41: Picking a facility: part 2

Converge church planting leaders Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee continue their discussion on choosing the right facility to launch your church plant. In this episode, they look at renting space from other churches, industrial space and storefronts.

1:04 Danny talks about his church plant renting space from an old Presbyterian church.

2:29 Danny says his church starting meeting on Saturday nights and then moved to Sunday nights because Sunday mornings weren’t available.

3:20 Danny says the church gave them a terrific deal on rent.

4:22 Danny says unchurched people feel more comfortable meeting in a church building.

5:46 Danny talks about a church planter who started meeting in a church’s fellowship area and now has moved to the sanctuary on Sundays.

6:44 Lee says using a local church during the pre-launch phase was helpful.

7:36 Danny talks about two established churches that recently gave their buildings to church plants.

8:45 Lee and Danny shift the conversation to industrial space and storefronts.

9:02 Danny says industrial space can be expensive and parking can be difficult.

10:13 Lee talks about a church that is growing and needs to find a new facility, but it can’t because it’s locked into a long-term lease.

11:34 Lee encourages planters to find some businessmen who are familiar with commercial lease situations to read through the contracts or get help from a commercial real estate agent.

13:08 Lee talks about how he’s never had an office in the church building and discusses off-site office space options.

16:43 Lee recommends keeping your rent under 20% of your overall budget.