Church

Ready for 2024? Top Giving Trends in Christian Churches

Are you worried about your church’s financial outlook in 2024? We know how hard it can be just to fund a church’s monthly budget. Regular church attendance has been down since the pandemic started, and leaders often do not know if their monthly commitments will be covered in any given month, let alone decide if fundraising for a building campaign is a good idea. If we’re being honest here, we know the angel Gabriel isn’t going to descend in a cloud of glory and give you the church’s financial rundown for 2024, but we have the next best thing—data. Would [...]

By |March 8th, 2024|Tags: , |

5 Inspiring Church Design Trends For 2024

“Well, looks like we’re back in style!” Pastor Joel laughed as he looked at his 75-year-old church building in the middle of a quaint neighborhood. Huge, cathedral-like windows adorned the northern wall.  A wide-open sanctuary with a highly vaulted ceiling welcomed worshippers and provided space for remote workers. Some repairs were needed, but the congregation didn’t have the budget for full-scale renovations in their church building.  The previous generation couldn’t afford to hire a church construction company. “Turns out, if you just wait long enough, your outdated building might become fashionable again!” Joel isn’t passive or lazy.  He understands that [...]

By |March 6th, 2024|Tags: |

Cultivating Generosity: A Look at the 5 Types of Givers in the Church

Financially generous and sacrificial people can impact the world in significant ways.  Church construction projects that bless communities require financial backing. If you have a God-sized vision for your church – and your community – you will need to know how to encourage the entire congregation to take the next step in their giving journey. Some pastors shy away from discussing money.  This is understandable.  You don’t want people to think the church only cares about money, and you don’t want to be greedy.  However, you’ll have difficulty teaching people to follow Jesus without discussing money. Church thought leader Carey [...]

By |February 15th, 2024|Tags: , , |

4 Key Phases of a Capital Campaign Plan

The stakes are high with a capital campaign.  You put your heart on the line, asking people to follow and sacrificially commit to the vision for the future. This is no small ask.  If people get on board, they invest.  Financially.  Emotionally.  Spiritually.  And more. When done well, a capital campaign can bolster people’s faith, enhance their generosity, and establish a brighter future for the church. If a capital campaign is not done well, you may fail to achieve your goals, and people can feel let down, or misled by the leaders they trust. How can you lead a successful [...]

By |January 23rd, 2024|Tags: |

6 Steps to Maximize the Impact of Your Church Construction Process

Do you know how long it takes to become an expert in a given field?  Most researchers suggest you must invest no less than 10,000 hours of intentional practice to become an expert. For those leading their church through a church construction process, no one will blame you for not being an expert! But they might blame you for trying to be. You don’t have to make your own mistakes.  You can benefit from what others have already learned the hard way. If you’re considering taking on a church building project, your first decisions will determine the difficulty of your [...]

By |January 17th, 2024|Tags: |

Three Ways Capital Campaigns for Churches Can Maximize Your Impact

“Money is the root of all evil.” How many times have you heard people misquote this Bible verse?  Money is not evil, nor is it the root of all evil. Currency, in one form or another, is part of life’s equation.  Whether you trade time, talent, or treasure – everyone needs to purchase something from someone else at some point. Money is not evil.  “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” Engaging in capital campaigns for churches can significantly bless your ministry and community.  Not to take - but to empower people to give. Avoiding [...]

By |November 30th, 2023|Tags: |

Church Debt and Your Congregation: Stepping into an Inspiring Future

Something changed in the American psyche after 2008.  Not unlike what happened to the generation who survived The Great Depression. In the wake of 2008’s housing market crash, many people understandably became debt averse.  Helpful leaders in the financial sector coined catchy phrases and practices to guide people out of and away from debt. Dave Ramsey says, “Debt is dumb, cash is king, and the paid-off home mortgage has taken the place of the BMW as the status symbol of choice.” To help exert self-control, some people even put their credit cards in the freezer.  Symbolically, they “freeze” their excess [...]

By |November 22nd, 2023|Tags: |

Strategic Church Communication for Defining Moments of Your Church’s Life

There are times in life when you only get one shot.  How you approach these moments can build momentum and position you for success. But if you approach the opportunity flippantly, you may waste valuable resources, add frustration to your life, and create work that could have been avoided. Defining moments in your church’s life don’t come around often.  Momentum gets diluted if you aren’t deliberate in how you approach them.  Vision gets clouded. There is a better way forward.  Church communication matters.  Pastors – you can give your people the clarity they need to follow the direction you’re setting. [...]

By |November 9th, 2023|Tags: , |

Church First Impressions: 5 Simple, Useful Tips for Pastors to Create Lasting Guest Impact | Church Answers

15 minutes…. That’s all the time you have to make a solid first impression. Long before the pastor ever steps behind the pulpit, people have decided if they’ll be back. This is a generous amount of time compared to how quickly people decide about other aspects impacting your church. Of course, each of these snap judgments can be overcome.  But why start from a deficit?  What if you could make an excellent first impression – online, in the parking lot, from your greeters, with your interior design – that set you up for success? Church first impressions matter.  You may [...]

By |August 27th, 2023|

5 Construction Communication Mistakes Your Church Cannot Afford to Make

How do people know when it’s time for students to return to school? It’s hard to miss, isn’t it? Schools send out all kinds of communication.  Parents and legal guardians have their inboxes, mailboxes, and social media feeds flooded with information and invitations. Stores rearrange their displays so you’re tempted to buy #2 pencils whether you need them or not! If you live in America during the fall, it’s nearly impossible to miss the “back to school” season. This happens annually.  Intentionally.  For a targeted period of time. How effective would “back to school” sales be if they ran year-round?  [...]

By |August 23rd, 2023|
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