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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By Rodney C. James Jesus said, For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to […]
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A major building project is something typical pastors undertake only once or twice in their careers, if ever. Many potential pitfalls loom without the right guidance, and far too many pastors are essentially “flying blind” when they start out. It can even lead them to burnout … and leaving their churches behind. To this end, […]
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By RaeAnn Slaybaugh After more than a decade meeting in a school, and then in a leased warehouse, Faith and Victory Church in Auburn, Wash. — a suburb of Seattle — was enjoying significant growth: 30 percent, year over year, for several years. The need for a more permanent (and suitable) church home was […]
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For Franklin Christian Church, the road to a new facility was paved with obstacles — which turned into opportunities. By RaeAnn Slaybaugh The pre-construction planning phase for Franklin Christian Church’s (FCC) new facility began in 2016, focusing on the programming and requirements for the space. But the story of how it came to be […]
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BILL AANESTAD / EXECUTIVE PASTOR / ORCHARD CHURCH / MURRIETA, CALIF. By RaeAnn Slaybaugh As Executive Pastor Bill Aanestad and his team at Orchard Church neared completion of their construction project, they were looking for a long-term fixed-rate loan. With interest rates on the verge of a sharp increase, they wanted something predictable. Something manageable. […]
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