There are many ways for a house of worship to meet the housing needs of its community. Though you can look to other successful projects for inspiration, your project will be unique to your context, resources, and gifts. To help you discern what is right for your congregation, prayerfully consider these questions:

1. What resources does our church have?
   Do you have your own land to build on or property to redevelop? Can you purchase property to build or redevelop? Do you have members interested in purchasing buildings to rent out independently? What existing partnerships can you utilize?
   Resources take many forms: finances, knowledge, experience, partnerships, networks. Think creatively about what assets your community has to offer.

2. What is our community?
   What is the physical, geographic region you sit in? What do you love about your neighborhood? Why are you committed to it? What is your church’s relationship with the neighborhood?

3. What does our community need?
   Does your neighborhood need housing for seniors, youth transitioning out of foster care, returning citizens, ELI families, veterans? Do you need a grocery store, health clinic, arts space, small business incubator, or another community amenity that can be included in a housing complex?

   Don’t just speculate about the answers to these questions. Talk with your neighbors and listen carefully. The more community voices you can engage with in the process of creating your vision, the more support you’ll generate for building permissions later in the process.

   Don’t be afraid to take your time answering these questions. They are important.

4. How can we use our resources to meet those needs?
   This is the fun part. Flex your creative brainstorming muscles. Think about how your church is uniquely positioned to meet the defined needs of your community.  Don’t be afraid to dream big! Think outside the box! You’ll get to feasibility questions later. What are your “God-sized dreams?” 

Just Homes will talk through these questions with you, serving as a sounding board and thought partner. We’ll help you connect with friendly development experts for informal conversations that can help you narrow your options based on feasibility.

In addition to these big questions, your discernment process should include exploring the historical, community, and political context in which you are working. This will prepare you for the roadblocks you’ll likely face down the line, and help you discern who you might bring on to help you.

This discernment must include your congregation. The pastor can cast a vision, but unless the congregation is passionate about the project and the community voice is included, the project will falter. Jill Norcross, who works as a development consultant with churches across Northern Virginia, has observed that the churches who are the most successful in this process are those who have the congregation on board with the plans, who view development as part of their broader mission as a church, rather than as a unique and separate project.