Should We Build It? Will They Come? | Christian Standard, June 2017 explores church buildings, facility strategy, and the long-term ministry questions that come with owning, renting, designing, or rethinking church space. Built around a clear cover theme, this issue examines how facilities can support the mission of the church without becoming the mission itself.
The visible feature lineup addresses church buildings from several angles. Mark A. Taylor gathers ministry leaders to answer the central question of whether churches should build. Pat Magness and Lee Magness trace the history of Christian worship spaces from house churches to church houses. Brent Storms looks at how urban churches find creative solutions for difficult facility challenges, while Doug Lucas asks what church building might look like in a New Testament framework. Tim Cool highlights the often-overlooked long-term cost of facility ownership, and Justin Horey and Jennifer Johnson profile churches using nontraditional spaces and designs to serve their communities more effectively.
The issue also broadens the conversation with articles on large churches in small towns, mission through climbing Kilimanjaro, forgiveness in ministry, preaching, and cultural confidence. Together, these contents make June 2017 especially valuable for church leaders thinking about capital projects, property use, stewardship, and how buildings can either help or hinder disciple-making.
For readers researching church buildings and ministry facilities, this June 2017 issue of Christian Standard offers practical insight, historical perspective, and real-world examples from churches making thoughtful facility decisions.
