Taking Care of the Church's Facilities and Grounds is an Activity that Constantly Requires Attention

Before becoming an executive pastor, in my corporate days, we had many dedicated employees and several contractors to maintain the facilities and grounds. In my years as an executive pastor, having never had a facilities staff, I had to develop a team of volunteers and contractors to handle the facilities maintenance program. Resources were limited. Consequently, getting everything done was a HUGE challenge!

I recall discussing the "ongoing nature" of facility maintenance with a hired contractor.

I said, "The facilities game never ends!" Since then, I've said it dozens of times. I know from first-hand experience that caring for a building and campus is a "never-ending battle." 

The church I served for many years had two buildings (more than 50,000 square feet) and 19 acres of land. Having a 1,000-seat venue and ample space for children and students during Sunday morning services was awesome. Having some nice office space to work in during the week was almost as awesome.

But, it meant there were ...

• 22 toilets

• Nine urinals

• One poop grinder

• Many paper towel dispensers, soap dispensers, sinks, mirrors, etc.

• 14 separate HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) units

• 14 separate, programmable thermostats

• Hundreds of light fixtures

• Thousands of light bulbs

• Two security systems

• Parking lots to plow and treat

• Hedges, flower beds, and grass to maintain

• Lots of "stuff" (carpet, tile, tables, chairs, vacuum cleaners, hand trucks, ladders, tech/production equipment, servers, computers, phones), etc.

While it was a lot to maintain and otherwise fix, adjust, replace, repair, clean, paint, patch, and schedule, it provided me with many great opportunities to serve alongside many talented and committed volunteers. If you're in a similar situation at your church, seek out the "facilities types" in your congregation. You'll be blown away by those ready, willing, and able to get in the facilities' "game."