I am intimately involved with the construction program at our church, which is going along quite nicely.  I would dare to say that I know more about many of the inside details than most anyone else….this comes from my involvement in the design of all of the Audio, Video, and Lighting systems for the project.  This isn’t my first design job though, I have designed AV system for churches all over, probably 25-30 total.  My old church is again, starting to build another building, and I am just waiting for the call…..but there are so many church that have the whole PURPOSE of this building thing wrong.  If you care nothing about WHY churches are built the way they are, feel free to disregard this blog….but know, it’s not called "The Rant" for nothing.  This comes from recent annoyances as i work with other churches….because I see what we are doing, and I know it can be done right…

I call it Architectural Oblivion.  Many churches almost seem to worship their building more than anything else.  I know of a church that was built for about 2 years before there were ever allowed to put nails in the wall or even bring drinking water in the building.  They went as far as to lock rooms that weren’t being used just so the carpet wouldn’t get footprints.  In a sense, I get the idea.  The church is supposed to be God’s house, and we should respect the reverence and beauty of the building.  But where do you draw the line?  When is it protecting the building, and when is it prohibiting ministry?  If you have to nail something up to help aid in teaching someone about Christ, who’s place is it to say “No” to that?  The church exists to Seek and Save the Lost, so by hindering a ministry from using all of their potential, you are hindering the very thing that we as a church are here to do…and the very reason the building was built in the first place…..And if it’s all the same to you, I don’t want to be the guy explaining to God why we couldn’t put a nail in the wall.  At that same church, the music minister almost got fired for putting an additional monitor on stage for the band to hear better.  The other staff and deacons said it was too messy looking, and demanded that he take it down.  To me, this is such a sad place to be.  Technology is a ministry all its own, but it exists to facilitate other church ministries- especially a music ministry.  The church building itself wasn’t built to be worshiped, nor even dare I say for God to live in.  God lives in the hearts of people; the building is merely a place for Christians to come together and worship, learn, and fellowship with others.  For that reason, worship centers should be built with one thing in mind- an optimal hearing and seeing experience- So that nothing can distract from what is happening in the service.  Having said that, consider this- is it more important to have one less monitor on stage, so that everything looks tidy and proper, or more important that the musicians hear themselves, so that they play better, and don’t take anything away form the worship experience?  To me, the answer is obvious.  Even if the answer is a compromise, keeping the monitor, but bringing the band closer to shorten cable runs.  Yet unfortunately, some people are still more concerned about their pretty carpet.  This is one of the technical obstacles you come across in some (dare I say many) churches, and it’s sad…

Doug Parks and the Construction Team have done a tremendous job making sure that every square inch of our campus says Love…  It is truely going to be a palce to have un-inhibited encounters

 with God.  I am so excited for those of you who are from Vegas, to see this place when it’s totally done….Functional, Fun, and safe for everyone…it’s going to be great…..I am proud to say that because of these guys, we AREN’T going to be one of those churches above….