The need of providing a representative church building wherever a newly organized group of believers is effected, is paramount. Too often the newly organized church is left to worship in halls, vacated rooms, or private homes for months and years before serious consideration is given to the need of providing a suitable house of worship.
In many places the number of believers is small, and their financial strength is in like manner limited. To some it would appear under such conditions to be presumptuous to launch out upon a building program that would provide needed church and Sabbath school facilities in building and equipment.
To provide such facilities, however, for every group of believers is the very thing that we have been counseled to do by the messenger of the Lord. Failure to follow this counsel has greatly retarded the work of God in numerous places. We read in the Testimonies:
"When an interest is aroused in any town or city, that interest should be followed up. The place should be thoroughly worked, until a humble house of worship stands as a sign, a memorial of God's Sabbath, a light amid the moral darkness. . . . Wherever a company of believers is raised up, a house of worship should be built. Let not the workers leave the place without accomplishing this."—Volume VI, p. 100.
Of a particular effort it was stated: "Had there been a pleasant and commodious house of worship there, more than double the number that were really gained, would have taken their stand for the truth."—Ibid., Vol. IV, p. 67.
For many who first hear the truth, it is most difficult to sever their former church relationships and their fine church buildings, even with their earnest desire to obey the truth, when they know that no church facilities of any kind have been provided for them. To worship in halls or in other public places not dedicated to religious purposes, and in many instances not at all suitable for Sabbath services, is a real trial to their faith.
It is not the Lord's plan that His commandment-keeping people should continue their religious services indefinitely in such places. Regardless of the magnitude of the building problems that may be involved in providing an ample and suitable house of worship under such conditions, the project should be launched at the earliest possible moment. Too often the plan for the erection of the much-needed church edifice is put off until the spirit to build dies out, the new believers become discouraged, and the work comes to a standstill.
Courage, faith, and hard work bring their reward in the promotion of every denominational enterprise among us. These qualities are also required of those who would make proper provision for adequate church facilities under difficult circumstances. The messenger of the Lord writes : "In preparing a house of worship, there must be a great exercise of faith and trust in God."--Ibid., pp. 76, 77.
In building a house of worship, much more thought than usual should be given in order to provide the best possible location. A lot in a poor section of the town or city, with meager or inadequate bus or transportation facilities, difficult to find, even though fully donated, may in the end be the most expensive when considering the possibilities of building up all the interests of the cause. When money is difficult to raise, and the believers are few in number, it is so easy to rest satisfied with a lot and church edifice of almost any character and description. This is a great mistake, and God's cause has suffered much as a result of the lack of vision and foresight displayed. Here is where the conference should exercise strong and wise leadership.
A conservative, faltering attitude on the part of conference leaders and ministers will not meet the present need for many memorials to be erected in multiplied towns and cities and hamlets where the truth has already been proclaimed but where faithful groups of believers still have no place of worship.
To secure a good location where all classes may be reached with the solemn message entrusted to us, even though the cost is greatly increased, is the best possible investment for the cause, and should be a primary consideration in the purchase of a church building lot. It is a fatal mistake to erect a substantial church building in a poor and undesirable location. If necessary, it would be better to erect a less costly building upon the most desired location.
The stating capacity of the church auditorium should be in keeping with the growing needs of an expanded work, taking into consideration the population of the city or town and the possibilities of growth. The house of worship need not be pretentious. A simple construction, but well planned to meet the church, Sabbath school, and church school needs, in the best location available, will bring its compensation in souls won and added financial strength to the cause.
