In recent years the Christian Fish Symbol can be seen affixed to the back of cars, as key chains and in other very visible locations as Christians use it to demonstrate to the world that they are believers in the only one true God. The Origin of the Christian Fish Symbol The origin of the popular Christian Fish Symbol is believed to have been in the early years of the church after Jesus’ ascension into heaven. Because the church was growing rapidly it was the target of persecution by both the Romans and the Jews. One usage of the symbol was as a sort of secret code. When a Christian met someone they thought was a fellow believer they would scratch the top arch of the symbol in the ground.
If the other person was also a believer in Christ he would complete the fish symbol by drawing the lower inverted arch. Another reported use for the Christian Fish Symbol in the early church was as a pointer to secret meetings which would be scratched on the ground or on a rock. Sixteenth Century Christians In later times (around the 16th Century) Christians used the symbol in a more open and declarative fashion. The Greek word ΙΧΘΥΣ was added to the body of the fish. ΙΧΘΥΣ or Ichthusis is the Greek word used most often in the Bible for the word fish. Christians used the Greek letters from the word ΙΧΘΥΣ (Iota Chi Theta Upsilon Sigma) as an acronym to represent “Isesous Christos Theou Uios Soter” or “Jesus Christ God’s Son, Savior.”
Why Christians Use the Symbol of a Fish?
Christians may have used the fish as a symbol for their faith because of how Jesus used fish in His ministry. Some of those references include the following: Jesus told Peter and Andrew that He would make them fishers of men (Mark 1:17). Jesus fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:17). After Jesus resurrection, He appeared to His disciples and directed them to a miraculous catch of fish and He cooked a breakfast of fish for them (John 21:6-9). Christians Today Christians today represent the Christian Fish Symbol in various ways including: the Greek letters ΙΧΘΥΣ, with a cross, with JESUS in the body of the fish or just plan without any letters. The GIL PUBLICATIONS Logo GIL PUBLICATIONS has taken the Christian Fish Symbol as our logo and added the word love because of our ministry name, God is Love (I John 4:8, 16). Also, we want to draw attention to love because we believe that the world needs the kind of love that God commanded us to give to one another. We believe in the Power of God’s Love as explained in the three examples below:
1. God’s Love at Calvary God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son (John 3:16). It is because of God’s love and what He did for us at Calvary that our sins are forgiven and we will have eternal life in Heaven.
2. God’s Love in the Resurrection In Ephesians 1:18-20 Paul prayed that we would know his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms… What God did, He did out of love and because of it we can overcome the world, that’s the Power of God’s love at work. Read below to see how God wants us to translate His love into everyday living.
3. God’s Love as Guidelines for Living God commanded us to love one another. He said: o Love God (Mark 12:29-31; Deuteronomy 6:4-5) o Love your brother (1 John 4:19-21) o Love your enemy (Matthew 5:44) o Love your neighbor (James 2:8; Galatians 5:14; Luke 10:27) God gave us guidelines for loving when He defined love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a. This is what makes us conclude that To Love is to Give because you cannot live according to this scripture without giving of yourself. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. We believe that when we follow God’s command to love in the way that He said to love then we have indeed made the world a better place to live. As Christians we need to encourage one another to love as Christ loved by giving of Himself. Therefore, GIL PUBLICATIONS logo of the Christian Fish Symbol is also a call to Christians to love as Christ said to love and for us to use the power of His love to overcome the world as He did (John 16:33). The Power of God’s Love is without limit. Paul further prayed that we may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God ... (Ephesians 3:18-19 NIV). To be filled with the fullness of God … can you imagine that? This article may be copied and distributed as long as the author contact information remains. By: Akili Kumasi GIL Publications.com
About The Author
Akili Kumasi is the President of GIL Publications (http://www.gilpublications.com) and the author of numerous articles and books including the Bible Word Search Book Series (puzzles with scripture), Fun Meals for Fathers and Sons: Recipes & Activities for Bonding & Mentoring and On the Outside Looking in: Hope for Separated Fathers Who Want To Be Good Fathers. For book-signing or speaking engagements, Akili can be reached at kumasi@gilpublications.com.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
8 Keys to a Successful Church Building Program
Eight Considerations for Leading a Successful Church Building Program There are many reasons for a church to decide to enter into a building program. It may be that the community is growing, the church is growing, or church space is saturated. Whatever the reason, the following considerations will help you develop and conduct a successful church building program. 1. Write A Statement Of Mission Writing a statement of mission is a very important first step in the process of planning your new facility.
The purchase of land, the master planning, and the design of the facility are all related to, and dependent upon, the mission of your church. The church should plan what it’s going to do in the building as an expression of faith in obedience to God’s call and the mission He has given. The church must know why they are here as a congregation, what they are going to do, and how they do it. When this is understood, then the church can plan adequately for the space and equipment needed to do their work and express their faith. Your statement of mission should include present ministry and outreach, as well as plans for the future.
2. Timing When is the best time to build? Conventional wisdom says its time to build when the church reaches 80-85% of its worship capacity for the first time. While the “85% capacity” rule of thumb is sound and proven, the more important thing is for the church to reach it that first time! Growth patterns, whether positive or negative, tend to feed on themselves. If you enlarge your facilities as you approach saturation, you permit growth to continue. If you don’t, you then impose an upper limit on growth and upon reaching your “facility saturation point” the growth rate slows, eventually stops and often reverses itself to a less saturated plateau. If the space situation is not properly addressed, churches frequently find a decline sets in and the church begins a “roller coaster” ride of growth and decline, repeatedly bumping up against the saturation point.
3. Understanding building as part of a process A church building project is a major experience in the life of an individual and of a congregation. For a great many people this experience has opened new spiritual horizons and led to a deeper and closer walk with God. For some, it has been a source of bitter disappointment, frustration, and deteriorated spiritual life. The difference in outcome is not just happenstance; it happens because of the attitude, concept, and administration of the entire project. You should view the building effort as a “process’ in the continuing life of your church. A new building is a milestone in your growth, and that growth is intended to continue onward until Christ returns. So, while doing the necessary thinking and planning for the building, you must allocate time and resources not only for current responsibilities, but also for the future growth opportunities for your ministry.
4. Develop a work calendar A key step towards a successful church building project is to insure that the work of each committee or study group is clearly defined and understood. It is imperative that they see their particular work in relationship to other groups and the building program as a whole. Organize your meetings, specifying the results you hope to achieve in a certain time frame. This calendar should be specific and written down. This task is necessary so as to establish benchmarks to know where you are in each phase of your building goals and to insure that all of the requisite parts come together in a timely and seamless fashion.
5. Base your Master Plan on your philosophy of ministry Before an architect is authorized to begin work on building design or plans, it is imperative the congregation produce a written church building program. This program should include: What they believe; how the church carries out those beliefs in worship, education, fellowship, evangelism, recreation, community involvement, etc.; how they conduct worship service; what constitutes their program of Christian education, including the space needs of all age groups; how the church plans for fellowship experiences and the equipment needed; what work areas are needed for the pastor, church staff and teachers; needs for sanitary facilities, and other space to insure the comfort and safety of those who will use the building. By thinking through all these matters, the major aspects of a building project are established well before the building itself is designed. Your major goals will be established, while allowing flexibility in creating the details of your church design.
6. A building that reflects its people The building must be an expression of the whole congregation (within reason) and not the vision of one person, or a small group. To accomplish this, it is necessary to involve as many people as possible in the study groups and in writing the church building program. The design of your building should reflect your churches personality, goals, age, income, beliefs, hopes, wishes and desires. What the members of a congregation believe, and how they practice those beliefs — in worship, fellowship, education, evangelism, recreation, community involvement, etc. — really should determine the shape, size and style of building they build. Being able to communicate this to your architect will help make the design of the building welcoming to both members and seekers as well as more effective as a ministry tool.
7. A building that says welcome Let the building say to your neighbors “This is a friendly place. We want you to come in and join our fellowship. Let us help meet your needs. We care about you.” If parking is readily accessible and well lit, the entrance is easily seen, there are few steps to climb, and the building is warm and friendly; then a new person sees the welcome signs they are looking for. You must make a conscious effort to make it easy for new people to visit your church.
8. Spend your money wisely Don’t overspend on your building program. It is very easy to get caught up in the enthusiasm of building and leave the budget behind. Staying focused on your goals and within your budget are key ingredients to insure a successful building program. There are a variety of legitimate ways to save money in a building program, including using “off the shelf” church plans. Through the practical application of their experience, a church building consultant can help your church reduce the cost and the effort in building. It is often a good idea to get an outside consultant involved as they have both the experience and objective viewpoint to help maximize the results of a building effort. The general rule of thumb for how much financing you can safely afford is three times your annual income minus less any debt you already have. This will vary depending on circumstances, but it is a good place to begin. One important thing to remember is not to start construction until you have secured your all of your financing. Nothing will kill enthusiasm in a building program faster than running out of money before the job is done. While it is assumed that the church will seek God’s wise counsel through His Word, do not underestimate the power of prayer and meditation. We like to say that the devil will show up in every building project, as he hates when God’s Kingdom and God’s people are growing. A solemn responsibility rests on the pastor and church leaders to use the occasion of a church building project to inspire, uplift, and solidify the congregation and to make it a more vital and useful force for God.
About The Author
Glen Trematore is a Principal at Church Development Services Inc., which provides off the shelf church building plans, consultants for church building and church capital stewardship campaigns. Mr. Trematore may be reached via email at glentrematore@yahoo.com or via the web at http://www.churchdevelopment.com
The purchase of land, the master planning, and the design of the facility are all related to, and dependent upon, the mission of your church. The church should plan what it’s going to do in the building as an expression of faith in obedience to God’s call and the mission He has given. The church must know why they are here as a congregation, what they are going to do, and how they do it. When this is understood, then the church can plan adequately for the space and equipment needed to do their work and express their faith. Your statement of mission should include present ministry and outreach, as well as plans for the future.
2. Timing When is the best time to build? Conventional wisdom says its time to build when the church reaches 80-85% of its worship capacity for the first time. While the “85% capacity” rule of thumb is sound and proven, the more important thing is for the church to reach it that first time! Growth patterns, whether positive or negative, tend to feed on themselves. If you enlarge your facilities as you approach saturation, you permit growth to continue. If you don’t, you then impose an upper limit on growth and upon reaching your “facility saturation point” the growth rate slows, eventually stops and often reverses itself to a less saturated plateau. If the space situation is not properly addressed, churches frequently find a decline sets in and the church begins a “roller coaster” ride of growth and decline, repeatedly bumping up against the saturation point.
3. Understanding building as part of a process A church building project is a major experience in the life of an individual and of a congregation. For a great many people this experience has opened new spiritual horizons and led to a deeper and closer walk with God. For some, it has been a source of bitter disappointment, frustration, and deteriorated spiritual life. The difference in outcome is not just happenstance; it happens because of the attitude, concept, and administration of the entire project. You should view the building effort as a “process’ in the continuing life of your church. A new building is a milestone in your growth, and that growth is intended to continue onward until Christ returns. So, while doing the necessary thinking and planning for the building, you must allocate time and resources not only for current responsibilities, but also for the future growth opportunities for your ministry.
4. Develop a work calendar A key step towards a successful church building project is to insure that the work of each committee or study group is clearly defined and understood. It is imperative that they see their particular work in relationship to other groups and the building program as a whole. Organize your meetings, specifying the results you hope to achieve in a certain time frame. This calendar should be specific and written down. This task is necessary so as to establish benchmarks to know where you are in each phase of your building goals and to insure that all of the requisite parts come together in a timely and seamless fashion.
5. Base your Master Plan on your philosophy of ministry Before an architect is authorized to begin work on building design or plans, it is imperative the congregation produce a written church building program. This program should include: What they believe; how the church carries out those beliefs in worship, education, fellowship, evangelism, recreation, community involvement, etc.; how they conduct worship service; what constitutes their program of Christian education, including the space needs of all age groups; how the church plans for fellowship experiences and the equipment needed; what work areas are needed for the pastor, church staff and teachers; needs for sanitary facilities, and other space to insure the comfort and safety of those who will use the building. By thinking through all these matters, the major aspects of a building project are established well before the building itself is designed. Your major goals will be established, while allowing flexibility in creating the details of your church design.
6. A building that reflects its people The building must be an expression of the whole congregation (within reason) and not the vision of one person, or a small group. To accomplish this, it is necessary to involve as many people as possible in the study groups and in writing the church building program. The design of your building should reflect your churches personality, goals, age, income, beliefs, hopes, wishes and desires. What the members of a congregation believe, and how they practice those beliefs — in worship, fellowship, education, evangelism, recreation, community involvement, etc. — really should determine the shape, size and style of building they build. Being able to communicate this to your architect will help make the design of the building welcoming to both members and seekers as well as more effective as a ministry tool.
7. A building that says welcome Let the building say to your neighbors “This is a friendly place. We want you to come in and join our fellowship. Let us help meet your needs. We care about you.” If parking is readily accessible and well lit, the entrance is easily seen, there are few steps to climb, and the building is warm and friendly; then a new person sees the welcome signs they are looking for. You must make a conscious effort to make it easy for new people to visit your church.
8. Spend your money wisely Don’t overspend on your building program. It is very easy to get caught up in the enthusiasm of building and leave the budget behind. Staying focused on your goals and within your budget are key ingredients to insure a successful building program. There are a variety of legitimate ways to save money in a building program, including using “off the shelf” church plans. Through the practical application of their experience, a church building consultant can help your church reduce the cost and the effort in building. It is often a good idea to get an outside consultant involved as they have both the experience and objective viewpoint to help maximize the results of a building effort. The general rule of thumb for how much financing you can safely afford is three times your annual income minus less any debt you already have. This will vary depending on circumstances, but it is a good place to begin. One important thing to remember is not to start construction until you have secured your all of your financing. Nothing will kill enthusiasm in a building program faster than running out of money before the job is done. While it is assumed that the church will seek God’s wise counsel through His Word, do not underestimate the power of prayer and meditation. We like to say that the devil will show up in every building project, as he hates when God’s Kingdom and God’s people are growing. A solemn responsibility rests on the pastor and church leaders to use the occasion of a church building project to inspire, uplift, and solidify the congregation and to make it a more vital and useful force for God.
About The Author
Glen Trematore is a Principal at Church Development Services Inc., which provides off the shelf church building plans, consultants for church building and church capital stewardship campaigns. Mr. Trematore may be reached via email at glentrematore@yahoo.com or via the web at http://www.churchdevelopment.com
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