave our neighborhood as there are no other close by churches.
None of our members have a home that could be used temporarily.

What considerations should we be thinking?

NOTE: THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR FUNDS - JUST ADVICE.

A 200 seat building for $5k?
Right now a good backyard storage building costs about that much. I gotta be missing something.

 

[Salty]

A 200 seat building for $5k?
Right now a good backyard storage building costs about that much. I gotta be missing something.

It is in extremely bad shape. Will take a lot to fix it up.
At the moment - about all we are doing is paying the bills, including missions

 

[Salty]

A 200 seat building for $5k?
Right now a good backyard storage building costs about that much. I gotta be missing something.

It is in extremely bad shape. Will take a lot to fix it up.
At the moment - about all we are doing is paying the bills, including missions

 

[AustinC]

10 people? Reserve a private room in a restaurant and enjoy fellowship. Sell the building to help pay for coffee and donuts.

Truthfully, with 10 people you all could just merge into a different church and find much greater fellowship. Let go of the grip of tradition that once lived in the current building. God isn't found in a pile of bricks and wooden frames. Time to move onward and upward.

My 2 cents...

 

[AustinC]

A 200 seat building for $5k?
Right now a good backyard storage building costs about that much. I gotta be missing something.

With the price of wood, you could tear down the building and resell the wood for more than $5K.

 

[Salty]

10 people? Reserve a private room in a restaurant and enjoy fellowship. Sell the building to help pay for coffee and donuts.

We have thought about that - but if this virus requires a lockdown - then we might be at a disavantage..

Truthfully, with 10 people you all could just merge into a different church and find much greater fellowship. Let go of the grip of tradition that once lived in the current building. God isn't found in a pile of bricks and wooden frames. Time to move onward and upward.
.

No church close enough to make that feasible

With the price of wood, you could tear down the building and resell the wood for more than $5K.

Not made of wood

 

[Reynolds]

It is in extremely bad shape. Will take a lot to fix it up.
At the moment - about all we are doing is paying the bills, including missions

I don't know. It just seems like you would be giving it away at 5k.
You could join SBC and get church plant/revitalization assistance. Each state and association is different, but our association shells out some serious help. They also give you help growing the church.

 

[AustinC]

We have thought about that - but if this virus requires a lockdown - then we might be at a disavantage..




No church close enough to make that feasible




Not made of wood

I grew up in the Toolies. Closest church was 35 miles away. We went to church.
With 10 people, my guess is anyone's house is big enough to accommodate 10 people.
Generally a congregation that size points to an old congregation with most members dying off or moving away. Get the $5K and enjoy house church. I can't imagine Covid is the only health concern in your congregation.
I know that letting go of a cherished memory is really hard for people, but Corrie TenBoom tells us "I learned to hold things lightly, that way my hands didn't hurt so bad when God tore them from my grip."
Salty, it's time to let the old building go.

 

[Marooncat79]

How much land?

rural?

city?

suburbs?


What is similar land going for there?

 

[Marooncat79]

We rented a YMCA for a while

what about sharing a bldg w another church?

 

[Salty]

I don't know. It just seems like you would be giving it away at 5k.
You could join SBC and get church plant/revitalization assistance. Each state and association is different, but our association shells out some serious help. They also give you help growing the church.

We are SBC - and seeking assistance

 

[Salty]

How much land?

rural?

city?

suburbs?

What is similar land going for there?

1) 1/4 -1/2 acre - w/ no parking other than on the stree

2) In the city

3) No ideal - but a real estate agent told me the best we could get was 5 grand.

We rented a YMCA for a while

what about sharing a bldg w another church?

Have discuss that -

A) talked to a 7th Day Adventist - but what they want a bit too much - will talk again and see if they would accept less
B) other churches - possibly - but we need to keep our service at the current times.

With 10 people, my guess is anyone's house is big enough to accommodate 10 people.

I can't imagine Covid is the only health concern in your congregation.

I know that letting go of a cherished memory is really hard for people, but Corrie TenBoom tells us "I learned to hold things lightly, that way my hands didn't hurt so bad when God tore them from my grip."

With 10 people, my guess is anyone's house is big enough to accommodate 10 people.

. I can't imagine Covid is the only health concern in your congregation.

I know that letting go of a cherished memory is really hard for people, but Corrie TenBoom tells us "I learned to hold things lightly, that way my hands didn't hurt so bad when God tore them from my grip."
Salty, it's time to let the old building go.

5 families -
1 lives in a male only bording room
1 lives with mom - who would not permit
1 lives in a very small apt - 10 would be way too much
1 is very advance age - and often misses due to her many medical conditions
Mrs Salty and I live 20-30 minutes away (depending on weather)

No one in our church has had the Chinesee Virus - but virtually everyone does have some disibility.

The church has agreed to sell if necessary - we just need to consider all options

 

[Reynolds]

We are SBC - and seeking assistance

You should definitely press your local and state association for revitalization/ plant assistance. I have never known anyone get turned down, but we are in Ga, the heartland of SBC.

 

[Salty]

You should definitely press your local and state association for revitalization/ plant assistance. I have never known anyone get turned down, but we are in Ga, the heartland of SBC.

Right now, our State Convention has a grand total of 3 people and our Association has one partime employee - the DOM.
The DOM is also a pastor and owns a company.

Hmmm - would your church be interested in being a cooperating church?

 

[AustinC]

1) 1/4 -1/2 acre - w/ no parking other than on the stree

2) In the city

3) No ideal - but a real estate agent told me the best we could get was 5 grand.




Have discuss that -

A) talked to a 7th Day Adventist - but what they want a bit too much - will talk again and see if they would accept less
B) other churches - possibly - but we need to keep our service at the current times.











5 families -
1 lives in a male only bording room
1 lives with mom - who would not permit
1 lives in a very small apt - 10 would be way too much
1 is very advance age - and often misses due to her many medical conditions
Mrs Salty and I live 20-30 minutes away (depending on weather)

No one in our church has had the Chinesee Virus - but virtually everyone does have some disibility.

The church has agreed to sell if necessary - we just need to consider all options

The good thing is that God is Sovereign and will decide this issue for you. Be at peace.

 

[Salty]

The good thing is that God is Sovereign and will decide this issue for you. Be at peace.

YES - so we seek his will.

The question is Can God provide the money to bring the building back to full use

YES HE CAN

Does he want us to move - I dont know - yet

 

[Reynolds]

Right now, our State Convention has a grand total of 3 people and our Association has one partime employee - the DOM.
The DOM is also a pastor and owns a company.

Hmmm - would your church be interested in being a cooperating church?

Maybe. We have a church in West Virginia that we work with. It has grown to a pretty good sized church, but still has huge financial obstacles. If you pm me some details I will talk to some folks at church and send it to our association. Association wide we help a couple of different out of state churches per year.

 

[SovereignGrace]

I have been pastor at our church about 18 months now
Our church needs to make a very important decision

We currently own a building - mortgage is paid off - thus the only bills are
the electricity and water.

The Auditorium can hold about 200, but is unusable in the winter as there is no heat.
That could be from Oct-Apr.
We have services in the basement - which can comfortably hold about 50 but we could
squeeze in 75
Currently we have about 10 in attendance per week

Our building has not been painted in over 20 years and definitely needs one.

There are several other shortcomings. The cost would run into the multi thousands.

We have had an offer from someone to buy our building for $5,000.

We do not want to leave our neighborhood as there are no other close by churches.
None of our members have a home that could be used temporarily.

What considerations should we be thinking?

NOTE: THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR FUNDS - JUST ADVICE.

You need a good exit strategy.

You need to talk to the members and ask them…

—If we sell the building, what other options are available?
—What can we get with the funds in our treasury?
—Do we really want to sell and move?


Questions like that. I hear what you’re typing and believe the building could be better, but you’ve been blessed to have services there…minus the COVID times…for a while. It may not be much…per what you typed…but it’s bought and paid for.

 

[SovereignGrace]

YES - so we seek his will.

The question is Can God provide the money to bring the building back to full use

YES HE CAN

Does he want us to move - I dont know - yet

Pray and I’ll pray for and with you.