Given the state of the nation’s economy, can you imagine dedicating a multi-million-dollar worship facility right now? What would that do to your stomach? Would it cause you any sleepless nights or congregational snarls?

It can be done. While working on a story for another publication the past week I came across two examples of churches completing new worship centers in recent months. Their experiences offer lessons to all church leaders.

The newest, 800-seat sanctuary hosted its first service the last Sunday in April. And, although the church still owes $4.3 million on a $5.3 million facility, the pastor is confident that they can retire that sum over the next decade.

Of course, the congregation has a history—they paid off another, $2.5 million facility in less than five years after it opened in 2002.

"We’re an example of a church that should be worried about the economy but our people are so faithful our giving has been up," the pastor said.

The other church moved into a 1,000-seat sanctuary last October, timing fraught with peril. As the project neared its final stages last summer, fuel rocketed above $4 a gallon, sending other costs soaring.

When the dust settled, change orders left the church with an additional $2 million in construction costs. And, after being told by its bank that short-term financing was "no problem," all the rules changed during October’s financial collapse.

If that weren’t bad enough, after approving its 2009 budget, in January the staff had to order a reduction of 10 percent. Four months into the year, receipts lagged 7.5 percent behind the leaner spending plan.

Yet the pastor of this church isn’t upset.

"My people are more spiritual; they seem to complain less," he says of the seemingly bleak situation. "I’ve seen faith emerge in my congregation. Most people are saying, ‘This is a good thing. It’s forcing us to save and forcing us to realize what matters most.’"

These two churches present several lessons worth noting:

* As 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, we are to walk by faith, not by sight.

Even though the pastor whose building opened two weeks ago admits he wouldn’t ask his congregation to approve a $5 million program today, God knew what was coming when they started raising funds two years ago.

This church could have held up completion or even pulled the plug when the economy started sputtering last year. That they didn’t speaks to reliance on God to provide.

* Generous giving produces more giving.

This church gives 18 percent of its receipts to its denomination’s unified giving program, which supports its missions outreach, seminaries and various agencies. Not only did the church have a $23,000 surplus after four months of this year, it was $7,000 ahead on building pledges. 

* Demonstrating leadership can steady the boat.

Although the church whose building opened last fall is still pinched, the pastor says people have responded favorably to him guiding them through choppy waters.

"They’re euphoric," he says. "They put me on a different level on how they view me. They’re more trusting than ever before of leadership. In the midst of economic things people were inclined to lead toward faith."

Which goes to show that when leaders are willing to take risky steps, their people may indeed respond—even if the journey to the Promised Land isn’t smooth.