Your Church Rep, LLC

Phasing

Dick White — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 02:13:18 +0000

Often times developing a phased church building program is over looked because it’s not always brought to the table as an alternative means to the desired end. Properly phased building programs that include creating the infrastructure required for subsequent building phases can be accomplished at a fraction of the cost of completing the whole facility up front.

What’s the biggest mistake churches make in planning a building program?

Dick White — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 02:13:00 +0000

The answer is simple, they hire an architect! The typical architect never bothers to help a church define its ministry mission or establish a building budget. They’re not equipped to do that. After all, their specialty is overdesign! The result…a set of plans that’s over budget. Get the help you need up-front with a church building consultant who has a track record of success.

Thinking of expanding your facility?

Dick White — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:53:03 +0000

If you’re thinking of facility expansion, here’s where you start.

Secure the services of a seasoned church building consultant. This person will save you much more money than his fee. You will have peace of mind throughout the process and someone to look out for your best interests.

Visit us at www.yourchurchrep.com.

To Pastors and Building Committee Chairmen,

Dick White — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 01:44:42 +0000

If you’ve seriously been considering a building program, you need to take a hard look at it now. Materials, Contractors, and Financing are costing less than they have in years. Connect with a church building expert who understands the business and can get the ball rolling. Visit us at www.yourchurchrep.com

Not all church building consultants are created equal.

Dick White — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:14:02 +0000

The industry is full of church building “consultants” who don’t know the difference between a bar joist and a roof jack. Hire a company like that and you might as well go to your accountant for your bypass surgery. Doesn’t the money God has entrusted to you require a special kind of watchfulness? If I’m a member of your church and have contributed to the building program, I expect professionalism and good stewardship in the way you handle my money. Don’t start with a church consultant, start with a church building consultant who’s been there and done that!

Should we hire a church building consultant or save the money?

Dick White — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:11:58 +0000

Any good church building consultant will save your church substantially more money than you’ll spend for his services. That’s only half the story, here’s the other half. Do you have the time or expertise to manage a construction project? Who’ll pick up the pieces when you’ve gone over budget? That’s why you need an experienced church building consultant who has an enviable track record as a general contractor, project manager and pastor.

Have you heard about Building for Ministry?

Dick White — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:19:04 +0000

Have you heard about Building for Ministry?

This is a book that Dr. Phil Roberts, President Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, calls an “essential read on everything you need to know about building a church.” He goes on to say “This volume is a must read for every pastor contemplating or in the middle of a building program.” The book can be ordered online at yourchurchrep.com.

Building Plans?

Dick White — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:28:01 +0000

Now is doubtlessly the best time for churches to move ahead with their building plans. There’s plenty of money, through specialized lenders, for churches to build. In addition to that, labor and materials are significantly lower than a year ago.

Do you have building plans? Do you want to move forward with your new building project? Are you nervous about the tough economic times?

Connect with YourChurchRep for counsel in how to get started.

Forming a Prayer Team

Dick White — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:41:06 +0000

I suggest that you organize a Prayer Team early in the process. Their sole function is to pray for the building program as a whole. No prayers for Aunt Susie or Sister Sue, just prayer for the building committee, the contractor, the sub-contractors, the municipality, etc.

We have recommended Prayer Teams to churches considering a building program for many years. The miracles that have resulted from the joint prayer effort have been truly amazing.

I have often told churches the story of a group of believers in Kingsville, Maryland, who had been meeting in a school for several years. They were at the point of looking for property on which to build and came across a prime parcel on US Highway Route 1. They prepared an offer, all they could afford, but substantially under the asking price. Upon receiving it, the owner said that he had received several offers on the property at the higher, asking price. However, subsequent on-site tests had indicated that the soil would not percolate, making it unsuitable for building purposes.

“Regardless”, the owner said, “if the church wanted to go to the expense of another percolation test and, if they could live with the results, he would accept their offer.”

Guess what happened… It perked! …God had intervened because He wanted a ministry there! Today a vibrant church is serving that community, in that location, because people had prayed.

How to Form a Church Finance Team

Dick White — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:21:06 +0000

The next team for the typical mid-to larger-sized church to consider is the Finance/Stewardship Team. This entity represents the “financial face” of the building project.

Some of the legitimate questions this team will seek to answer are:

“How much money will we need to generate?”

“Can we raise what we need?”

“What is the best way to raise money?”

“How long will it take?”

Composed of ministry-minded individuals, they should have the last word in recommending the answer to the question of “how to finance”. Whatever that choice might be … cash, traditional outside financing, bond issues or any combination of these methods… it should be presented to a congregation as the only viable option.