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churches die because their membership Several years ago I wrote a series dwindles, there are healthy churches of case studies for Kairos Legacy with unhealthy debt—and the end of a Partners that described their work with mortgage doesn’t have to mean the end dying and declining churches across of a congregation. the country. Kairos works with these “We didn’t see this as giving up, but churches to evaluate their impact, their as a next chapter,” Garrett finances, and overall said about Journey’s decision health and determine to sell its building, meet in a whether it makes sense high school, and repurpose for them to stay open its money for outreach and as a congregation. If the missions. “Buildings aren’t decision is no, Kairos also bad, but they’re not the works with those churches goal, either. They’re tools to help them “recycle” for ministry, and when they their facilities and financial become a hindrance to doing resources in ways that can the work we’re called to, fund another ministry. there’s no reason to just hang I’m a fan of Kairos and on to them. I appreciate its desire to By Jennifer “Our financial reality was honor the sacrifices of past Johnson that we couldn’t keep doing generations and steward what we were doing for five kingdom resources in more years. At some point you have productive ways. According to the book to decide you’re going to move toward Legacy Churches by Stephen Gray and mission instead of maintain real estate.” Franklin Dumond, about 1 percent of I’m thankful for both the legacy vision churches in America—or 3,000—close offered by Kairos and the courageous their doors each year. Every church leadership of Dan and his elders. has a life cycle, and if it’s a church’s Selling a building so you can thrive time to “die,” it’s vital that its assets be isn’t the solution for every church, but protected and then used to bring life neither is closing a church so a newer someplace new. I’m glad we have a congregation can flourish. ministry like Kairos. For a variety of reasons, this year However, talking with Dan Garrett thousands of congregations will face at Journey Christian Church reminded tough choices about keeping the doors me there is another option for churches open. Thanks, Dan, for the challenge to unable to maintain a building or think creatively about the options. make the payments. Although many
My Take
Volunteers with Journey Christian Church, Roswell, GA, participate in a food giveaway with Action Ministries (above), help distribute donated items on a Day of Hope (left), and present a check to Christ In Youth after selling the church’s building (with Jennifer Johnson’s column, right). especially those struggling financially— should consider it as an option. “I celebrated our people and our leaders for being visionary enough to see that our purpose is reaching our community, not having a building,” Garrett says. “For us, it was a move from maintenance and mortgage to ministry and mission.” www.journeyroswell.org —Jennifer Johnson
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A Next Chapter
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