God has great plans for the ministry that will happen within your new building, but you don’t have to wait until the building is completed. You can start now!
We believe that every church or Christian school building project presents a unique ministry opportunity. Building God’s Way is deeply committed to helping you impact the workers on your job site with the love of Christ. An integral part of the BGW approach since its foundation, the Ministry of Construction program offers a step-by-step guide to organizing a successful outreach effort during construction. Through simple acts of kindness, hospitality and appreciation, your ministry will be able to build relationships with local construction workers that will be on your property for several months or more.
Building relationships, caring for one another and sharing our lives…
These are the actions that can open a door to sharing the gospel message.
Guiding Scriptures
1 Kings 5-8 tells the story of Solomon’s preparations for building the temple, a major turning point in the history and religion of Israel. First, he partnered with King Hiram to hire a team of skilled workers, vowing to pay them a fair wage. However, this wasn’t the end of the agreement. The king also asked him to feed the crew. Solomon agreed and continued forward by seeking out materials that would last and individuals who would be committed to the project beyond just their wage. When the project was finally complete, Solomon led all who would hear in prayer and they dedicated the temple to God, sharing in a feast before parting ways. This isn’t the first time we see this kind of communal and holistic commitment to a building project in the Bible though.
Earlier, in Exodus 35, we learn that God asked the whole Israelite community to take part in an offering for the tabernacle. Those who could brought precious metals, linens, and other materials, and others who were able to work offered their time and talents to participate in the building project. Their gifts were not given out of shame or as a result of pressure, but out of a heart to follow God’s will and serve Him. What they offered, they didn’t offer to the building itself, but to God.
Resources
Below you will find links to some valuable Ministry of Construction resources that we have compiled over the past 25 years. It is our hope that these resources will help support your leadership in organizing a successful outreach effort during your construction project. Included in these resources are helpful tips for organizing ministry teams and conducting ministry fairs as well as how to safely incorporate volunteers, mobilize prayer and publicity teams and conduct ceremonies on the job site such as groundbreaking, grand opening, slab parties and more. Also included is a broad collection of some of the best outreach ideas that our ministry clients have developed over the years. Feel free to incorporate any of these ideas into your building project or customize them to better fit your ministry, location or demographics.
Building Your Ministry Team
For your construction project to be successful, you must have an effective team structure with clearly defined responsibilities and relationships. Some of the functions of the construction program may be handled adequately by teams already in place, but this is also a great opportunity to get new people involved in a leadership capacity.
Practical Guidelines
Why are we doing this? It is difficult to maintain motivation and focus in the absence of a clear and well articulated vision. A vision is usually written in the form of a Mission Statement which provides common goals for everyone involved in the building process.
Ministry Ideas
As you move forward with the process of constructing a new building for your ministry, do not overlook some very simple ways of building good relationships with your neighbors, subcontractors and other community groups.
We are not just building
buildings, we are buildings lives!
As you begin this journey, we will be praying for your clarity, passion, and wisdom. We will specifically be praying that lives would be changed and hearts would be opened to hearing the truth of the Gospel through your simple acts of kindness, hospitality and appreciation. We encourage you to stay steadfast in your focus. You stand among a great legacy of people who sought to honor God in the midst of transition, even on building projects! Remember that this building is not a testament to you or your congregation, but a mere conduit for God’s work in your community and beyond. Thus, even as it is being constructed, God is calling you to carry out this work – beginning with the construction workers.
Share your Ministry of Construction Stories
One of the best ways to encourage Church and Christian school clients to conduct outreach on the job site is by sharing testimonials and success stories from other construction sites. Whether it is an event that worked out well, an on-site ministry or outreach effort that has seen results, or, maybe an unusual way of saying “Thank You” or otherwise showing appreciation to the workers on site – please let us know so we can share it with those who are yet to break ground! To share your stories and photos of Ministry of Construction events, please click on the link below.