Your Building Speaks

No, this is not a story of an old creepy abandoned church rumored to be filled with ghosts that speak. Rather, it is a story of a new building that is not only functional but purposeful. My family and I attend Chase Oaks Church in Plano, Texas. This past weekend we held the grand opening for our new facility – a building whose design speaks of its purpose and mission.

From the time the campaign to raise the money began several years ago to the beginning of the design phases to the construction to the relocation just weeks ago, the building was designed with a purpose. Central to the vision and values of Chase Oaks is the concept of bridge building – to God, to one another and to the community. 

During the construction phase, we had a chance to walk through the facility with the advising architect. It was exciting to see and hear how each area of the building was designed to speak – to speak of the commitments we have as the body of Christ finding its ministry launching ground at Chase Oaks. The building is located as close to the corner of a busy intersection as would allow – not because of zoning regulation requirements but because we wanted to be visible and in the midst of the community. This desire extends itself into the large windows that allow the passing traffic to see in and realize that there is life and ministry happening. Just as important, perhaps more, the windows remind us that our mission, our call is “out there” – beyond the confines of a physical building. The building itself appears to be a collection of buildings, intended to convey the image of the passage in Matthew 5 where we are called to be the light of the world, a city on a hill. The kid’s areas are themed in a manner that takes the kids on a quest from the meadows of the nursery to the mountain summit of the fifth grade area. The student ministry building has access to the neighboring multiplex theater parking lot and through cool architecture, multiple decks, indoor basketball cage and gaming areas and a lighted sand volleyball court this will become a place where students do life together. 

Check out the article from last weekend’s Dallas Morning news for more. 

What does your building say?

 

Greg Ligon

Leadership Network

Vice President, Church Innovations and Publisher