Know the differences between Portability vs Permanent vs Touring Gear vs DIY

By Portable Church Industries: In a new church ministry (aka church plant), the audio/visual/lighting needs will likely be your largest expense. Determining what gear you need can only come after clarifying the purpose for having AVL in your ministry, and the context in which your ministry will take place. 

When considering the competing points of tension in making AVL decisions, the two primary elements that will dictate what a supporting AVL system can look like are budget and venue. Knowing where to look to get the right AVL System will help with both, (regardless if your budget is small or large).

All AVL gear for a church (regardless of size) needs to be integrated into a design that fits both of the above; your budget and context. These will fall into one of three types:

Portable System Design, Touring System Design, and Permanent System Design.  After describing each of these design types, we will also dive into the Do-It-Yourself method

PORTABILITY DESIGN

• The Portable Context – the venue is a rented facility (school, YMCA, theater, community center, event center, etc.) and is the same each week you meet. However, you can only occupy he venue for a brief period (6-8 hours) in which you need to load-in, do church as many times as necessary, and then load-out.
• Things to Consider – Budget and convenience usually drive the use of this design. Rented venues are usually well known by the greater community in which you want to launch and inherently provide ample parking, access, function and flow, and dedicated space. You are going to ‘pay’ for portability somewhere, either on the right system or in human resources. A good Portable AVL design is quick and easy to load in and out, highly systematic, presents a very professional image, and allows a volunteer team to thrive in the process.
• The Pros of Portability (using a PCI SYSTEM)

• • Volunteer friendly
  • A complex system created to be intuitive for volunteers to set up
  • Load in and set up in facility in 30-50 minutes (on average)
  • Load out of facility in less than 20-40 minutes (time is $$ here)
  • No special access needed
    • No loading docks
    • No wide doors
    • No extraneous ramps
    • Parking lots, or whatever, work great
  • Integrated plug and play AVL design
  • EVERYTHING fits through standard doorways
  • Cases designed to protect expensive gear
  • Excellent efficiency, effectiveness, and impression
  • Comprehensive to include worship, children’s ministry, first impressions, trailers, and storage
  • Cases and trailers balanced for weight distribution
  • Launching as a portable church is the least expensive way to launch a new presence into a new community

• The Cons of portability (all portability systems) 
  • Set up and tear down each week
  • Higher need for volunteers
  • A bad design causes significant burnout
  • To do it right, some pieces will cost more

TOURING DESIGN

• The Touring Context – Because touring groups are in a new venue for each performance, the touring design in response to the need to be ready for any new situation or environment that might come up from week to week.
• Things to Consider – Will you be in the same facility from week to week, or encounter a new facility and environment each week? What will the access be at each new facility? Will there always be a dock to load in and out of?

• The Pros of a Touring System
  • Expensive gear is protected really well
  • Load in/out processes can be similar to portable
  • Usually have a gear-solution on hand for every situation

• The Cons of a touring System (in the context of a church meeting portability) 
  • Gear storage is usually overkill in rented situations
  • Cost of gear storage is prohibitive
  • Often designed around the use of a hi-lo
  • Usually requires extra gear for unforeseen circumstances ($$)
  • Gear is stored/transported in individual cases – need for flexibility decreases efficiencies
  • Usually assumes loading docks, or box trucks with lift gates (slower and inefficient, also unsafe for non-professionals)
  • Size of gear storage sometimes at odds with size of doorways available(they assume large doorways)
  • Usually designed for sophisticated users and crew (paid professionals)
  • Load in and load out times are longer (touring assumes multiple hours or overnight set-ups)

PERMANENT INSTALL DESIGN

• The Permanent Context – Facility under your control 24/7. Typically, spaces can be dedicated to specific use(s).

• Things to Consider – Facility spaces as well as AVL uses are typically designed for known ministry patterns. As often as ministry patterns change over a period of decades, can the AVL design respond appropriately to change?

• The Pros of a permanent Install System
  • Opportunity to set and forget lighting, video gear, controls
  • Usually, infrastructure constructed to support AVL structures
  • Can accommodate a large range of sophistication
  • Most gear can be adjusted by individual technicians
  • No set up and take down process

• The Cons of a permanent Install System (for a portable church)
  • Cabling is buried inside conduit and left alone, durability is less a consideration
  • Ease of handling isn’t needed – Handles, durability, weight is not a primary consideration
  • Speed of set-up and take down isn’t a consideration in the design of the system
  • Once a permanent system is installed it is ‘set and forget’ – These designs are not inherently volunteer friendly
  • Complacency over time
  • Lots of cost outlay
  • Less flexibility

DO IT YOURSELF SYSTEM DESIGN

The last design method to consider is the DIY system. We understand the allure to doing it yourself. It’s a real option that some simply have to consider. Pastor, we LOVE what you are doing and our main drive at PCI is to help you focus on building kingdom in your cities and peoples lives. However, we also want to help you consider all the costs to take into consideration.

The popular thought is “if I do it myself it will be cheaper.” There is no doubt that a cheaper system can be purchased. But low up front cost obviously doesn’t mean it will be the least expensive. Initially, you only know what you know, and you absolutely don’t know what you don’t know.  With an extreme amount of AVL knowledge, AVL Integration/Production Experience, and access to well-priced and diverse gear selection for audio, visual, lighting, acoustics treatment, and staging, a good system can be designed and built. But the skillset for designing an excellent portable system is rare to find. This typically leads to a design that is not built for maximum portability. The costs of this is extreme volunteer fatigue and burnout, incorrect gear choices, longer set-up time, higher facility rental costs, frequent damage to gear, and an unsustainable system among other things.

We have found that when churches buy the right system up front, the initial higher investment is frequently paid back many times over and both the user and church visitor experience is better week after week.

Ultimately, we want you to be a success.

Whatever you are considering we encourage you to connect with one of our portable experts to help you process your thoughts to get you ready to launch strong and thrive for years to come!

Know the differences between Portability vs Permanent vs Touring Gear vs DIY

By Portable Church Industries: In a new church ministry (aka church plant), the audio/visual/lighting needs will likely be your largest expense. Determining what gear you need can only come after clarifying the purpose for having AVL in your ministry, and the context in which your ministry will take place. 

When considering the competing points of tension in making AVL decisions, the two primary elements that will dictate what a supporting AVL system can look like are budget and venue. Knowing where to look to get the right AVL System will help with both, (regardless if your budget is small or large).

All AVL gear for a church (regardless of size) needs to be integrated into a design that fits both of the above; your budget and context. These will fall into one of three types:

Portable System Design, Touring System Design, and Permanent System Design.  After describing each of these design types, we will also dive into the Do-It-Yourself method

PORTABILITY DESIGN

• The Portable Context – the venue is a rented facility (school, YMCA, theater, community center, event center, etc.) and is the same each week you meet. However, you can only occupy he venue for a brief period (6-8 hours) in which you need to load-in, do church as many times as necessary, and then load-out.
• Things to Consider – Budget and convenience usually drive the use of this design. Rented venues are usually well known by the greater community in which you want to launch and inherently provide ample parking, access, function and flow, and dedicated space. You are going to ‘pay’ for portability somewhere, either on the right system or in human resources. A good Portable AVL design is quick and easy to load in and out, highly systematic, presents a very professional image, and allows a volunteer team to thrive in the process.
• The Pros of Portability (using a PCI SYSTEM)

• • Volunteer friendly
  • A complex system created to be intuitive for volunteers to set up
  • Load in and set up in facility in 30-50 minutes (on average)
  • Load out of facility in less than 20-40 minutes (time is $$ here)
  • No special access needed
    • No loading docks
    • No wide doors
    • No extraneous ramps
    • Parking lots, or whatever, work great
  • Integrated plug and play AVL design
  • EVERYTHING fits through standard doorways
  • Cases designed to protect expensive gear
  • Excellent efficiency, effectiveness, and impression
  • Comprehensive to include worship, children’s ministry, first impressions, trailers, and storage
  • Cases and trailers balanced for weight distribution
  • Launching as a portable church is the least expensive way to launch a new presence into a new community

• The Cons of portability (all portability systems) 
  • Set up and tear down each week
  • Higher need for volunteers
  • A bad design causes significant burnout
  • To do it right, some pieces will cost more

TOURING DESIGN

• The Touring Context – Because touring groups are in a new venue for each performance, the touring design in response to the need to be ready for any new situation or environment that might come up from week to week.
• Things to Consider – Will you be in the same facility from week to week, or encounter a new facility and environment each week? What will the access be at each new facility? Will there always be a dock to load in and out of?

• The Pros of a Touring System
  • Expensive gear is protected really well
  • Load in/out processes can be similar to portable
  • Usually have a gear-solution on hand for every situation

• The Cons of a touring System (in the context of a church meeting portability) 
  • Gear storage is usually overkill in rented situations
  • Cost of gear storage is prohibitive
  • Often designed around the use of a hi-lo
  • Usually requires extra gear for unforeseen circumstances ($$)
  • Gear is stored/transported in individual cases – need for flexibility decreases efficiencies
  • Usually assumes loading docks, or box trucks with lift gates (slower and inefficient, also unsafe for non-professionals)
  • Size of gear storage sometimes at odds with size of doorways available(they assume large doorways)
  • Usually designed for sophisticated users and crew (paid professionals)
  • Load in and load out times are longer (touring assumes multiple hours or overnight set-ups)

PERMANENT INSTALL DESIGN

• The Permanent Context – Facility under your control 24/7. Typically, spaces can be dedicated to specific use(s).

• Things to Consider – Facility spaces as well as AVL uses are typically designed for known ministry patterns. As often as ministry patterns change over a period of decades, can the AVL design respond appropriately to change?

• The Pros of a permanent Install System
  • Opportunity to set and forget lighting, video gear, controls
  • Usually, infrastructure constructed to support AVL structures
  • Can accommodate a large range of sophistication
  • Most gear can be adjusted by individual technicians
  • No set up and take down process

• The Cons of a permanent Install System (for a portable church)
  • Cabling is buried inside conduit and left alone, durability is less a consideration
  • Ease of handling isn’t needed – Handles, durability, weight is not a primary consideration
  • Speed of set-up and take down isn’t a consideration in the design of the system
  • Once a permanent system is installed it is ‘set and forget’ – These designs are not inherently volunteer friendly
  • Complacency over time
  • Lots of cost outlay
  • Less flexibility

DO IT YOURSELF SYSTEM DESIGN

The last design method to consider is the DIY system. We understand the allure to doing it yourself. It’s a real option that some simply have to consider. Pastor, we LOVE what you are doing and our main drive at PCI is to help you focus on building kingdom in your cities and peoples lives. However, we also want to help you consider all the costs to take into consideration.

The popular thought is “if I do it myself it will be cheaper.” There is no doubt that a cheaper system can be purchased. But low up front cost obviously doesn’t mean it will be the least expensive. Initially, you only know what you know, and you absolutely don’t know what you don’t know.  With an extreme amount of AVL knowledge, AVL Integration/Production Experience, and access to well-priced and diverse gear selection for audio, visual, lighting, acoustics treatment, and staging, a good system can be designed and built. But the skillset for designing an excellent portable system is rare to find. This typically leads to a design that is not built for maximum portability. The costs of this is extreme volunteer fatigue and burnout, incorrect gear choices, longer set-up time, higher facility rental costs, frequent damage to gear, and an unsustainable system among other things.

We have found that when churches buy the right system up front, the initial higher investment is frequently paid back many times over and both the user and church visitor experience is better week after week.

Ultimately, we want you to be a success.

Whatever you are considering we encourage you to connect with one of our portable experts to help you process your thoughts to get you ready to launch strong and thrive for years to come!

Finding the right equipment for your portable church is no easy task! Space, storage and transportation are just a few of the factors that have to be taken into account. In addition, setting up and tearing down equipment every week can be a unique challenge.

You need equipment that is best suited for your specific portable church needs. How can you make sure that you don’t mess it up? You can start by keeping these seven key pointers in mind:

1. Costs involved

Choosing the right portable equipment can save your church thousands of dollars! However, in order to make that correct choice you need to get your numbers right. Don’t forget to take into account the following costs:

• Individual equipment pieces
• Rent and other venue-related expenses
• Storage and transportation
• Equipment wear and tear
• Replacement of equipment

For example, if your church pays rent by the hour, you should especially be mindful of the setting up and tearing down time, when choosing your equipment.

2. Venue facilities and limitations

No two portable churches have the same equipment needs. For example, a church that meets in a school might not need chairs, whereas a movie theater church might not require a projector and staging.

Before you choose any equipment or utilize the facility’s systems, remember to ask the following questions:

• Will the setup be the same each week? Or, will we need to move our equipment to different parts of the facility?
• What are the landlord’s expectations regarding payment for any damage or repairs of equipment?
• If we need to use another part of the facility, will we be able to move the permanently installed equipment there?
• Will the facility’s electrical capacity be able to handle all the equipment?

Answering these questions will bring you a step closer to picking out the right equipment for your facility.

3. Setting up and tearing down

Installing and packing up equipment is a key element of the portable church experience. While this weekly exercise encourages a healthy volunteer culture, it can be tiring and frustrating for your team. You can avoid that by making sure that your equipment allows for efficient and easy setting up and tearing down.

Before zeroing down on the equipment for your mobile church, here are a few crucial things to consider:

• How much time will it take for setting up and tearing down this equipment? How many people will I have for our set-up and takedown teams? And, how much time does our team have at its disposal, both before and after the service?
• Will it be easy for volunteers to carry equipment in, around and out of the building?
• Does handling this equipment need special skills? Or, can volunteers be easily trained to install, use, and put it away?

The right church equipment, if coupled with proper management and regular motivation, will drastically reduce any chances of volunteer burnout.

4. Proper storage

Storage – or the lack of it – is a key determining factor while choosing your portable church equipment. While a few rented venues offer on-site storage, most require the church equipment to be brought in and taken out each week. Therefore, it is important that the equipment you choose allows you to:

• Store it in a safe manner.
• Stay within your allotted storage space.
• Keep your storage space costs to a minimum.
• Have some free space for storing additional equipment.

The amount, nature and cost of storage will help you choose the best-suited equipment for your church needs. For example, you might need to invest in special storage cases, either a shipping container or a trailer, to ensure that your equipment remains safe.

5. Efficient transportation

The weight, size, and volume of your portable church equipment have a direct impact on transportation logistics. Here are a few key questions to ask beforehand:

• Is the facility accessible via both stairs and elevator(s)?
• Will the team be able to load and unload the equipment in the truck/trailer safely and efficiently?

The experts at Portable Church Industries have helped hundreds of mobile churches with efficient storage and transportation plans. Our customizedrolling storage cases are designed to safely store and transport all your equipment– for years to come! And, at times when on-site storage for these cases can’t be negotiated with the landlord, our custom-made cargo trailers will make sure that all your valuable equipment stays safe.

6. Durability and safety

An important factor that needs to be taken into account is the life of the equipment. It might be a wiser decision to invest in slightly more expensive equipment if it will last longer. Don’t forget to ask these crucial questions:

• Will the equipment need to be upgraded every few years?
• Is it made with safe and durable material? Will it withstand the rigors of the road and will it sustain under weekly set-up and occasional drops?

The equipment that you get for your portable church – right from the chairs and projector to the audio and lighting systems – must be reliable and long-lasting.

7. Appeal and comfort

Finally, your equipment will be used by your teams every week. Therefore, it’s key to ensure that they are able to use it comfortably and efficiently – and have fun while doing so! Make sure that the equipment checks all these boxes:

• Comfort
• Appeal
• Ease of use
• Durability

Don’t forget to ask for your teams for suggestions before sealing the deal. For example, your worship leader might have some ideas about specific brands for the sound desk and mics.

The equipment requirements in a portable church environment are vastly different from those in a permanent church building or even a touring band.

Designing portable church equipment solutions is a unique, niche skill. Click To Tweet Thankfully, the experts at PCI have been providing customized equipment solutions to portable churches for over 25 years.

Our balance equipment solution for your church will ensure that ALL aspects are taken into account. We’ll find the right piece of equipment for the right application, and if we can’t find a part – we’ll invent it ourselves!

So, give us a call today at 800.939.7722, and we’ll design and deliver the perfect equipment solution for your portable church!

Smart Portable Church AVL – Video

by Portable Church Industries: Video is designed to enhance the audio of your worship experience; video helps make the audio experience better. And, since the spoken word is the most important piece of your worship experience, video acts to create interaction and connection between what is being spoken and those listening. By visualizing scriptures, lyrics or even just simple designs, the content of what is being heard is bolstered. The range of choices that a church has when it comes to their video can vary all the way from a basic TV to an LED wall, a triple screen setup or video editing and edge blending, just to name a few. We have worked with churches of every size to figure out ways to deliver video that makes sense for each one, specific to their individual needs. Here, we address some of the top things to consider while planning out your video…

Pricing

Video can become the most expensive piece of AVL very quickly. The reason for that is the amount of gear needed to pull it off and the associated costs of all of that equipment. Video control could potentially have many pieces to it such as converters, switches, monitoring, playback devices, computers and more. It takes a lot of engineering on the “inside” for the “outside” visual to work seamlessly. Here at PCI, we go to great lengths to ensure all of the gear is not only packaged for durability and functionality, but also as efficiently as possible. That includes the making the right choices the first time.

Brightness

Concert venues, movie theaters and now, even more so, with the advent of 4k TV’s, people are becoming increasingly familiar with high lumen/high end video, often increasing expectations. While the brightness of your video doesn’t need to match these multimillion dollar events or venues, it is important to know what your desired outcome is before factoring in screen size, projector brightness, ambient light, light control, etc.

Throw Distance

Surprises with the need for short, ultra-short and long throw distances can add price rapidly. For budgeting purposes be aware of this potential high cost as you are choosing venues. We typically find this a challenge in small rooms or on small stages. We have tested numerous ultra-short throw projectors and not all are great options. If you have good light control in your room, there are some very good priced, lower lumen projectors available at a great price. Costs add up quickly if both a high lumen projector AND short throw lenses are needed.

LED Wall

LED walls are one of our favorite things to create internally and while quality (high DPI) walls were previously out of price range for most portable churches, prices are dropping. And, the finished product always looks amazing! We have been re-engineering LED walls internally, working with manufacturers to make them incredibly volunteer friendly – simply plug in and turn on. *while we are loving these prices dropping so quickly, they are still currently much more than a more traditional projector and screen setup.

Volunteers

As we’ve mentioned before, volunteers are your biggest determining factor in reproducibility. You want to make sure whatever AVL system you have in place is something that your team is able to manage week in and week out. Don’t forget to design your systems around your least experienced volunteer.

One last thing…

Though the size and cost of full systems can vary, functionality and portable artistry are integrated into every system. Whether it be a larger video rack with laminate desk space or a smaller more compact video rack, the same volunteer experience is designed into every solution we provide. Quick connect I/O panels is just one example of this. These panels allow volunteers the ability to set up a large scale production easily and efficiently without needing to understand the engineering behind the system. The panels take care of the thought process behind the connections (i.e internal wiring) and give volunteers the confidence to set up any system with a low rate of error.

Designing highly technical systems with a volunteer mindset is the key to providing an efficient portable solution with excellence. This is the desire and is in the skillset of every one of our design consultants at Portable Church®. It is one of the many keys to giving more life to your volunteers who, in turn, can pour more life into the church body.

Want one of our experts to reach out to you? Fill out the Talk to an Expert Form.

Production excellence in portability

by Portable Church Industries: While teaching at SXSW, our friend and Portable Church client, Carey Nieuwhof, recently wrote about 7 things he learned about how the world is changing (again). He goes on to put this into the perspective of the church. He says “Production And Branding are Very much alive… You couldn’t look right or left without seeing banners and graphics everywhere… But it wasn’t saying look how cool I am. It was just cool.” Read more here. We at Portable Church have also been discovering the level of excellence changing as the world is changing. In this vlog, we specifically address these changes.

Because of the world we live in today, people expect a certain level of excellence in everything, no matter what it is. The church should be no different in people’s expectations of excellence. Excellence can mean many things to different people, however, these are specifics on how to achieve excellence in portable environments.

We can’t express enough the importance of clearly delivering your vision, mission, and culture at your launch.

Our friend, Jim Tomberlin, at Multisite Solutions, recently wrote about 16 mistakes he regularly finds multisite church campuses make. One of his main points revealed how the church can sometimes under- deliver the church experience. Tomberlin explains how difficult it can be for a church to deliver the same quality experience at a multisite campus as it offers at its sending campus. He goes on to say “we would not expect less from a new Starbucks store, so why would we expect less from God’s business?” This struggle of under-delivering is one of the main obstacles that will hinder you from expressing the DNA of what and who your church is. When it comes to multiplying your reach by deploying a church campus in a new city, remember the Starbucks approach – deliver the same experience just in a different location.

The right tools for the right job. The balance between replicating your churches DNA with excellence, and setting your team up for success week after week.

When beginning with a high level of production excellence in a permanent facility, transferring that same level of quality to a portable environment can seem like an impossible challenge. However, with today’s technology and innovative ideas, this task is not unreachable. A lot of the portable systems we create have a very complex backbone on the front-end to allow for volunteer ease-of-use on the back-end. We take care of that complexity, so the church’s staff and volunteers don’t have too. The right tools not only allow a church to replicate high-quality environments for the people attending, but also gives your team the ability to consistently create those quality environments on a weekly basis. Consistency and repeatability, with an outcome of excellence, has been our approach for 25 years and continues to be.

The art of capturing and replicating who you are for a portable environment.

Our Portable Church® design consultants have both a permanent and portable background. This gives them a well-rounded and objective view when designing a system. They know what aspects of a permanent system are needed to deliver a quality experience and how to replicate that into a portable space. Our design team will meet with you and take a strategic look at the “why” of what your church is wanting to accomplish. Once we discover the “why”, we can create the “how”. Collaborating with your team allows us to dive deep into who you are, the vision God has given you, and the atmosphere we want to create to accomplish that vision.

To read more about our consultation process, click here.

For some examples of how we provide excellence, watch this video.

by Portable Church Industries: We’ve been talking to a lot of pastors lately who are launching, re-equipping or relaunching in the upcoming Fall Season. There’s a few common questions we hear concerning portable church consultations, and we thought we’d address them here for you.

I am launching Fall 2019, when should I book my consultation?

Right now! We still have some dates available for onsite assessments and designs. We have a range of consultation services – from virtual to in person – and will determine which model right for you. Most consultations are conducted M-F over a 1.5-3 day period. We recommend calling us ASAP, and booking your consultation at least 12 weeks before your first service.

After the consultation, how soon do I need to place my order for a Fall Launch?
For a full system, our preference is 7-9 weeks before your first preview service. Make sure to tell your Church Launch Specialist your preferred delivery date so we can accommodate you right from the start!

 

How soon do I need to place an “equipment only” order for a Fall Launch? For cases & a trailer, our preference is 4-6 weeks but can be longer depending on workload (call us ASAP so we can begin scheduling you in!) For case-only, equipment-only or trailer-only orders, turn around is determined on a case by case basis (no pun intended).

How can I be sure that you can deliver the equipment by my launch date?
We can deliver, in person, up to 11 churches on most weekends. If there is still a team available on the date you are requesting, we will schedule the delivery date and teams as soon as your order is placed. If there isn’t another slot available on your requested weekend, we will look into other possible dates or work to come up with creative and resourceful solutions for you.

Yikes! I’m already behind. I start preview services in six weeks, and I’m just now calling you…
We can still help! Call our office directly at 800.939.7722 for a personalized recommendation for your situation. We’d love to be a part of the work you are doing!

We look forward to hearing what God is doing in your community. Your vision is inspiring to us!

 

 

 

There’s probably a lot that church leaders like you can be thankful for – God’s faithfulness, the support of friends and family, a God-centered church community and the encouragement from like-minded leaders! However, an increasing number of churches across the United States have something else to be thankful for – the portable church model! Portability makes church growth, expansion, and multiplication more accessible than ever. So here is a list of six important reasons churches are excited about portability…

1. Reduced costs

Did you know what the difference in cost really is? Check out this comparison matrix to see the numbers… In the words of Pastor Rich Birch, “Often it costs between three to ten times more to host the same number of guests in a permanent church facility than in a rented location.”One of the biggest benefits of going portable is not having to pay for exponential construction and mortgage costs. And, it doesn’t end there! Churches that launch in temporary facilities don’t have to shell out money for ongoing or hidden costs, such as repair, maintenance and utility expenses.

One of the many reasons that mobile churches are thankful for portability is because it helps them avoid debt and unnecessary expenses that can choke their finances. This means that mobile churches can allocate more money for ministry and outreach.How excited are you to save money on unnecessary costs?!

2. Lighter footprint

Another reason that churches are grateful for portable venues is because they can move in or out of them at their own convenience. Permanent church buildings, on the other hand, cannot offer such flexibility. After all, they are “permanent!”With portability on their side, churches are able to up-size or downsize depending on their needs – anytime!Isn’t such unparalleled flexibility something to be thankful for?

3. Empowered volunteers

You can’t have church without volunteers. And you definitely can’t have a great church without dedicated volunteers, especially in a portable environment where teams need to load in and out every week. In fact, one of the things that church leaders love about mobile churches is the environment that they create for mobilizing and empowering volunteers. Especially for many of your men that have a difficult time finding the right fit in a permanent facility.A portable setup brings people together as they serve alongside. This fosters a closely knit, authentic community. People who don’t just go to the same church, but they know each other’s kids names, and what they do for a living, and who they are on a much deeper level than just the typical “oh I think that guy goes to my church.”  Portability builds community. Portability also helps volunteers feel a sense of ownership in the church. It feels much more liketheir church rather than just a church they happen to go to. These are pretty compelling reasons to be thankful for portability!

4. Welcoming atmosphere

Did you know that only about 22% of Americans attend church every week? It’s not new information that a majority of our country’s population is wary of the traditional church setting. Well, thankfully there’s a silver lining! Portable churches that meet in casual venues have the advantage of being free from the “stigma” attached to traditional churches.This means that un-churched folk feel way more welcome in a casual space than a typical church building. It is no wonder people find it easy to invite their friends to church meetings that are held in theaters, schools and restaurants. We love that portability removes obstacles for the un-churched.

5. Better engagement with the community

Going hand in hand with creating a welcoming atmosphere, it has been our experience that churches who launch in everyday, public spaces are better plugged into the community. Portability lends to a “go and be” mentality instead of “come and see.” Consequently, they are able to make a greater impact in their communities and cities. In fact, it was the desire to be better planted in the community that led Rolling Hills Baptist Church in Georgia to sell their 20-acre campus and move to a movie theater. Would you like your church to be better embedded in the community?

6. Independent vision

Perhaps one of the best things about portable venues is that they don’t limit a church’s vision like permanent buildings often do. Yes, that’s right! The building has the danger of limiting a church’s vision when it starts determining what the church can, and cannot, accommodate.Thankfully, portable churches face no such issue. With the church’s focus on the people, and not on any structure, mobile churches are able to keep their vision and mission independent of the building (no more meetings about the hot water heater or the vacuum!)Is the vision of your church entangled with the church building?

Are you looking to launch a church? Would you like your church to leverage some of these advantages that portability offers? The decision to move into a portable venue might be the right move.

Over the last 25 years, our experts have helped thousands of churches successfully launch in all kinds of venues. Give us a call today at 800.939.7722 and we’ll help you find the right location to find your church’s needs.

In the meantime, Download our FREE e-book today for all the tips that you need to choose the right facility for your church! Get your copy ofFind the Right Venue For My Portable Church.