Unless you’re in a unique situation, chances are your church started portable. You found a space you could use or rent out on a weekly basis. You utilized a small army of volunteers to bring in chairs, lug in sound equipment, set up, and tear down, week after week after week.

It’s an effective but labor-intensive model for a church. The question is, when should you transform your portable church into a permanent operation? 

Let’s dig into this seismic shift and consider some of the factors that can help guide your own ministry’s path from portable to permanent.

Should You Even Go Permanent?

The first and biggest question you have to ask is why you’re even considering building a permanent church. Carey Nieuwhof’s former church, Connexus, is “permanently portable” and has made that setup work for years without any plans to shift to a permanent location.

Its leadership team has found that a movable setup is a great way to reach unchurched people who don’t have the same Christian stigma that comes with a portable church. Church-attending believers often view a portable church as a business startup. It’s a nice idea, and it’s doing its best to get some momentum, but is it really a church? Is it really going to “make it?”

Nieuwhof points out that the portable model is utilized in countless other settings, from weddings and graduations to high-profile events like concerts. These aren’t considered half-way or failed events. They are a normal way of doing business.

With that said, there are some major perks that come with having your own building. You don’t have to set up and tear down before and after each service. You can also make more decisions about the flow, maintenance, and improvement of the structure. 

These pros and cons are why it’s worth starting with the question: is a permanent building the right long-term answer for your church? The Connexus approach isn’t for everyone, and if you find that the goal is, indeed, a permanent structure (as is usually the case), it’s time to consider when to make the shift.

Questions to Ask When Considering the Shift From Portable to Permanent

If you feel you’re nearing the point when it’s time to move into a permanent church structure, it’s time to start strategizing. Here are some questions to get things rolling:

What is your ministry’s mission statement?

Settling your church into a permanent building doesn’t have to be a final placement. But you can bet it’s going to have long-term implications for your ministry.

With this in mind, always start the church relocation process by reviewing your ministry’s mission statement. Prayerfully consider what God is calling you to do as a church, and then start your building search with a clear, mission-driven mindset.

Do you have a location in mind?

The spot you choose for a church matters. From the features of the building itself to parking considerations and geographic locations, don’t treat this step lightly.

As you consider a permanent resettlement for your church, take property selection seriously. Evaluate ministry needs, the geographic area you want to serve, financial capacity, congregational capacity, and so on. Then, look for a building that aligns with these parameters.

Are you considering other spacial ministry needs?

A church is much more than a Sunday morning service. One of the biggest attractions of a permanent church is the ability to accommodate more than a single service event.

What other ministry activities and requirements do you have? Do you want to have a thriving junior church function alongside Sunday morning services? Do you want to host midweek services? Small groups? Youth groups? How much office space do you need? These are important questions as you start looking for a permanent space.

Should you build or buy?

Buying an existing building is almost always more affordable. It also is already built, which means you can move in much faster. If the building requires repairs, that may slow things down, but it will probably bring the cost down.

Building gives you control over the details. You can tailor the structure to both your current and future ministry goals. Of course, building is more expensive, too. You also need to buy land before you break ground. As you weigh your options, assess your project financing and make sure you can accommodate whatever option you’re leaning toward.

Do you have the support structure in place to make such a big move?

Finally, remember that shifting from portable to permanent is a complex and protracted activity. It requires proper planning, strategizing, and support along the way. 

Do you have a partner in place to help you with the logistics? If not, give our team at Ministry Solutions Group a call. We can bring a unique degree of knowledge and experience to bear on your situation and ensure that you end up in a permanent church that suits your ministry’s needs and budget.

Portable or Permanent? Knowing Which Is Right for Your Church.

Making the leap from a portable ministry to a permanent church building is a big decision. Make sure to assess everything, from your mission statement and needs to locations, budgets, and support systems. Lift every step of the process up in prayer, too, so that God remains at the heart of the move and you can dive into this exciting new stage of your church’s journey with confidence.