Over the past couple of weeks, Jessica and I have been scouting possible meeting places for the new church in Brownwood, TX. Our three most viable options include two civic centers and one existing church building. The civic centers can be rented for four hours at a time for approximately $250. So, if we rented one for Sunday mornings, the cost would run approximately $1,000-$1,300 per month. This includes an auditorium (with seating capacities from 175-350), three rooms (classrooms) and kitchen facilities (which will rarely be used.) Also included are sound systems, projectors and projection screens.
To rent a civic center for a one-week VBS would cost $1,250.
The third option is an existing church building, but it carries a steep purchase price. There will have to be special arrangements made if we are to go that route. I'm not in the mood to take out a six-figure loan before we even get a congregation together.
My grandfather-in-law is a Baptist missionary. He told me nothing was harder on a new church than to burden them with a large debt. He has started four churches, and has only been through one building program (the one he's currently finishing up in near Colorado Springs.)
2 comments:
Civic Center sounds like a sweet deal. Especially if you have access to equipment and it will give you adequate space. They need to build one of those in Owasso. I think it's the right call to wait on buying a building. It will allow you to spend your money on people.
Hi Doug, thanks for the response.
The civic center is definitely at the top of the list, unless a really sweet rent-to-purchase church building opportunity arises. I'm not holding my breath.
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