Church Projects and Difficult Economic Seasons – By Dr. Glenn Sauls

Church Projects and Difficult Economic Seasons

Written by Glenn Sauls

“What are we supposed to do about our building project now?”

As a consultant to numbers of churches across America, this is the burning, universal question I am asked increasingly by pastors, church boards and building committee members. This big question is almost always preceded by a litany of statistics about the housing crisis, loss of jobs, home foreclosures, international money woes, and economic confidence (or lack of it!).

“So,” the follow-up questions universally come, “do we put everything on hold until times get better? What kind of faith does that teach our people? Or do we plunge ahead, hoping and praying that we can somehow finish the project, even though giving is likely to be down as the people in our community sort through these challenges?”

Providing a historical perspective sometimes helps these leaders to see that our country as a whole has followed rather predictable and cyclical patterns of booms, meltdowns and adjustments. And, during the most difficult economic seasons in the last fifty years, people have actually stayed consistent or increased benevolent giving.  Most church leaders, however, are less concerned about what happened during past decades than what faces them right now in the midst of the planned or current building project.

My advice, based upon years in both the pastorate and as a church stewardship and leadership consultant, is not always exactly what these leaders want to hear. It is, however, based upon a Book that has survived every financial upheaval throughout history.

Was It God’s Idea In The Beginning?

Churches and building committees may be caught off-guard in the middle of major projects, but we can rest assured that God is never surprised, no matter what happens around us. In fact, we know that His answers concerning our plans have worked wonderfully and strategically, century after century, for people who are willing to follow His leadings.

Perhaps we should not be surprised, then, to glance back through the Bible to see several examples of God’s people who seem to thrive during the worst of times.

One of the first is found in Genesis 12:10. A famine struck the land, so Abram (later called Abraham) followed God’s direction and went to Egypt where he was literally given the wealth of Pharaoh!

Even more striking, perhaps, is the example of Abraham’s son, Isaac, who learned an amazing principle in the midst of the most chaotic economic times:

“Now a severe famine struck the land, as had happened before in Abraham’s time.  So Isaac moved to Gerar, where Abimelech, king of the Philistines, lived.  The Lord appeared to him there and said, ‘Do not go to Egypt.  Do as I say, and stay here in this land.  If you do, I will be with you and bless you.  I will give you all this land to you and your descendants, just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father.’”

(Genesis 26:1-3 NKJV)

Isaac was on his way to the land of Egypt, even as his father Abraham had done. Isaac believed that Egypt would sustain and help him. Yet God told him not to go to Egypt, for that country could not sustain him as it did with Abraham. Instead, he was told to rely on God’s promise.

Isaac obeyed the Lord and stayed in the land while famine was all around him. What happened? The Bible declares, “That year Isaac’s crops were tremendous!” (Genesis 26:12a NKJV).

Difficult financial seasons demand strong leadership that is willing to listen to God and walk in obedience.  The ability to hear and discern the voice of God is the greatest friend to today’s pastor as he faces building projects in the current economic culture.

Biblical Principles for Building Projects During the Worst of Times

Here are eight principles to help put things in perspective as you determine what to do about current or planned building projects:

1. God is bigger than the economic issues that you and your church face. Abraham learned this. Isaac lived it, as well. So did Joseph, David, and so many more heroes throughout the Bible.  We all know this truth…we just often forget it.
2. Great vision always trumps a bad economy. People are not often moved by projects or plans, but by great vision cast by a great communicator who has heard God speak.
3. People do not sacrifice for nice projects during good or bad economic seasons, but they will support vital Kingdom projects. It is okay to ask, “Wouldn’t it be nice to build a new (fill in the blank)?” During times of great growth, nice can be a wonderful part of your strategic plan. However, you will find that people don’t sacrifice for nice when the economy gets shaky. They will, with good leadership, tend to sacrifice for vital projects, regardless of what is happening around them.
4. Good leadership can lead nice projects, but it requires great, godly leadership to hear the voice of God and lead people to sacrifice for vital projects. Learning this will make all the difference in the world for you and your church. Challenge your people to sacrifice, for it is the hallmark of great growth during the worst of times.
5. Plan strategically for the cyclical economic ups and downs. As a consultant for churches, this is one of the greatest challenges I face. The ever-changing financial landscape should be addressed in the earliest phases of any building project. Often it takes an “outside” consultant to help put the overall growth strategy into perspective, and it is a responsibility that any seasoned consultant takes very seriously.
6. Be cautious with long-term debt. It is great for the community to see you building. Positive signs of growth will generally attract lots of media attention and robust attendance. However, the positive effects of building projects must always be balanced carefully against projected income.
7. Teach biblical stewardship principles consistently, especially before and during church building projects. Foundational principles are found early on in scripture, “In the beginning God created the heavens and earth.”  And, He who creates, owns.  Psalm 24:1 confirms God’s role in creation and that ownership is an all-inclusive proposition with God.  He owns it all and we get to participate with Him by managing what He has given to us.
8. Cast a clear and compelling vision for the future. It is best that your people see the church has a great future … one worth investing in.  Significant gifts will always be directed toward great projects that advance God’s Kingdom.  Everyone wants to be on a team that is pursuing a great future.

Keep Moving Forward

Above all else, believe and teach your people to believe God for miracles. Moving forward in faith is never easy. Moving forward with vital building projects during chaotic financial times is even harder.

In the account of Isaac we are told, “And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great” (Genesis 26:13). Isaac kept sowing and kept reaping, in spite of the conditions around him, so much so that we are told that he “went forward.”

You cannot go backward when you obey the Lord. You will only go forward and increase. Isaac started with very little, yet he “grew until he became very great.” He ended up with much, all because Isaac obeyed the Lord—in spite of the circumstances.

Hebrews 11:6 declares, “But without faith it is impossible to please him.” Often, doing great things for God requires great faith. Thankfully, we have a Master Builder who is never, ever surprised by whatever happens—even during difficult economic seasons!

Dr. Glenn Sauls is the president and founder of Sauls Consulting Services, based out of Atlanta, GA.  Glenn served as a pastor for twenty-two years before leaving to be a part of a national church stewardship organization.  Glenn formed Sauls Consulting Services in 2007 and has partnered with some of the great churches across America.  He is also the author of “What To Do With Church Projects During Difficult Economic Seasons” published by Ministry Today and Bank of the West.  You can learn more about SCS by going to www.SaulsConsulting.com.

“A Story of Real Generosity”

The story is told that one day a beggar by the roadside asked for alms from Alexander the Great as he passed by. The man was poor and wretched and had no claim upon the ruler, no right even to lift a solicitous hand. Yet the Emperor threw him several gold coins. A courtier was astonished at his generosity and commented, “Sir, copper coins would adequately meet a beggar’s need. Why give him gold?” Alexander responded in royal fashion, “Copper coins would suit the beggar’s need, but gold coins suit Alexander’s giving.”

It is rare in our culture to see vivid examples of real generosity. Such an act is illustrated with the gift given to Lewisburg United Methodist Church in Tennessee. We at Trinity Design Group had the unique pleasure to be part of such an extraordinary occurrence this past Sunday. We attended the dedication service for two new buildings, one being a fellowship hall and the other a day care center. The buildings were made possible by the endowment from the estate of Mr. J. T. McKnight.

That which makes this story so inspiring is that Mr. McKnight had no apparent wealth. He did not lead a life of extravagance or excess and never gave any evidence of his accumulated wealth. He was a quiet, private individual. Mr. McKnight worked as a bank teller the majority of his life at the same bank. He continued in this position through many mergers and acquisitions. His passion was found in saving and farming. The story is told of how Mr. McKnight would buy a “two-hamburger special” eating one for lunch and saving the other for dinner. He was just that kind of man.

At his death the Lewisburg UMC was surprised at both receiving the endowment and the size of it. He had left half of his estate to the church for the purpose of ministering to children and teenagers. The funding from this endowment was more than enough to complete the design and construction of two buildings, one to be used as a new daycare facility and the other as a fellowship hall.

The daycare facility replaced an outdated one with a modern code compliant one. The multipurpose fellowship hall has been used every week since it its completion for fellowship and care meals open to the community. Future uses include basketball and recreation as well music and theatrical events to reach the community. The church also plans on installing an emergency generator so the building can be used as an emergency shelter.

This story reminds me of the lesson Jesus taught to His disciples. He tells a story of a man who entrusts a portion of his wealth to three men. He gives one man “five talents,” another “two talents,” and yet another “one talent.” His instructions were clear as they knew the man very well from their past history with him. Two of the men went and invested well bringing a fair return, while one merely hid his charge and only returned the original amount. Jesus said of the men who have invested their “talents”: “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 18:21 NIV). It is a clear instruction from our Lord that we are expected to use the resources of time, talent, and material things to bring honor to the kingdom. J. T. McKnight was such a man. I am sure he heard those same words as he crossed from this life into eternity: “Well done, my good and faithful servant!”

A Note about the Author: Don Emmitte, Church Navigator with Trinity Design Group, is a new “old hand” in church growth, facility design, and management. After serving for over thirty years as a pastor of churches with over two thousand resident members, founder of Grace Restoration Ministries, and author of Morning Devotionals, he joined the team at TDG in 2009 to expand his passion: helping churches reach their God-given goals by making the most of their resources. For more information, contact Don at demmitte@trinitydesigngroup.com.

The Assembly at Durham Christian Center, Durham, NC

Press Release for The Assembly at Durham Christian Center, Durham, NC

August 12, 2009

Today Pastors Sylvester and Barbara Williams of The Assembly at Durham Christian Center in Durham, NC began their Strategic Master Planning for the construction of their new facilities. Plans call for an initial phase consisting of a multipurpose building to house their numerous community ministries and provide worship space for their congregation. They will also be developing a Prayer Walkway with trails throughout their five acre site.

Subsequent phases will also be developed in their Strategic Master Plan to provide for growth and expansion. One of these ministries to begin in their first phase building will be expanding their charter school capacity to K-12 with 300 students. Pastor Williams Bible Scholar, a scholar of The Hebrew Text, International Traveler, Writer, Counselor, and End-time Preacher is native to Durham, North Carolina with a mandate to preach the Unadulterated Word of GOD. His ordination is recognized by several works, including: Truevine Assembly of Pentecostal Churches, Inc. United Holy Work.

Pastor Williams, who is also a candidate for Durham City Council, said, “We believe that the local fellowship is an organization of members, but the Church is members of the body of Christ who are not separated by buildings or denominations. We want our buildings to reflect our vision of reaching everyone.”

Kevin C. Goins is the architect for the project based out of Nashville Tennessee. Construction is slated to begin late in 2009 or early 2010. The plans will develop new facilities on their recently acquired five acre property at 700 Toronto Avenue in Durham.

Dedication Service First United Methodist Church of Lewisburg, TN

First United Methodist Church of Lewisburg, TN named and dedicated their new ministry buildings on Sunday, August 9^th, 2009.  After the normal Sunday morning schedule with a sermon by Pastor Mark Irvin on generosity and how it can impact the world and encourage others to do the same, the choir led the congregation out of the sanctuary and across the street to the new facilities.  The choir continued to lead the congregation in the singing of hymns while an overflow crowd made their way into McKnight Hall of the new McKnight Ministry Center.

A handful of people spoke of the journey that the church had taken to get to this point and how the facilities were a fulfillment of the wishes of JT McKnight, who left an endowment for the specific purpose of ministering to children and young people.  Others spoke of the legacy that will be established as the McKnight Ministry Center, including McKnight Hall, and the McKnight Children’s Ministry Center begin to serve the community and impact people’s lives.  The dedication service was truly a celebration of a new era, as a sense of excitement and anticipation was evident in all the people who were there.

I can’t afford what I designed!

One of the most common mistakes that churches make is hiring an architect and counting on the architect to design a facility that meets their budget.  They hire the architect.  They tell the architect everything that they would like to have in their facility.  The architect designs them a great building that fulfills all their expectations.  They put the project out to bid and are shocked to find out that the project is so far over their budget that they would never be able to build it.  They are angry with the architect.  They are discouraged and frustrated.  They have wasted large sums of money and a lot of time.  And a great deal of good will with the congregation.  It can be a devastating experience for a church and can take many years to recover.

How can a church avoid this common mistake?  First, it is important to understand the limitations of an architect.  Architects are great at designing buildings that function well, look good and serve their intended purposes.  However, an architect is not good at determining construction costs.  So, when a church depends upon an architect to design a building within a budget, there is a significant likelihood that they will be disappointed with the results.  Determining the cost of a building requires a different set of skills and up to date construction experience that few architects possess.  It is difficult enough for an experienced builder to accurately determine what a building will cost.

So what approach should you take?  A better way is to take a team approach that includes a church planner, a church architect and a church builder.  The church planner will help to insure that you are building the right building for your ministry and vision.  The church architect will help to insure you have a good design that will meet your needs.  And the church builder will help insure that what is planned and designed fits within the established budget.  By working together as a team, a game plan can be developed that insures the successful execution and completion of the project.

Case Study: FBC Hickory Withe

This church had enough foresight to understand that they needed to develop a master plan before they built their next facility. The church had already gone through two expansions and realized that they needed a plan for tying everything together rather than just adding another building.  They hired a local architect to help them develop a master plan.  At the beginning of the process the church established a construction budget of $2M.  One year and thousands of dollars later the architect presented the church with a master plan, including as a first step a much needed sanctuary.  The church put the plan out to local builders to get preliminary pricing.  The initial bids came back at over $5M; more than double the established construction budget.  Needless to say, there was a great deal of disappointment and frustration.  A lot of time and money had been wasted and they had made no progress toward getting the new sanctuary that they needed.

The committee made contact with Trinity Design Group and, after an initial meeting, hired Trinity to help them move forward.  After an initial evaluation of current facilities and a meeting with leadership to clarify their vision, a Strategic Master Planning process was begun.  With the team meeting every two weeks to evaluate the vision, needs and resources of the church, a comprehensive Strategic Master Plan was developed in a period of eight weeks.  The result was a master plan that accurately reflected their vision for the future while developing a Phase I plan that met their current needs and fit within their established budget.  As the Strategic Master Plan was shared with the entire congregation, a great deal of excitement was generated and everyone was motivated to move forward as quickly as possible.

After spending a year developing a plan that would not work, within two to three months after hiring Trinity, the church was moving forward with architectural drawings and permitting for their new sanctuary.  A few months after that, they were moving forward with construction.  Going through the Strategic Master Planning process accelerated the church’s design and construction project, while giving the leadership and the body a clear vision for the future.  This vision wasn’t just for buildings but for the ministry that would be carried out and the growth that could take place as they moved into the future.

“Gaining Consensus in the Church”

“Gaining Consensus in the Church”
A Case Study
by Don Emmitte, DMin

One of the churches I have worked with in the past had spent nearly four years struggling with gaining consensus concerning a project to expand their facilities to meet their burgeoning congregation. They had done both architectural design and capital development. However, because of the lack of unity they were turned away from going forward with any of their plans. At the time I became involved with the church they had also experienced two pastoral leadership changes and a third had come to the field. It was a church much like the nation of Israel as Judges describes it: In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit (Judges 17:6 NIV).

The background of this verse and the rest of the chapters to the end of this book was the spiral of sin and idolatry that led to the destruction of Israel. It is clear that while the nation was happy under the Judges’ leadership, they were certainly unhappy when there was no Judge. Outward losses drive good people to their prayers, but bad people to their curses. It was one small step and soon they did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.

As a church we can fall into the same trap. When we fail to clearly define and communicate the vision, it leaves a void that will be filled by the aimless insistence of individuals. Often this causes misunderstanding, and at other times the destruction of relationships and communities of faith. There are several strategies that can be used to assist the church in shifting its focus from its own agenda to Christ’s. You may want to think of them as spiritual disciplines that cultivate openness to what Christ wants to accomplish in and through the church.

Designing this process is more difficult than some would imagine. One difficulty lies in the fact that many lay leaders (and pastors for that matter) are steeped in business models that focus on deciding rather than discerning. As the core leadership team meets together with our assistance, the following principles will develop consensus:

 Honor the church’s Culture. As much as possible, the process should honor the established culture of the church. There are exceptions to this principle, particularly in a congregation dominated by a few controllers; however, the rule generally applies. The process should recognize and abide within the boundaries of the church’s institutional systems.

 Include the People of Passion. There is a difference between the position of position (those who have formal power) and the people of passion (those who are the informal leaders). Any process that does not honor both of these groups will not achieve consensus.

 Keep the Planning Team Focused on Process. A business oriented “deciding” model tends to pull together a representative collection of high rollers who “guide” the outcome. In most cases, this group consists of primary decision-makers who in turn exert substantial influence. With a kingdom-oriented, discernment approach, the planning team is more focused on learning through the process than controlling the outcome. Of course, this allows the true “Head of the Church,” namely Christ, to guide the values, beliefs and missions. Accordingly, the planning team is then free to focus on building consensus rather than controlling the final results.

 Sustain Congregational Communication. The phrase “multiple mediums, maximum redundancy” is wise counsel for the church to create and sustain unity. Though it may seem to be overkill to some, a steady stream of updates and information is vital to keep the process open. The appropriate term is “dialogue” rather than “presentation.”

 Develop and Emphasize the Congregational Cornerstone. The cornerstone of any church should include written core values, logos, mission statements, vision statements, statements of faith, mottos, theme songs, and related symbols that remind the church of its basic reason for being a church. They define both the vertical (worshipping God) and horizontal (serving others) baseline for everything that is to be done.

These principles when applied will bring consensus. As we have often said, “Vision glorifies God, directs our actions, and brings reward.” Clearly defining and communicating the vision will bring unity.

________________________________________

A Note about the Author: Don Emmitte, Church Navigator with Trinity Design Group, is a new “old hand” in church growth, facility design, and management. After serving for over thirty years as a pastor of churches with over two thousand resident members, founder of Grace Restoration Ministries, and author of Morning Devotionals, he joined the team at TDG in 2009 to expand his passion: helping churches reach their God-given goals by making the most of their resources. For more information, contact Don at demmitte@trinitydesigngroup.com, or visit the web site at www.GraceRestoration.org.

Generosity Conference

Hosted by The Austin Group -

“Generosity” is the habit of giving voluntarily.  It not only refers to people giving to the church, but also to the church giving it away as well.  The stewardship task of pastors and church leaders is to help generous people develop a generous church.  The Generosity Conference will provide some tools for this important task.

The conference will feature motivating teaching, informative breakout conferences, inspiring preaching, and information about resources and material that you did not know was avialable.  If you want to do more than just preach a better tithing sermon or develop a better budget, this is the conference for you.

Generosity Conference
Date – October 13, 2009
Time – 9:00 Am to 3:00 PM
Place: North Fort Baptist Church, I-35 at Highway 820 Fort Worth Texas
Cost $30 Early ( before Oct. 11) $35 ( after Oct. 11)

Click here for more information and registration.

Webinar – A biblical approach to Church design and Construction

Thursday September 10th from 8-9:00 am central time.  A free webinar with Rick Thurman, president of Trinity design group.

Learn the answers to the following items and more:

• The biblical principles to follow in the design and construction of Churches.
• The best way to approach the design process
• Common costly mistakes made in the design of Churches
• Why it is best not to hire an Architect first
• How long does the process take?

To sign up please complete form below here and enter webinar in subject line.

Biblical Approach to Designing and Building Churches

Scriptural Foundations Biblical Approach to Designing and Building Churches

by Don Emmitte, DMin

I am always amused at the varied approaches by churches and church members to the necessity to expand their facilities. Most of the time the expansion is necessitated by either actual growth or the anticipation of growth. As is true with any decision we make as an individual or a church we ought to base these decisions on Scriptural principles to insure success. In the next few paragraphs I will outline and touch upon five passages of Scripture that I believe will give you A Biblical Approach to Designing and Building Churches.

The Importance of Vision

I have read the story of an early settlement on the northeast coast. It was about 350 years ago that the shipload of travelers landed on the coast of America. The first year they established a town site. The next year they elected a town government. The third year the town government planned to build a road five miles westward into the wilderness. In the fourth year the people tried to impeach their town government because they thought it was a waste of public funds to build a road five miles westward into a wilderness. There reasoning: “Who needed to go there anyway?”

It is an altogether familiar sequence of events, especially for the church. Here were people who had the vision to see three thousand miles across an ocean and overcome great hardships to get there. But in just a few years they were not able to see even five miles out of town. They had lost their pioneering vision. With a clear vision of what we can become in Christ, no ocean of difficulty is too great. Without it, we rarely move beyond our current boundaries. The Wisdom of Solomon undergirds this principle:

Where there is no vision, the people perish [are unrestrained] (Proverbs 29:18 KJV).

Bob Logan said it this way: “Vision is the capacity to create a compelling picture of the desired state of affairs that inspires people to respond; that which is desirable, which could be, should be; that which is attainable.  A godly vision is right for the times, right for the church, and right for the people. A godly vision promotes faith rather than fear. A godly vision motivates people to action. A godly vision requires risk-taking. A godly vision glorifies God, not people.” Vision is essential to the success of a church. (For more information see “The Strategic Master Planning Process – Clarity in the Process of Growth”).

A Story of Destruction

Vision must also be communicated clearly. There is a wonderfully descriptive verse tucked into the book of Judges during the time soon after the death of Joshua that is helpful:

In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. (Judges 17:6 KJV).

The background of this verse and the rest of the chapters to the end of this book was the spiral of sin and idolatry that led to the destruction of Israel. It is clear that while the nation was happy under the Judges’ leadership, they were certainly unhappy when there was no Judge. The love of money made Micah so undutiful to his mother as to rob her, and made her so unkind to her son, as to curse him. Outward losses drive good people to their prayers, but bad people to their curses. This woman’s silver was her god, before it was made into a graven or a molten image. Micah and his mother agreed to turn their money into a god, and set up idol worship in their family. It was one small step and soon they did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord.

As a church we can fall into the same trap. When we fail to clearly define and communicate the vision, it leaves a void that will be filled by the aimless insistence of individuals. Often this causes misunderstanding, and at other times the destruction of relationships and communities of faith.

We’ve all heard the story of the church trying to decide how to spend a recently received endowment. They all agreed the church was in desperate need of a lighting upgrade. Of course, being an independent church, a conference was called to make the decision. The pastor had done his due diligence and presented the cost of several options for new chandeliers. After the discourse and presentation, an elderly gentleman, long a member of the small rural congregation stood to his feet in protest. He began his eloquent plea to the congregation before the vote was taken. He praised the work of the pastor in gathering the information. He praised the deceased donor and his remaining family for the generous gift. And then the other shoe fell! He said, “We all know that we are a simple church. We need simple things in our church. While the pastor’s call for new chandeliers may be good for some of those wealthy city churches, we don’t need no new chandeliers. What we need in our church is some new lights!” It is an amusing story, but illustrative of how failing to understand, develop, and communicate the vision of the church can be destructive.

The Source of the Vision

The vision of a church should be born out of the will of God. Jesus is our best example of this truth. In talking with his disciples even he said:

I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. (John 5:30b KJV).

I have heard it said and seen it proven that the will of God never will lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you. Of course this does not mean that you should rush headlong into the future without using every resource or determine and understand the will of God. In fact the opposite is true. EVERY means should be used. However, I find more churches paralyzed into inaction because of their fear of the future and over analysis than not. Often if we will simply take the first step, praying and listening, God will do the rest. We are required to take the steps though.

Like the golfer on a bright Saturday afternoon teeing up to the most difficult hole on the course, nearly 180 yards of carry over a water hazard. He debated if he should use his new golf ball. Deciding that the hole was too treacherous, he pulled out an old ball and placed it on the tee. Just then he heard a voice from above say loudly: “Use the new ball!” Frightened, he replaced the old ball with the new one and approached the tee.

Now the voice from above shouted: “Take a practice swing!“  With this, the golfer stepped backward and took a swing.  Feeling more confident, he approached the tee when the voice again rang out:  “Use the old ball!” It must be the will of God, nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else.

Counting the Cost

Inevitably I find that many churches who determine God’s vision and commit themselves to going forward often fail because they do not count the cost. In the midst of a discussion about discipleship and the cost of following Jesus, the Lord uses a pointed illustration:

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, “This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” (Luke 14:28-30 NIV).

I have dealt with many churches that have made this mistake. The scenario usually plays out with at least disappointment and often with disillusionment. The church clearly hears the will of God to develop space to accommodate their ministry growth. Typically their next step is to engage an architect to draw some plans and then place them for bid. It is always amazing how often the bids come in at double or triple what the church can legitimately afford to do at that time. They have moved from back to front.

This does not discount the absolute truth that God has unlimited resources. However, it does cut across the truth that we are to plan within the will of God differently than that. Within the framework of Strategic Master Planning the tasks of vision clarification, feasibility studies, phased facility design, open construction budgeting, financial planning and sourcing, and capital campaign coordination should be broached before anything is committed to paper and bids. It’s simply wise. It is more work, but it WORKS!

Good Planning Requires Good Teamwork

You have a vision; you have clarity and communication; you’ve reached consensus – what’s next? Everyone who is necessary to be involved in the successful completion of the project needs to be at the table doing the planning. That means the church leadership, the architect, and the builder. Once again I turn to the Wisdom of Solomon:

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. (Proverbs 15:22 NIV).

Canada Geese are amazing creatures. When they fly either south on their way to a warmer climate or north back to their breeding grounds, they often cover thousands of miles before reaching their destination. They always fly in a “V-formation.” Have you ever studied why they fly as they do? It is fascinating to read what has been discovered about their flight pattern as well as their in-flight habits. Four have been proposed. First, those in front rotate their leadership. When one lead goose gets tired, it changes places with one in the wing of the V-formation and another flies point. Second, by flying as they do, the members of the flock create an upward air current for one another. Each flap of the wings literally creates uplift for the bird immediately following. One author states that by flying in a V-formation, the whole flock gets 71 percent greater flying range than if each goose flew on its own. Third, when one goose gets sick or wounded, two fall out of formation with it and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with the struggler until it’s able to fly again. Fourth, the geese in the rear of the formation are the ones who do the honking. I suppose it’s their way of announcing that they’re following and that all is well. For sure, the repeated honks encourage those in front to stay at it.

As I think about all this, one lesson stands out above all others: it is the natural instinct for geese to work together. Whether it’s rotating, flapping, helping, or simply honking, the flock is in it together, which enables them to accomplish what they set out to do. Following the principles of Scripture will always bring success!

A Note about the Author: Don Emmitte, Church Navigator with Trinity Design Group, is a new “old hand” in church growth, facility design, and management. After serving for over thirty years as a pastor of churches with over two thousand resident members, founder of Grace Restoration Ministries, and author of Morning Devotionals, he joined the team at TDG in 2009 to expand his passion: helping churches reach their God-given goals by making the most of their resources. For more information, contact Don at demmitte@trinitydesigngroup.com, or visit the web site at www.GraceRestoration.org.

How do I make sure my construction project matches my budget?

How do I make sure my construction project matches my budget?

One of the most common mistakes that churches make is designing facilities that they cannot afford. This typically happens because the church hires an architect and counts on the architect to design a facility that matches their budget. Unfortunately, architects do not have the expertise to accurately determine what a project will cost. Very often the result is a project that is well above what the church can afford. The church can avoid this issue if they have a team, rather than just the architect, working for them. The team should first develop a plan that takes into consideration the church’s vision, needs and resources, insuring that the design will fit into their long-term plans; that it will meet both current and future needs; and it fits within the resources they have available to pay for the project.

Another common reason that construction projects go over budget is the approach that churches take to getting their facilities built. The traditional approaches used for residential or commercial construction are usually not the best approach for churches. There are unique factors (church personality; structure; etc.), challenges (decision by committee; multiple sources of funding; etc.) and opportunities (tax exemption; volunteer labor; etc.) with church projects and the traditional approaches to construction do not adequately address them. As different factors and challenges arise, frustration can set in due to the lack of appropriate systems and procedures to address them. These issues almost always result in additional costs to the church. The lack of appropriate systems and procedures also prevent the church from taking advantage of opportunities to save money and reduce costs. The result is that nearly 80% of construction projects go over budget by an average of nearly 30%.

This experience can be devastating to a church. The typical church has raised all the money they can raise and borrowed all the money they can borrow to meet the construction budget. For the construction costs to increase by 30% during the execution of the project is beyond what the church is capable of doing. The project is either put on hold and goes unfinished or the church gets over committed financially and puts the church in a very risky position. The fallout over this experience can be very difficult for the church to overcome. This experience is why many pastors who led their church into a construction project end up leaving shortly after the project is completed.

So how do you keep a project from going over budget? First, follow the design process recommended earlier. Secondly, work with a builder that has the systems in place to deal with the unique characteristics of a church construction project. The most effective way to do this is an open book approach that allows the church to sit at the table and be involved in the evaluation and decision making process. This should include the church and the builder in the design process where many of the critical decisions are made. It should also include the church in monthly meetings throughout the project where the budget, quality and schedule issues can be evaluated and monitored each step of the way.

Ideally, the builder agrees to a set fee and allows all of the savings that are accumulated during the process to go back to the church. With this team approach, with everyone working together to achieve a common goal, significant savings can be accomplished throughout the project. The result should be a project that is completed at or below budget, with a level of quality that meets or surpasses the church’s expectations, and is completed on schedule. If these three factors, budget, quality and schedule, are addressed successfully, the church will be well served and the vision of the church will be moved forward.

A church construction project should be an exciting time where another step in the vision of the church is being realized. It should be a time where everyone gets a renewed focus and a renewed excitement about what God is doing in and through the church. However, too many times the result is just the opposite. Disappointment, frustration, second guessing and placing blame for failure take the place of excitement and commitment. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. If the church will take the right approach and team with the right people, it can be the beginning or the next step in the fulfillment of God’s calling on the church.