Before a building or renovation project, church leaders should understand borrowing capacity — and why speaking with a direct lender matters. By Dan Mikes Scripture calls church leaders to demonstrate faithful stewardship. Today, that includes navigating budget constraints, as well as evolving giving habits and complex financial decisions. One of those financial decisions is whether […]
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By Alex Kim, CFP®, MBA, CPA In today’s digital age, it seems there’s an app for almost everything — including estate planning. With just a few clicks, platforms like LegalZoom and Quicken WillMaker & Trust promise to help you draft a will, assign power of attorney, or even create a living trust, all from the […]
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By Colin Nass, CFP®, AEP®, RICP® Today’s world is complex and unpredictable, making financial wellness more challenging than ever. Financial wellness is not just about money — it is a balance of the mental, spiritual and physical aspects of managing financial resources. So, what distinguishes those who constantly struggle from those who achieve long-term financial […]
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A panel of financial professionals — who serve churches every day in the areas of lending, banking, accounting and financial technology — offers practical insights and strategic guidance to help your ministries thrive. Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a new church administrator stepping into financial leadership? Sandy McClure: Evaluate where you […]
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By Dan Mikes Whether your church is planning a construction project or a relocation, it might be helpful to review some of the topics your leadership team should be prepared to address in order to set appropriate financial parameters — and in anticipation of discussions with lenders. When planning the project, churches often form a […]
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By RaeAnn Slaybaugh First Baptist Church in Rogers, Ark., has a lot to celebrate. Most recently, it finished a new, 1,800-seat sanctuary — twice the size of its previous worship space. Now, leaders and members alike are excited for the original single-level sanctuary to be reimagined into a two-story administrative and education building, as […]
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To weather the storm, church leaders should pay attention to 6 crucial factors — and understand how they’re affecting the lending landscape. For the last several years, I’ve been helping churches across the country make financing decisions as they seek to grow their ministries and meet their stewardship goals. At Thrivent, we’ve been monitoring the […]
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In the few years following COVID, church leaders were not focused on construction or physical plant expansion; rather, they were waiting for in-person worship attendance to fully recover. Over the last 12 to 18 months, lenders finally began to see a significant increase in construction financing requests. Enter the tariff war and the caution flags […]
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How the Church of Eleven22 found a true banking partner for its expansion plans By Jeremy Moore After The Church of Eleven22 launched in 2012, leadership quickly found out how challenging it could be to find a banking partner that understands the needs of religious institutions. True, its early requirements were fairly basic. But […]
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The call for the church to continue innovating has never been more pressing. As executive pastors and church leaders, embracing innovation, particularly in technology, isn’t just a trend — it’s a necessity for fulfilling your mission and engaging your congregation effectively. Here are seven reasons why trying to innovate matters to both you and your […]
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