Where To
Building is in the blood of our family. Most of Dad's brothers were in various forms of construction. Cousins and uncles have developed skills and made their living in construction.
Dad milled lumber and built a home for our family when I was a child. For years there were no electric saws and power drills. He built entire houses with a handsaw and basic tools. Dad taught his sons carpentry skills. I began painting when age 14 and by age 16 did a contracting.
This knowledge of building has served Covenant well. Church construction cost is kept about half of normal cost.
In the old days folks often dug footers and laid pilasters of rock to support a house. Or rock walls---sometimes mudded or parged--were laid on solid ground. Only in more recent times have engineering codes required that the foundation of a house be on ground tested for stability.
A corner of Covenant Church was determined by engineers to be soil with substandard compactness. Additional dirt had to be removed. Tons of rock and concrete filled the large hole to insure stability and safety of the building over time. Fourteen years later there is not a hairline crack in the walls of the building.
Concrete for footers is measured by PSI...pounds per square inch. As size of buildings increase PSI is increased, i.e., 2500, 3000, 4000, 5000. Steel bars or wire may also be inserted into the concrete for additional strength and to prevent the foundation cracking.
Inexperienced builders frustrate that it takes so much time to prepare a site, pour a foundation, and bring a building up out of the ground. Wise builders know that the foundation is critical to excellence. Time invested in the foundation is wise and saves money.
Building a congregation requires preparing a foundation. It takes time and effort. The process requires spiritual engineers who must follow biblical guidelines. Check, check, double-check. Plan. Plan. Plan. Teamwork. Lots of patience and love.
Covenant Church has tenuously explored, developed and implemented a variety of administrative structures to encourage growth of the congregation and discipleship of those who are part of the Covenant Family. Each administrative model has contributed to who we are.
About two years ago a new model was evolved that predicated volunteerism. A decision was made that Covenant's paid staff would develop skills to lead Ministry Action Teams (MAT). Each member of a MAT would serve as a leader for a specific need. Training and development of leadership skills would be essential for all MAT members.
The Administrative MAT would be primarily responsible for recruiting and training of all MAT members. Leadership seminars and MAT rallies are designed to constantly support all MATs.
The MAT structure is excellent. From research we know that this administrative concept is adequate to care for a church of any size. The MAT grows with the congregation.
As we come to a congregational meeting this Sunday 5 PM it is with confidence that our foundation of leadership is solid. Structure is in place to serve the present and to sustain in times of transition of leadership.
You have a right to be proud of your staff leaders, Elders, Deacons, and volunteers. They have worked diligently and with dedication and excellence.
At the present time ladies are working intensely to develop leaders. About 35 men are enrolled in monthly leadership training that is specifically targeted to guide them into serving ministry needs.
We are confident that the structure is bigger than any of us. The BODY must be healthy. The Body can only be healthy when MEMBERS of the BODY are healthy. The future of the Body is dependent upon preparing MEMBERS to serve with skills and by the power of the Holy Spirit.
My hope is that you will plan to be present for Sunday's congregational meeting at 5 PM. We will make decisions about the future of Covenant. Be prayerful. Think BODY. Think KINGDOM. Think about Christ and His love for you. Think about your love for others.
Much love,
Pastor Bare
John 8:31