Tim Wright (June NZ Baptist) asks, “Why do we need church buildings?” My simple answer is that church buildings have through the centuries been an effective focal point for the worship of God and evangelistic outreach into the community. 

As pastor of the Whangaparaoa Baptist Church 1970-1980, we started in a smallish rectangular building seating 100 plus. As the population grew, so did church attendance, until in 1975 we built an imaginatively designed building seating 300 plus. The church has continued to grow and is a focal point in the community. 

Today the buildings are used every day of the week to reach and serve the community in a variety of ways. A rented hall would never be able to be used in these ways and, what’s more, an attractive church building, not ostentatious, has proper facilities for weddings, funerals and baptismal services. 

The incredible man who led the team of volunteers who built the Whangaparaoa church “retired” at a comparatively young age and gave his building skills for the rest of his life to building churches, schools and Bible colleges not only in New Zealand but in other Pacific Countries too. Why? Because he had a heart that longed to see children, young people and adults experience new life in Christ and go on to be effective disciples. 

It’s not a case of either an attractive, effective church building or money “going overseas for businesses bringing the freedom of Jesus to the poor and oppressed.” I would be on very safe ground to say that congregations who worship in a purpose-built church give to such causes on at least an equal basis as those who worship in a local hall. 

I’m not saying that it is never the right thing for a congregation to worship in a hall year after year. It’s so much fun early each Sunday morning cleaning up the mess of the night before, carting chairs and making sure they’re set out properly, stacking them after the service and loading them into their storage spaces! When there is a wedding or funeral it’s not always easy to borrow someone else’s church. 

I’ve heard heaps of reasons why it’s good not to own a church building. I won’t go into them now; let’s just say I haven’t changed my mind! 

(Tim and I worship at the same church and he’s a great guy. See you on Sunday, Tim!)

– Peter Pritchard
Whangaparaoa