Several months ago I read an article in the Sporting News regarding the impact of the new Yankee Stadium. I think there are several key learnings that church leaders can take from its construction and apply it to their ministry environment.

  1. Every facility eventually becomes outdated and not as efficient as it previously was thus costing the ministry opportunity. The current Yankee locker room was built for athletes in the 1920s, not today, and it obviously doesn’t have the economic capability of luxury suites and advertising revenue. The only thing that appreciates is people. Even the best buildings became landlocked, deteriorate, or no longer meet the needs of a changing society. To a visitor, a leaking roof indicates something else is leaking. An outdated facility communicates your ministry is outdated.
  2. Attendance and involvement will increase with a new facility. If your new facility was tied to vision, the genesis of the new project was that you could no longer facilitate what God was doing at your church. The expanded facilities now allow you to maximize on your potential and reach the people you are capable of reaching. It is a reality of leadership that great leaders will always have to raise money and expand because they will always continue reaching more and more of their community.
  3. New facilities meet attendee expectations by offering choice and experience. When you go to a new ballpark, parking is better, there are entertainment options outside the stadium, great video boards, and there is fan interaction options. A new facility gives you a better experience…particularly in the children’s area. But adults also get coffee areas, better gathering space, quality bookstores, better lighting and sound, video capabilities, wider aisles, and a warmer facility that just makes connecting with the heart of God and others easier.
  4. Current attendees will increase giving. It is well documented that the Yankees dramatically raised ticket prices. Likewise, where a man’s treasure is, there is heart will be also. A capital campaign tied to vision and built on a foundation of prayer weaves a culture of generosity into your church. As a result, weekly giving will increase in addition to the additional sacrificial dollars. Also, the expanded facilities will allow for expanded audiences. And when you get people, you also get their resources.
  5. This increased revenue will change how ministry is done. The Yankees are expected to take their increased revenue and revamp their Latin and overseas scouting departments. Churches with increased revenue can add staff or launch ministry initiatives to better serve the schools and under-resourced in their communities.

Stay tuned for parts 2 and 3.

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