The Building Is Not the Mission

In church revitalization, we talk a lot about stewardship. Stewarding leadership, stewarding influence, stewarding opportunity. But one of the most overlooked areas we need to talk about? Space.

Somewhere along the way, many churches absorbed the idea that growth means square footage. That we prove our faithfulness—or our success—by how many acres we mow and how many empty classrooms we keep clean. But what if we’ve gotten it backwards?

What if faithfulness in this season looks like smaller footprints and bigger impact?

There’s a quiet movement happening among churches—downsizing, selling unused property, renting out space to other ministries, or even partnering with immigrant and ethnic congregations to share a building. And honestly, it might be one of the most kingdom-minded shifts we’ve seen in years.

Because here’s the thing: churches with one dominant culture often struggle to reach the neighborhoods around them, especially as our communities become more diverse. One culture simply cannot reach multiple cultures. Not effectively. Not long term. And certainly not if we’re clinging to buildings that were built for a different time, a different demographic, and a different era of church strategy.

But when we open our doors—literally and metaphorically—we make room for the body of Christ to look more like the Kingdom of God: multiethnic, multilingual, multigenerational. And when we stop tying our identity to a building, we start seeing ministry as something portable, flexible, and collaborative.

Some large churches are doing incredible ministry, no doubt—but some of the most effective work I’ve seen lately is also coming from congregations that are maximizing partnerships, sharing space, and using what they have with purpose. These churches know how to collaborate well and stay focused on the mission. Their pastors see the building as a tool—not a trophy. And their people are not afraid to say, “We don’t need all this space. Let’s find someone who does.

It’s not glamorous. It’s not always comfortable. But it’s deeply faithful.

So maybe it’s time we stop asking, “How do we fill this building?” and start asking, “How can this building serve the mission?” That shift—from possession to purpose—might just be the spark that leads to new life.

TL;DR:
Churches do not need massive buildings to be faithful or effective. In today’s diverse communities, smaller congregations are leading the way by sharing space, partnering with other ministries, and using their buildings as tools—not trophies. Stewardship of space is a missional issue, and one culture cannot reach every culture. It is time to shift from asking “How do we fill this building?” to “How can this building serve the mission?”