It's hard to believe but your building project has finally begun. The strategic analysis is complete, the permits are posted, and the church body has warmly embraced the concept of spiritual giving. And for some reason the equipment operators seem to converge outside your window to rev their engines or drive in reverse (with that ear-piercing beeping) every time you pick up the phone or open your Bible.

The sounds of construction equipment should be a gentle reminder that it is time to begin a parallel phase of your building project focusing on your staff. Just as the foreman can't drive every yellow tractor, no pastor can do everything, especially in a growing church. Your own construction crew—your staff and lay leadership—must be prepared to handle increasing levels of responsibility that accompany a larger facility and a growing flock. To ensure your organization is ready to take on this challenge, you need to "get" a few things.

Like a school of fish swimming as one toward an unknown destination, the morning traffic sped by on the busy thoroughfare. As Kyle sat, watching the scene through the Starbuck's window, the commuters were heavy on his heart. They were the people that God had clearly called him to impact with the gospel three years ago.

Observing the silent processional through the vapor of his grande cup of Pikes Place, he was struck by the all too familiar feeling of inadequacy about performing the very task that had caused Joan and him to uproot their family and relocate. That task, although exciting and challenging, involved leaving a vibrant team at a large church on the other side of the state. With much prayer, planning, and preparation, Community Fellowship had launched them to plant a new church in Smithville.

"Hey, you look like you're a million miles away this morning," a friendly voice broke in like an alarm clock waking a tired sleeper. The voice belonged to John Holmes, the pastor of a small non-denominational church just north of town. John had quickly grown from a casual coffee shop acquaintance to a trusted confidant as the two pastors had shared details of their respective journeys and current struggles. It didn't take Kyle long to admit the difficulty and loneliness he was experiencing and how he missed the collegiality of being part of a larger team working toward a common ministry goal. After listening to his friend, John admitted to some of the same feelings and issues.

As John and Kyle talked, the conversation turned in a direction neither had ever considered. What would it look like if the two churches merged into one larger work? The pastors could share duties while the churches shared resources and ministry focus. As this new thought was being discussed, both men gained energy and enthusiasm. Their minds raced as they considered opportunities and potential problems. Finally, Kyle asked something they had both been thinking, "What do we do with this idea?"

Kyle and John found themselves in a discussion that is happening with increased frequency these days, and the path forward is not as clear as it may seem. For them to really know how to process this idea and to potentially take action; there is much for them to consider and learn. Church mergers are on the rise, but many end badly. To know why many fail, it is important to learn all we can about how church mergers work.

Funding a building project requires two kinds of thinking" big and small. "Churches need to think big for master planning, and think small (i.e. conservatively) for financial planning," says Jim Sheppard, CEO of Generis, a company that helps churches implement strategic financial stewardship. "People usually reverse this and become too aggressive in how they think they'll be able to fund building projects and that's where they get into trouble."

Here are some tips on how to strike the right balance between thinking big and small when it comes to knowing whether it's the right time to initiate a building project at your church:

Building the right space at the right time is the ultimate goal of every church building project. Once a church has tracked attendance information over time, (see the article, "Head Counts at Church" for tips on taking attendance), it can make an informed decision about the amount of space needed for ministry expansion. Armed with this hard data, you're ready to consider what kind of space to build.

David Evans, president of Mantel Teter Architects, offers three tips regarding how much space to build.

1. Think big. What is your vision? How much space will you need to support that vision? What ministries would you like to move into in the future? Having a clearly defined vision is imperative before adding ministry space.

Skye Jethani, editorial advisor for BuildingForMinistry.com and managing editor of Leadership journal, discusses how churches need to regain imagination in creating ministry space.

Church growth is a spiritual blessing, but it can also be a spatial curse. The desire to design and build a new church that will address every space need you can afford is very powerful. But before you abandon your existing building in favor of a brand new one, consider some of the ideas here to get more from what you've already got.

Church leaders have an incredible opportunity to go "high definition" (HD) in their church designs because ministry space now operates on two dimensions: the physical and the virtual. While we are most familiar with physical space (i.e. buildings), Ray Kurzweil is convinced that by 2030, nanobot technology will make it possible for anyone to enter any virtual reality and not know the difference between real and virtual. You will no longer visit a website; you will "enter a full-immersion virtual-reality environment". The details of his compelling case are beyond the scope of this article, but they have profound implications when it comes to designing HD ministry space.

Expanding your church facility is no longer just about buildings. Any church that has an interactive, media-rich website knows that incredible ministry is taking place beyond their bricks and mortar facility. As Ray Kurzweil suggests, this space will increasingly become more accessible, interactive and influential.

In addition, many growing churches continue to build new buildings, even as their virtual presence grows. They are finding that it is not a zero-sum situation, as many in the world of commerce have discovered. The internet was not the demise of walk-in store traffic. And so it is with church ministry.