January 2022 News - National Association of Church Facilities Managers

January 2022 NACFM News

Share |

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHURCH FACILITIES MANAGERS | January 2022

Happy New Year! (or Happy New Year?)
MESSAGE FROM NACFM PRESIDENT HOMER CLARK

Every time I hear the phrase "Happy New Year," childhood memories come flooding back; memories of celebration, staying up late, watching the Times Square Ball Drop, wearing funny hats, playing with metal noisemakers, goofy horns, and confetti poppers. New Year's celebration is supposed to be just that, a celebration of the new year to come and the associated expectations of hope and promise.

Prior to 2020, I was always excited about the opportunities and possibilities of the new year; new ideas to attract guests to our services, new ministry opportunities, new subjects and curriculum for small groups to study. The past two years, however, have been plagued with unprecedented problems, struggles, and, for many, unbearable sadness. We have experienced family losses, the reduction of church attendance, and diminished finances to support the facilities' upkeep along with all the other ministry areas. My focus here is not to dwell on the negatives, but rather to consider how we are to live and act during this historic time. To state the obvious, in the last two years a rising sense of fear has gripped America and the world, and fear is a real emotion that can paralyze strong, healthy people, and even people of faith. Fear kills and destroys. What we need now more than ever is FAITH! Perfect faith casts out fear and allows hope to grow and joy to spread.

Allow me to share a story. Jairus, a man of prominence, was one of the rulers of the Synagogue who approached Jesus begging him to save his daughter's life. His fear of losing her was all the more poignant because she was his only daughter. On his way to Jairus's home, Jesus was stopped by a woman who had been suffering physically for years. When she had touched Jesus' cloak she was healed, and the Savior felt power leave his body. The woman fearfully came forward to confess what she had done and why. Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. You have been healed.” During all of this, people from Jairus’s home arrived and told him that the girl had died so he shouldn’t concern Jesus with the matter. Jesus overheard this and told Jairus not to be afraid but simply have faith that the girl would be saved. When they arrived at Jairus's home, Jesus pushed past the commotion and told the people that the girl was asleep and not dead. The naysayers laughed at these words. He asked the crowd to leave, and, with the parents in the room, restored life to the daughter. This story is just one of many that demonstrates what can happen when our faith is in Jesus, not the media, negative people, or misleading emotions. Our world is changing. For better or worse, I do not know. What I do know is that as a believer if I don’t trust the Lord, it can only lead to heartache, despair and more fear.

Acts of Faith, Hope, and Trust are things we all embrace and strive to do in obedience to God's Word even though on many occasions we don’t realize we're doing it. (Mark 5:1-43 & Luke 8:41-56)

Let me prove this point. Answer the following question: At any time in your adult life, have you gotten into a car as either the driver or the passenger, driven to a fast-food drive thru, ordered food, and then driven somewhere and consumed it? If you answered yes, you’ve exercised some measure of faith and trust (and maybe hope that they got your order right). If this puzzles you, send me an email, and I'll share the rest of the story.

Have faith, trust in God, and have a Happy New Year!

Homer Clark
NACFM President

Online Voting for NACFM Bylaw Change

Thank you NACFM Members for voting on the bylaw changes in December. The bylaw changes were approved.

Featured Member:
Glenn Campbell - Coram Deo Academy, Lewisville, TX

Like many career facilities professionals, Glenn Campbell has benefitted from a varied and interesting array of work experiences. Glenn's past employment ranges from audio-visual and maintenance to electrical contracting and environmental experience prior to facilities management. He has continued in facilities work for the past 21 years.

Impacts of COVID Restrictions on Your Facility

In a rush to improve and make changes recommended by government guidelines regarding COVID, Facilities Managers may need to consider the impacts some of those changes may have had on the original building design or codes.

For example, you will want to consider zoning, planning compliance, occupancy permit, change of use, and a whole host of other more serious things like mold or legionnaires disease.

For further assistance:

Ventilation in Buildings

Coronavirus Response Center

Reopening Buildings After Prolonged Shutdown or Reduced Operation