In the world of churches, church buildings and mega churches, facilities management is becoming more and more common as churches grow and buildings become bigger and bigger and more complex.
Facility management can be seen as a job in the periphery of ministry, or it can be considered what it truly is, ministry.
Building management, as with any job, no matter how small or how big, can facilitate ministry and kingdom growth and glorify God. “All work is service.” There should be no distinction between ministry and the management of a church building. The church building is an important context for ministry to take place, and all work is a gift of God given to us to glorify God and to make Him known.
The building manager, facility manager, sexton, etc. actually is a facilities minister or building minister. The building manager is a steward and facilitator of ministry contexts. This is a very important servant leadership role. Facilities management is also important and valuable ministry.
While doing youth ministry in a medium-sized church, I had a very good working relationship with our church’s building manager, Patrick. It is very uncommon for a relationship between a youth minister and a building manager to be good. Traditionally, these two positions mix like oil and water. Usually the youth minister is the nemesis of the facilities manager. Most of the time, youth workers cause a lot of trouble, are the cause of much wear-and-tear and damage to the facilities; and they can be the cause of more work for the building manager.
It was different between my friend Patrick and me, however. Very early on in our working relationship, Patrick and I recognized we were partners in ministry. We recognized we were playing on the same team with the common goal of ministry and kingdom growth.
I recognized early that Patrick was not a building manager; he was a building minister. I actually began referring to him as the building minister. Patrick and I were partners in ministry.
The idea that every employee at a church is a co-laborer in ministry is a mindset we must adopt in vocational church ministry. We need each other in ministry. We are partners in ministry and partners in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must create a synergy in ministry if we are to be effective.
Every calling to every good work is a part of the larger picture of God’s plan. Every God-given work, gift and talent implemented to serve God is worship and ministry. All work is a high calling and opportunity to serve and glorify God.
We should not play into the false dichotomy between what is sacred work and what is secular work; this is not biblical. To quote Tim Keller, “All work, according to God’s design, is service. Through work, we enrich one another and become more and more interwoven. When Christians do secular work, they function as salt and light in the world (
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As Patrick and I served God, we served one another in ministry, and we served others in ministry. We were partners and co-laborers for gospel advancement. If I had a need, he helped me. If he had a need, I helped him.
If the youth from the youth group broke something, I took responsibility and made the youth take responsibility. Together we would right the wrong. These opportunities were openings for teaching and disciple making. In these occasions of ministry, God was glorified and made known.
We also incorporated youth ministry into facilities management and care. We utilized youth volunteers for setup and takedown of events, lawn care and work projects; and we engaged youth in achieving their community service hours for school for the improvement and upkeep of the church’s facilities.
In serving together with Patrick, I actually gained a mentor and volunteer for our youth ministry. Patrick became one of my biggest advocates and assets in our youth ministry. It was a true partnership and a lasting friendship that continues to this day.
I would like to share some amazing tips and insights with you on being a building minister and insights on facilities planning, management and ministry from one of the best building ministers I know, Patrick Condemi. Then, we will list some ways to develop and maintain good synergistic partnerships in ministry, which propels ministry forward and contributes to kingdom growth.
Tips and Insights from Patrick on Being a Building Minister
1. As a building minister, I have learned your smile can be your greatest tool.
2. It is humbling to realize how much your brothers and sisters are always watching and learning from you. You are a role model for others.
3. It is sobering to realize how your attitude, positive or negative, can affect others. Reflecting Christ in your work and in serving is essential.
4. Most of the feedback I have received regarding my performance as a building manager has been about my cheerful attitude. Attitude is important and communicates Christ to others.
5. Your attitude can positively affect the people around you and minister to their souls.
Facilities Planning, Management and Ministry
What I, Patrick, have learned through the years about planning, managing facilities and ministering with people is:
1. Communicate, communicate and communicate!
2. You can never over communicate.
3. You are never invisible, even when people do not know your name or exactly what you do.
4. Plan intelligently and creatively.
5. Be good stewards of God’s resources and spend wisely.
6. It’s always better to be kind than right.
7. Be a reflection of God’s grace.
Synergistic Partnerships in Ministry
As Patrick and I collaborated in ministry, we have learned so much. We have had some huge successes and some failures. We have developed this list of ideas and lessons learned which could help propel your ministry forward and contribute to kingdom growth in your church.
1. Facilities management is not only about brick and mortar. More importantly, it is about ministry, serving, relationships and contexts for influence and ministry.
2. Every job is an important job and an opportunity to serve Jesus and minister to others.
3. A building is not the church; the people who occupy the building are the church.
4. Excellence must be pursued in every area of our work.
5. Life is short, and opportunities are fleeting; always learn and grow from your mistakes.
6. We are to be good stewards of the resources God has given us.
7. Working together produces opportunity for teaching and discipleship.
8. Always choose ministry over management.
9. People always come first.
10. Use projects to help people, not people to help with projects.
11. We are part of a team that is primarily serving God.
12. Trust people, and give them the benefit of the doubt.
13. Work to solve conflict with honesty and integrity.
14. Love one another well, and seek opportunities for service and growth.
15. Recognize that every job is an opportunity or context for ministry and kingdom growth.
As you think about these concepts of ministry and management, these facility management tips and the ideas presented here, we hope you begin to see facilities management is ministry. We also hope you have gained some insights and ideas on how to leverage buildings and grounds to help in kingdom building. With this shift in thinking from management to ministry, we hope every job (no matter how small or lage) facilitates ministry and kingdom growth and glorifies God in your sphere of ministry influence.
Robbie Pruitt is a high school Bible teacher in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, where he lives with his wife, Irene. Robbie loves Jesus, youth ministry, the great outdoors, writing poetry and writing about theology, discipleship and leadership. He has been in youth ministry more than 17 years, since volunteering after high school. Robbie graduated from Trinity School for Ministry with a Diploma in Christian Ministry and from Columbia International University with a B.A. in Bible and General Studies and a minor in Youth Ministry. Follow his blogs at RobbiePruitt.Blogspot.com and RobbiePruitt.com.
