By Rev. Earl Thorpe, Ph.D. We often consider retirement the end of a person’s vocational journey. But if, as Shakespeare wrote, “all the world is a stage,” retirement might just be the end of the first act in a clergyperson’s calling and the beginning of the second act in their life of service. While many […]
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Consider these in-the-trenches, professional perspectives Church Executive: With interest rates as they are, is it still a good time to consider refinancing? Charity Kuehn: Every situation is a little different. There will be times when you’ll be forced to refinance during a higher-interest-rate environment because your loan comes due. If so, there are lots […]
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By Chris Lewis Over the last year, a dramatic shift in interest rates has served to stall a large portion of refinancing efforts. The difference in the rate a church is currently paying, and the existing market rates, is substantial in many cases. This is creating an appropriate pause in ministry refinancing because the […]
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How to protect your church’s data — and your own By Sharon McDowell Whether we realize it or not, social media is a double-edged sword. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, among others, have become an integral part of our daily lives, and a valuable tool for churches to engage with their congregations and […]
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By Alina Parizianu, CFP®, MBA, RICP® The days when Americans could count on pensions from their employers are long gone, as fewer and fewer organizations offer them to their staff. While pensions are becoming an endangered species, Social Security remains the primary source of guaranteed lifetime retirement income for many older adults. In addition, unlike […]
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3 strategies that will take you from start to success By Jeremy Moore Your church has not only survived a pandemic, but it’s actually growing — how amazing! As a church family, you’ve emerged from an incredibly disruptive and uncertain season and now find yourselves needing to build or expand. If this scenario resonates, you’re […]
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Before you talk with any lending group, your church will need to fully understand the ups and downs of its last three years of financial statements. Church lenders will always focus on undesignated income, cash flow, debt and equity trends. The first thing churches really want to know, however, is their borrowing capacity. Determining this […]
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Kingsland Baptist Church’s second campus demonstrates the value and good stewardship of faith + community partnerships By RaeAnn Slaybaugh When building a new campus, what if the church wasn’t responsible for every piece of the puzzle? What if, to create their facilities, the church spent more time building relationships rather than raising funds? What if […]
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A commitment to consistent financial stewardship — and the guidance of a like-hearted lending partner — enabled Blackhawk Church to set a course for debt elimination. By RaeAnn Slaybaugh For the finance team at Blackhawk Church in Madison, Wisc., solid financial stewardship is a priority. Led by Director of Accounting & Administration Jon Mueller and […]
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With preparation, persistence and wise collaboration, Bridgeway is saving $450,000+ in yearly interest — even amid a pandemic By RaeAnn Slaybaugh Heidi Coughran has spent most of her career in church operations. She says it’s “exactly my wheelhouse.” So, when the opportunity arose in 2015 to join the staff at her beloved home church — […]
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