Scaffolding

They don't talk a lot about scaffolding when you build a church.
But they should.
It's all about foundation, and infrastructure, and walls and decor.

But you can't build anything of magnitude without scaffolding.
It simply can't happen.
In fact, next to the foundation and blueprint, the scaffolding is the most important part.
You have to start with the blueprint. You don't start slapping materials together, hoping they will somehow end up as a beautiful, working, safe structure that's up to code.
Then of course you need that foundation. You need to know the rock you're building on. In fact, I'm told by my contractor buddy that guys in the biz can look at a foundation and can tell down to some remarkable detail what the final product is going to look like. It's not like one foundation fits all buildings- they are VERY specific.
If someone were to look at Connections foundation already, I think they could discern with remarkable detail, what our church is going to look and function like.

But still, they never tell you about the scaffolding.
There is certain "scaffolding" we put in place because we have to in order to build to the next phase- we don't have our office yet, but office work is being done. We don't have an intricate follow up process, but follow-up is being done. (I'll just stop there because it can be overwhelming to think about all the things we haven't built yet.) All of this is scaffolding as we build a bigger and better structure.

But what is most important is the human scaffolding. Some people, in fact a number of people, are there to help you build to the next phase. But they are not part of the structure itself. They help you build the building.
They are absolutely essential.
The work could not be done with out them.
But the time comes when their work is done.
They've served their purpose.
And the scaffolding must come down.

If the scaffolding doesn't come down, it continues to take the focus.
It remains the visible exterior of the building.
It obscures the real beauty and functionality of the building.
People don't know how to get in.
People start to think the scaffolding is the building itself.

I am eternally grateful for our scaffolding.
Our systems that are holding us together while we build.
But more so for the people that have held us together.
I'm grateful for the work they've done.
For the friendship we've built.

And especially that they see themselves as scaffolding.
That they willingly have let themselves be "torn down."
That they are now allowing others to see the building and learn how to get involved.
So far we've had only one really ugly "exit" from Connections.
Luckily that venom was spewed at me and not anyone else.
Everyone else has stepped aside on really good terms.

Don't let anybody tell you a building just comes together.
It takes scaffolding to get the job done.