Hi bob,

Like what you’ve written so far - yeah, you’re right, dude: spending $75,000,000.00 on a building project is kinda obscene!

It’s wierd - but the culture of church we get saved ‘into’ hasn’t departed that much from the Temple-Building mentality of the Pre-Incarnate people. Conmversely,I was in a church here in the UK (evangelical independent-ish) that went the way of the ‘Cell’ group basis /committed to growth/divide and multiply but it only ever succeeded in one church plant and was eventually re-absorbed into the parent body. The reason?

I no longer fellowship there so absolutely nothing I offer can be authoritative (it may not even be constructive!) but my gut feeling is that the ‘large’ environment or ‘phenonenon’ that is CHURCH monopolizes the skills and resources that we all need but probably (more to the point) covet as well (xclnt musicianship in worship/pastoral wisdom/counselling/teaching xclnce…love?). I wonder how ‘Christ in us’ would grow and reach out if we were robbed of these things a la 70 AD or whatever?

If I’m meant to grow (PS I’m no leader of men of any description!), how can I if I’m mired in some umbilical tie to the ‘mother ship’?
Your task is unenviable but honourable nonetheless and if that Ephesians quote has any merit (4: 11 - 13) then the manifesto remains - to prepare the likes of me so that the Church may be built up: do programs err by attempting to define what the end focus of being ‘built up’ should look like?
Who knows where I will end up?
Where/Whom I shall serve?
Do those two statements assume it’s going to resolve in a static appointment for the remainder of my 3 score years and ten? If so, why?

I love it that you want people to grow: treat ‘em like you won’t see them again after 36 months - ever! (attempted Acts reference :o)