I’ve noticed something lately, something simple but potentially powerful—something that starts not with a government initiative or a multi-million-dollar developer, but with a quiet patch of land behind a small-town church.
My Church was built 60 years ago at the very edge of my city. At the time, it sat on what felt like the outskirts of everything, surrounded by 10 acres of open, undeveloped ground—land that’s remained untouched all these years. But time has a way of shifting borders. What was once the edge is now the center of a thriving neighborhood. The city grew, families moved in, strip malls popped up, and traffic now hums where dirt roads once cut across cornfields. And still, behind the church, that land waits.
I haven’t formally brought up the idea to my pastor—though I’ve heard quiet murmurs that others might have. But the idea won’t let go of me: What if that land could serve a higher purpose now? What if it could become a place of welcome and stability for families struggling to find affordable housing?
A recent Realtor.com article, Yes in God’s Backyard: How Church Land Is Powering Housing, illuminated something profound: across the country, churches are beginning to see their land as more than just open space. They’re seeing it as an opportunity. With housing prices soaring and rental costs crippling working families, faith communities are stepping up—not with sermons alone, but with land, planning, and a vision for change.
This movement has taken hold in cities like Seattle, San Diego, and Atlanta. Congregations are partnering with nonprofit developers, local governments, and modular housing providers to build affordable homes right on church-owned property. These efforts aren’t just about putting up buildings—they’re about putting down roots. They’re about transforming “idle” land into active, living expressions of community care.
What’s remarkable is that these efforts don’t require churches to give up their identity. They aren’t being asked to become housing developers. Instead, they are asked to lean into their calling—to serve, to shelter, to love their neighbor. The land becomes a ministry. The housing becomes a legacy.
In my own city, the need is evident. Young families are priced out. Seniors on fixed incomes can’t afford rising rents. Workers who clean schools, serve food, and care for the elderly are commuting an hour or more just to make ends meet. And yet, here we sit—on 10 acres of possibility.
It’s not about building skyscrapers or solving poverty overnight. It’s about creating a place. A few homes. A safe street. A start.
Churches across America are uniquely positioned to bring hope—not with politics or protest, but with peaceful action. With open hands and open hearts. With a willingness to say: “Yes—in God’s backyard.”
I don’t know what my pastor will say when I finally bring it up. But I know this: if one church can plant the seed of shelter, then maybe 100 can. Maybe 1,000.
Maybe the next great wave of affordable housing will begin right where it always could have—on sacred ground, made even more holy by the lives it lifts.
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With over 9,000 published articles on modular and offsite construction, Gary Fleisher remains one of the most trusted voices in the industry.
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