For many, the church and its building are one and the same entity. We’ve heard it a million times: “the church is the who, not the where!” Still, the building and the body are often seen as inseparable.

However, many churches are successfully launching in all kinds of portable venues, including movie theaters, schools and hotels. In fact, we’ve even seen churches impacting lives and breathing hope out of casinos and zoos.

If you’re looking for the perfect venue for your church, here are six good reasons why a permanent church building might NOT be the right choice for you:

• Change is constant:

A permanent church building has one integral feature – permanence! You might design and raise a building according to how well it serves your congregation now. And, how well – you assume – it will serve you in the future. However, there’s no guarantee that your church building will continue to be an asset for you in the years to come.

As Ed Stetzer points out, “Some of the biggest churches 20 years ago are now empty shells – either closed or relocated!”

“Some of the biggest churches 20 years ago are now empty shells - either closed or relocated!” Click To Tweet

There are many reasons why a permanent church building can cease to be an effective tool in your hands. For example, your church attendance could escalate or dwindle unexpectedly. The building’s design and architecture may become outdated and unappealing. Or, large sections of your congregation could relocate. What then?

Ed Stetzer predicts that many churches are going to wish that they had not built gigantic, multi-thousand seat auditoriums. An effective outreach strategy, the multisite movement is gradually making large church buildings a thing of the past.

• Debt is burdensome:

A typical church building absorbs 40-60% of the local church’s budget! Look around you – the mortgage and construction costs of buildings are astronomical. In addition, there’s ongoing maintenance, repair and utilities to pay for.

As pastor Rich Birch says, “Often it costs between three to ten times more to host the same number of guests in a permanent church facility than in a rented location.”

And, it doesn’t end there. Spending millions on your building means diverting large amounts of resources from other evangelistic efforts.

• Flexibility is desirable:

A permanent church building is yours for the long haul. Often, the building dictates what you can or cannot do, how many people you can accommodate etc. For example, you might find that you need more seating space to accommodate adults. Or, that you need to set up multiple children’s areas. A permanent building doesn’t really give you much flexibility to experiment.

A portable church, however, means that you can upsize or downsize to suit your needs anytime. If a certain venue isn’t working for you anymore, packing your bags and leaving is no big deal.

You can also check out these 10 sensible advantages that portable churches have over permanent venues.

• Outreach is important:

Reaching the unreached is one of the biggest callings of any church. What does that have to do with a church building? Well, turns out – a lot. Church buildings can divert people’s attention away from reaching the lost and discipling the saved. Especially since the building and its upkeep often become the vision of the church.

Church buildings can divert people's attention away from reaching the lost and discipling the saved. Click To Tweet

That’s not all. Did you know that non-church attenders feel more comfortable attending gatherings in casual spaces than traditional church buildings? No wonder that new churches meeting in public places experience 42-49% greater attendance than others.

• Community is in the real world:

The people are out there, but where are you? Thriving churches are outward focused and involved in the community, not alienated from it. Your church can miss out on real missional opportunities if its mission is tied to your building.

On the other hand, launching in everyday spaces like theaters and gyms compels you to go to the people instead of expecting them to come to church. That’s exactly why Rolling Hills Baptist Church in Georgia sold their 20-acre campus and moved to a movie theater – to be better embedded in the community.

• Messaging is key:

For a majority of people, both with church backgrounds and not, the church IS the building! Jeff R. Rada argues that church buildings suggest a greater focus on institutional accessories than reaching the unsaved and serving the poor. In addition, far too many Christians place the building at the center of their spiritual life.

Churches that step out of this mold reinforce the biblical truth that the church is the people, not the building. What message is your church facility communicating with others?  

What are some of the other advantages that portable churches enjoy over permanent buildings?

Are you looking to start a church? The decision to choose a rented venue instead of a permanent building might be the best one you take today.

We have been helping churches successfully launch in all kinds of venues for the last few decades. Reach out or give us a call today at 800.939.7722, and we’ll help you find the perfect church location for your weekend services!

In the meantime, download our FREE E-book today for all the handy tips you need to choose the right facility for your church.