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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By Rev. James R. Cook, CFP®, RICP® You might have heard retirement referred to as “the golden years.” Some people view retirement as a chapter in life when they can spend more time with family, on leisure travel, or starting a new hobby. Some retirees engage in activities they’ve always wanted to do but […]
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Ensure that your church’s bank deposits are safe…no matter which bank you use! By Mike Batts, CPA Remote work is still a strong force after the COVID-19 pandemic, with many businesses allowing their employees to work remotely. Remote work’s lingering reality has significantly reduced the demand for commercial office and business space. The resulting increase […]
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By Rev. James Cook, CFP®, RICP® Becoming a homeowner is an important financial goal for many people and is viewed as a significant “step up the financial ladder.” But if you have never purchased a home before, the decisions and process can seem daunting. In this article, we will give a general overview of […]
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By RaeAnn Slaybaugh They say change is hard — but sometimes, it’s worth it. Such is the case at Immanuel Baptist Church, where leaders are discovering the benefits of outsourcing their accounting services: better oversight, increased efficiency, more transparency/accessibility, and cost savings. It was even instrumental in recovering nearly $200,000 in “lost” online gifts […]
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