CHURCH DESIGN TRENDS

Expert perspectives on emerging trends, outdated ones, and ministry-specific design movements

In Pursuit of Family-Friendly Church Design

Expert advice — from the architects who envision these spaces and the church executives who recognized the need

The Architect as Partner

Architects, pastors and a CFO talk about how to navigate -- or better yet, avoid -- the usual challenges of a church building project

where light learns to speak®

• How to choose the right stained glass studio • A guide to stained glass window restoration • Protective covering: an integral part of preservation

Designing Worship Areas

How data impacts church design • Integrating church DNA • 3 vision-casting strategies

Q&A: Christian school design

If starting a school is on your church’s horizon, you’ll appreciate the advice of these two knowledgeable architecture experts.

Design Trends to Watch: 2018

Two experienced architects discuss emerging (& expiring) trends -- including multisite & multi-generational design strategies

How to Keep Your Design Within Budget

How to avoid cost overruns; building the building team; keeping the timeline on track

Children's Spaces

Is your facility too hot, too cold, or just right? 5 proven strategies to achieve the right mix

Surveying the Church Design Landscape

The church trends we’re seeing today aren’t the same as 10 -- or even five -- years ago. An expert weighs in.

Engaging Spaces

How to ensure a truly engaging worship space, by design

CHURCH FACILITIES: Building & Construction

Avoid cost overruns • An effective building process: 5 tenets • 5 facility "musts" for young families • 4 youth-friendly design ideas

DONOR ENGAGEMENT HANDBOOK

Ways to nurture your community and inspire generosity

GIVING MADE EASY

How to choose the right platforms for your unique church — common mistakes, engaging first-time givers, considerations around congregational culture, and more

MAXIMIZING YEAR-END GIVING

Strategies for using technology to encourage giving all year round

Sustained Giving Strategies

Tried-and-true advice for driving a predictable cash flow at your church

Make Giving Click

Expert advice for using technology to identify, engage & cultivate first-time givers

Strategies for Cultivating Major Gifts

Did you know your church management software -- and the data within it -- can be a big help?

BEST PRACTICES FORUM: Technology

• Church data matters, because people matter • Apps that engage • Make giving simple

How to Retain & Expand Supporters Through Digital Giving: A Remote Roundtable

• How to use “social listening” to get more donations for your church • 5 steps to turn non-givers into givers

BEST PRACTICES FORUM: Fundraising & Generosity

• Using giving data to strengthen your discipleship path • 6 ways to engage major donors • Engage churchgoers by incorporating giving technologies

In Sync & On Target

How giving consistency -- across multiple campuses -- drives better ministry, increased magnanimity & more efficient church management

Capital Stewardship Success Stories

How 6 pastors -- with 6 different church growth & building projects -- funded their visions, raising between $5 million and $24 million+

Planned Giving

What it is, how it works, and the results your church can expect

Maximizing Generosity During the Christmas Season

3 experts share tried-and-true strategies

Intelligent Church Giving

3 ways to engage Millennial givers; why creating a generous culture starts with the pastor; bridging the gap between the business office and the pastoral…

Fully Funded, FINALLY

Fully funding the operating budget with digital giving; 5 surprising facts about church giving; growing giving by 372% over three years

Remote Roundtable: Maximizing Year-End Giving

How to enable cashless generosity; 4 steps to turn year-end donors into regular donors -- and much more

Creating a Culture of Generosity (Vol. 2)

Mobile giving for multisites; using giving data for ministry; how mobile giving cuts staff time & heartache -- and more

Creating a Culture of Generosity

Engaging first-time givers; 3 myths about church giving technology; best practices for reaching budget goals

Church Cafés

How to create a cafe with purpose & run it successfully

Cloud-Based, Cost-Effective Church Communications

Why moving your phone system to the cloud makes so much sense -- plus, member-, guest- and seeker-friendly strategies

BEST PRACTICES FORUM: Technology

• Church data matters, because people matter • Apps that engage • Make giving simple

How to Drive Connection & Assimilation Using Church Management Software: Expert Advice

• What effective assimilation looks like • High tech for high touch • Shopping for a new ChMS? 10 questions

STAYING CONNECTED BEYOND SUNDAY

Tried-and-true strategies — plus, how technology can come alongside your best efforts

How Data Can Drive Better Ministry

Your church management software is a treasure trove of actionable information … but only if you know how to mobilize it.

Get Smart About Expansion

How ChMS data can help you make an educated new-campus decision

Church Facility Stewardship

The 4 pillars to good facility stewardship -- plus, case studies & the cost of not investing *now*

Capital Planning for Churches

Capital plans 101: what they are & why you need one -- plus, the spiritual benefits of capital planning

Best Practices Forum: Financial Stewardship

What lenders look for • Does your church really need financial reserves? • When refinancing makes sense

Church Metrics Powered by Cloud Technology

What a 'metric' is, how to interpret it, and how it relates to ministry -- plus, the top 10 sustaining metrics for churches, defined

Using Data to Make Better Ministry Decisions

How innovative churches are making their decisions through data -- and how to enrich an empowered discipleship by leveraging technology

Metrics That Drive Sustainability

What gets measured, gets managed -- expert advice for understanding church metrics & making them work for better ministry

Finance & Lending Trends

Religious institution financing truths (regardless of the lending climate) -- plus, a roadmap for successfully funding your new building ... and more!

Church Investment Solutions

Making the case for church investments; why good governance = good giving; the problem with managing cash

Financial Management for Christian Schools

Best practices for starting a Christian school; navigating the process; 3 common "balancing acts" to be aware of

Church Financial Planning

Decoding the refinancing process • Borrowing vs. capital campaigns • Facility re-purposing pros & cons • Ministry expansion financing: 10 tips

Administrative Best Practices for Church Leaders

4 critical areas of focus: • Health insurance • Disaster relief • Retirement planning • Social Security

Employment Law Pitfalls

Your most pressing questions about wrongful termination, harassment and discrimination lawsuits in churches, answered

Church Hiring & Staff Management

Leadership that goes the distance; 5 ways to recruit and retain the right people

Board Governance

Congratulations! You’ve been asked to serve on your church’s board ... now what?

EXPERT Q&A: CHURCHES AS SAFE SPACES

Understanding the ins and outs of the sanctuary movement for houses of worship

MAKING DISTANCE LEARNING WORK

For busy pastors, it offers a flexible, efficient and cost-effective way to pursue an advanced degree. Here, five experts survey the landscape.

Equipping Pastors for Counseling

Church leaders are being called on to provide counseling for an ever-widening array of issues their members face. Are you prepared?

Leadership Development Options for Busy Church Leaders

Which skills are most in-demand today — and how can you make this training work for you?

Advancements in MDiv & DMin Training

For busy full-time church leaders, an MDiv or DMin degree might seem out of reach. Here’s the reality.

Counseling Training Options for Pastors

Expert perspectives on the counseling expectations of church leaders today; plus, common pitfalls, and how to rise to the challenge

Leadership Training Options for Pastors

The leadership and management skills development that are most in-demand among busy church leaders -- and how online education helps

Advancements in MDiv & DMin Training

How seminaries and universities are making graduate studies more accessible for busy full-time church leaders

Making Continuing Education Work for Busy Pastors

Online & satellite MDiv, DMin options you should know about

Continuing Education (Presented by: Hood Theological Seminary)

The pursuit of advanced education: perspectives from full-time pastors -- plus, social relevance training

LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR PASTORS: A Remote Roundtable Discussion

3 continuing education experts examine the most in-demand offerings -- plus, making them work with pastors’ demanding schedules

Profiles in Learning (Presented by: Ashland Theological Seminary)

Flipping the script on seminary study: a uniquely residential -- and communal -- option

Continuing Education (Presented by: Regent University)

Seminary students details their paths to the right study options for them

Continuing Education (Presented by: Villanova University)

Management skills for more effective ministry; make time for pastoral education; online options for busy pastors

LARRY OSBORNE & NORTH COAST CHURCH: Flexibility, simplicity in financing at the forefront

At the nation’s premier multisite church, two financing needs take precedence above all: flexibility and simplicity.

MATT KAUTZKY & BLACKHAWK CHURCH:

Spanning 130,000+ square feet, Blackhawk Church transitioned from a (scraps of) paper-based facilities management system to an intuitive platform — all with zero downtime.

ADRIENNE WILLICH & ELIZABETH SHAUGHNEY:

How the Archdiocese of Washington standardized reporting for 139 parishes, 63 schools & 4,500 staff

JOEL GUTHRIE: Harnessing tech trends to drive real-world engagement, growth

A church planting family. Worship and youth leader. Audio engineering student. Impressive tech marketing career. It all makes Guthrie the ideal Church Engagement Podcast host.

JEFF WILSON & SEVERNS VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH: A heart for the ministry of building & construction

This huge project finished on time and under budget, all with an expanded scope. Here’s how.

TOM LUNAK & CALVARY CHAPEL FORT LAUDERDALE: An informed approach to refinancing drives church growth

When this large church's loan approached maturity a few years ago, Lunak knew exactly what to look for in a refinancing partner.

JOEL SIMS & WORD OF LIFE CHURCH: Leading a legacy

With $29.4 million in building projects completed, Word of Life's story started with a late pastor’s vision and culminated with his son’s own unique legacy.

BOBBY HART & FIRST BAPTIST TULSA: Defying space & thriving downtown

Despite being landlocked, the church recently finished 92,000+ square feet of stunning new preschool, children's & adult education space.

ON THE MONEY

3 financial experts tackle church leaders' biggest challenges

DR. WAYLON BAILEY & FBC COVINGTON: Highly relational, by design

In form and function, relationship is at the heart of everything FBC Covington does as a church. Here’s how that commitment translates into its design.

SIMEON MAY, PHILL MARTIN & THE CHURCH NETWORK:

Equipping the ministry of church management for 60+ years

SHANE WARREN & THE ASSEMBLY: A (construction) course correction

After facing many pastors’ worst nightmare — essentially ‘starting over’ on a $15-million building project — the result is even better than imagined.

COLLIN LUCAS & CORNERSTONE FELLOWSHIP OF LIVERMORE: Bigger vision = better alignment + larger lending needs

How Lucas' secular business background has proven instrumental in helping build -- and fund intelligently -- the church’s rapidly expanding infrastructure

CLAY SCROGGINS & NORTH POINT COMMUNITY CHURCH: Leveraging influence at every level

The author of "How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge: Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority" talks about leading left, right & up

BOB CHURCH & SAGEBRUSH CHURCH: Funding expansion with fluidity, familiarity

Eleven years of "explosive" growth at Sagebrush has created a need for creative, flexible lending options.

GARY HAMRICK & CORNERSTONE CHAPEL: Make yourself at home

The path to Cornerstone Chapel's new home -- a 108,000-square-foot, ski lodge-style facility on the outskirts of Washington, DC -- wasn't without a few bumps

RICK LORIMER & CHRIST PLACE CHURCH: Beating the construction budget -- and exceeding expectations

How transparency, ministry experience, integrity -- and a lot of patience! -- delivered a $7.2-million church construction project under budget

RICK HOLLIDAY & NORTH POINT: Technology + engagement = growth

Examining the 4-step engagement process at one of America's largest and fastest-growing churches

RISE FROM THE ASHES

How historic First Baptist Church Magee rebuilt -- better than ever -- after a $2-million fire

JASON HAYES: Creating a Culture of Generosity in a Church Plant -- Shoreline Church

How data & analytics drove a $635,000 one-day offering and laid the foundation for generosity

Pastor-Friendly Audio

Choosing the best mic for your message • Are your wireless mics illegal? • The REAL cost of audio equipment • Training the tech team

Pastor-Friendly A/V Integration

Technology is one of your biggest line items -- so, choose wisely

Pastor-Friendly Microphones

Pro tips for miking instruments; picking the pastor's mic; mic handling do's & don'ts -- and more

Pastor-Friendly Sound Systems (Volume 2)

Delivering old-world sound in a modern sanctuary; outdoor sanctuary audio; discrete sound elements

ADVANCEMENTS IN VOLUNTEER SCREENING

Proven strategies to keep your people safe — from recognizing red flags to re-screening practices, cost considerations, and navigating potentially sensitive conversations

Protecting the Kids in Your Care

Expert advice for protecting the church’s children against sexual abuse and bullying — plus, how to mitigate internet-use risks

Disaster Recovery & Communications

Practical, expert advice for a scary subject

Church Security & Surveillance

Expert advice for helping to prevent — and, if necessary, respond to — a security emergency on your campus

Do Mission Trips Put Your Religious Organization at Risk?

Expert advice for protecting your members, staff and volunteers while they’re abroad

Disaster Prevention & Recovery Best Practices

Best practices to employ before, during and after disaster strikes -- and the communication tools that should be in every church’s toolbox

Active Shooter Awareness & Training

Examining the very real threat of an active-shooter situation -- and what can your church can do to mitigate it

Keeping Kids Safe & Secure

Experts in the fields of risk management and background checks share best practices for the care of children within the church

Never Again: Beyond Insurance (Volume 3)

How to protect your church when enlisting outside providers; overseeing youth; a 6-step process to moving "beyond insurance"

Saved by the Sensor!

5 tech experts explain (in plain English) how these little, easy-to-install innovations can save your church's life -- or, at the very least, its budget

When Children Are at Risk

What makes churches targets for sexual abuse risks -- plus, expert screening, background check and check-in / check-out processes

Protecting the Church's Children

How location, culture and human predilection can weaken the systems designed to protect youth in your church's care -- and what you can do about…

Never Again: Beyond Insurance (Volume 2)

Risk management strategies for volunteer labor -- plus, risk avoidance, risk retention & risk control

Never Again (Volume 1)

Defining "risk control"; preventing sexual misconduct; balancing religious freedom and employment rights ... and much more

Selecting the Right Bus for Your Church

How to make sure you get the best, safest bus for your most precious cargo

Selecting the Right Bus for Your Church

Leading church transportation experts help you choose wisely + ensure that bus operation and maintenance are safe and risk-free