What do we as ministry leaders do when our facilities begin to run out of space? Should we immediately begin a building campaign, or are there other creative ways to still serve our people in our current spaces? Too many people in too small a space is a good problem to have, but it can be a hard one to solve. Executive pastor Jeremy Thiessen joins Erin and Doug for this week’s episode of The Intentional Churches podcast to talk how to prepare for physical expansion without losing sight of your church’s vision for developing disciples.
Jeremy has served as the executive pastor for Shelter Cove in Modesto, California for five years, and from 2022 to 2024, saw their weekend attendance double in size. That fast growth prompted Jeremy and his team to start thinking about expansion, and the challenges and opportunities that come with that conversation. Throughout the episode Erin and Doug also share their own insights when it comes to building, creative solutions if a building campaign isn’t possible or isn’t the right way to serve your people, and how to always keep the Great Commission front of mind, rather than getting caught up in a building project.
Whether your church is running out of physical space, or you’re simply needing a word on how to continue discipling your people well—this episode is for you!
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Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Personal Background
03:11 Preparing for the Next Season of Ministry
04:07 The Journey of Shelter Cove Community Church
06:01 Transition to an Attractional Model
07:23 Engaging with Intentional Churches
08:47 Experiencing Significant Growth
09:46 National Trends in Church Growth and Space Challenges
14:24 Space Challenges at Shelter Cove Community Church
16:20 Considering Capital Campaign and Building Plans
20:46 Creative Solutions for Space Challenges
23:17 Cautionary Thoughts on Building Projects
25:44 Aligning Vision and Addressing Space Needs
28:55 Practical Advice for Planning and Space Management
32:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts