Books and Buildings

A book contains two stories. The first story is within the pages of the book. We read it and get absorbed in the characters and the plot. The other story is the one about the book itself. We make notes. We dog ear the pages. We remember where we were at certain points in the book. Perhaps we lend the book to someone else and then they lend it to another person.

At some point the book begins to have two distinct stories:

1. the original story inside the book

2. the story that evolves around the book itself – the people who read it, the written notes inside, the dog eared pages, whether it stays on the shelf or gets sold in a garage sale, etc.

This is true of buildings that are used for ministry. When a church builds a building, it is for the purpose of telling the gospel story. This is like the written story on the pages of the book.

After awhile the building itself begins to have its own story because of how it is used and what takes place within it. Carpets get worn. Windows get cleaned. People connect with each other and with God. Significant events such as weddings and baptisms take place.

So if you’re building a new facility, remember that in addition to the teaching and preaching that takes place, the building itself will begin to develop its own story. It will house events and connections that result from people learning and experiencing community with one another. No one can predict how that story will evolve, but it will be written. And, it can become more beautiful than we ever imagined.