By Hillary Bowling As a provider of simple, reliable communication tools that require no software, no extended training (and no hassle), we have found that communities that communicate on a regular basis with their congregants reap more benefits: Increased attendance Higher engagement Consistent giving Connectivity — reliable, ongoing communication — is essential to the cultivation and retention […]
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By Tim Grabacki It’s not something church business managers think about a lot, but: How you count the money might be affecting the church more than you’d think. Here are three tips on how to better handle cash and checks in your collections. #1: Treat the business office like a business office The mission […]
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Interior design ideas to enhance your youth ministry By Rebecca Calbert, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB As we come into the New Year, we feel the need to freshen up our spaces and clean out our closets. The beginning of a new year is synonymous with change, self-improvement, and taking on new challenges. A typical resolution […]
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By Brian Gleason, MBA, CSRM A lot can happen in a year, that’s for sure. While 2017 proved that things can change in an instant, there are trends and indicators that can prepare us for the most successful year yet. Here, the GuideOne risk management and loss control team forecasts risk management trends for churches […]
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By Rebecca Calbert, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB As an architect, I notice my surroundings more than the “average bear.” And lately, trends in youth ministry interior design bring to mind Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Some spaces are too hot, some are too cold, and some are just right. I’ve seen church facilities take a […]
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By Eric Spacek, JD, ARM With winter on the horizon, you and your church need to be prepared. In addition to the cold, snow and wind, winter conditions can cause substantial damage to buildings. Even prior to winter, the fall can bring about wear and tear due to the changes in temperature and moisture levels. […]
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Due to the nature of their work, churches are held to a high standard of accountability by internal and external stakeholders. Without a financial solution designed to comply with non-profit accounting standards, it can be challenging to demonstrate transparency and fiscal responsibility to constituents. While commercial accounting software can be configured to meet basic financial […]
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What’s the cost of not investing now ? By Donovan Loomis Thom Rainer recently shared a list of the top 10 questions pastors ask him, and No. 2 was, What do I do about our aging facilities? Every church will inevitably have to ask this question. Preventive maintenance (PM) and capital planning will help ensure […]
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Church facilities have long been a vastly underused ministry tool, with most spaces left vacant during the week besides an occasional bible study or evening meeting. What would happen to our ministries if we used our buildings seven days a week and reduced overhead expenses by two-thirds or more? By stewarding these unused spaces more effectively, […]
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By Donovan Loomis Being intentional in managing your facilities has very little impact on how effectively the church can carry out the mission, right? Wrong. While the church’s primary mission is spreading the gospel, we have to take care of our most expensive assets if we want to have the resources, long term, to help […]
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