The term “smart investing” can strike fear in the hearts of clergy — but if this rings true for you, you’re in good company. Many professionals grapple with how to invest intelligently, so the results can fall short of what’s possible. In this Remote Roundtable Discussion, church executives discuss smart investing strategies with the pros, […]
Read More >
By Sarah Barham Managing church finances can be a daunting task even under the most favorable circumstances. Factor in complex tax reports, bank reconciliations, and ever-changing IRS and state guidelines, and you can guarantee church staff is overspending valuable time on workarounds for processes that could be intuitively streamlined. With outsourced ministry accounting services, […]
Read More >
By Jerry Vaughan “Debt” isn’t a popular word in churches. As church lenders and people of faith ourselves, we understand: it’s difficult to preach about being debt-free and then turn around and borrow money for a building project. So when cautioned against committing too heavily to raising funds ahead of construction — compared to financing […]
Read More >
Every day, I talk to church leaders who are looking for additional financial support. They’ve grown frustrated with their current loan (or lack thereof). All too often, the conversation becomes an explanation of why a bank isn’t likely to be interested in a project or loan and then a few basic changes to consider for […]
Read More >
Supply chain issues. Rising interest rates. A reimagined worship environment. All these factors — and more — are likely to impact church financing now and in years to come. Church Executive: Tell me about your organization and its history working with churches. David Lee: Thrivent has been serving the financing needs of churches for more […]
Read More >
By Keith R. Davenport, CFP® With the growing popularity of HGTV and other networks, homeowners are presented with glamorous home makeovers and improvement projects. It all looks beautiful on the screen, but how much will that project cost? And will it increase your home’s value? Let’s look at the realities. At some point, most homeowners […]
Read More >
With stained-glass windows and ornate pillars juxtaposing stained concrete and steel, Frontline Church’s downtown Oklahoma City location merges historical beauty with a modern renovated space for the community. By Carla Hinton • Photos by Marcus Wehmuller • Additional reporting by RaeAnn Slaybaugh The transition from house church living room to one of the most […]
Read More >
By Colin Nass, CFP®, AEP®, RICP® Your credit score is one of your most important assets. It should be treated with care because it impacts your overall financial health. Your credit score influences how much money you’ll spend on interest and fees. A very good credit score will likely get you the best rates and […]
Read More >By Vincent J. Schera, ACC®, CCP® You’re excited to start a new position, or to accept a new call to a church or organization that you’ve been offered in another city or state. The compensation package is an improvement over what you are currently receiving, and the location seems ideal for you and […]
Read More >
For Jamie Barth, accommodating unique insurance requests is pretty common. A large Texas church hosts a Christmas pageant including live animals — camels, lions, a small elephant, and sheep for the manger. The church hires an outside company to provide the animals. The need for separate insurance coverage never occurs to church leaders; it only […]
Read More >