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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By RaeAnn Slaybaugh As with many churches built in previous decades, Trinity Baptist Church’s 1950s-era facilities had many challenges that were being magnified with growth. Expansion was in order. But even before breaking ground, closing a street changed the entire project trajectory. Power lines and utilities had to be relocated. Then COVID hit, bringing […]
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How Resi On Demand Can Transform Your Church’s Approach to Streaming and Video Church livestreaming has long been considered the new frontier in online ministry — but is it more important to refocus on getting people back into the building on Sunday morning? Initially adopted out of necessity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some churches […]
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By RaeAnn Slaybaugh Driven by Senior Pastor Tony Clark’s heart for the youngest members of the church, Virginia’s Calvary Chapel Newport News had big goals for its new children’s wing. Really big. Fortunately, he had just the right person on staff to take the helm. With decades of high-level corporate management experience under her […]
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By Colin Nass, CFP®, AEP®, RICP® You have been saving for retirement and your account has been growing steadily. Maybe your employer provides an annual matching contribution that has been a great incentive to build up your 403(b) or 401(k) retirement account — and with favorable interest rates and investments, it has turned into a […]
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Third-party ministry accounting, payroll services can be a Godsend for church leaders who are overwhelmed, uncertain — or both By RaeAnn Slaybaugh Change is hard — but does it need to be? Surprisingly, if we’re talking about outsourcing your church’s financial systems and processes, the answer is no. At least, that’s what these three […]
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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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For leaders at Bethel Lutheran Church, the signals that it was time to expand were not subtle. By RaeAnn Slaybaugh At the home church in Fergus Falls, Minn., nearly 90 cars per worship service had to park off-campus and walk to church — and this was across three services. Inside the sanctuary, two of […]
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