Recently on a podcast I was asked what to look for in a church. A great question, one I've subconsciously felt for years but never consciously thought about. I responded with a contrast. Instead of looking for a church that focuses on temporal internal needs, look for...
This year's Church Facilities Expo draws to a close today in Chattanooga, TN, but if you can make it in, you should. Conference sessions covering a wide variety of topics in the areas of Leadership, Tech Arts, Security, Facility Management, and Church Building will be...
Today is the first full day of Church Facilities Expo 2024 in Chattanooga, TN. Attendees can register on-site from 7:00 - 3:00. Attendees can register for just the Expo, or for any of the 4 conferences. Anyone registering for a conference will also gain admission to...
Does your church have enough facility staff? That is a loaded question. Based on our decades of experience working with thousands of churches, I can answer: No. With few exceptions, when we share the ideal staffing levels for church facility general maintenance, we...
As summer winds down, a new school year approaches, and people settle back into their routines, it’s time to re-engage with your congregation and revitalize the energy in your church. This transitional period offers a unique opportunity for pastors and church teams to...
This year, the Church Facilities Conference and Expo, held in Chattanooga, TN October 21-23, will consist of four separate conferences at one location, with attendees of each conference having access to the Expo, with more than 160 exhibitors. The Facility Stewardship...
While church and parochial school playgrounds are a huge asset to a congregation, they can also be a liability. According to Children’s Safety Network, every year, emergency rooms see more than 200,000 children who were injured as the result of a playground accident....
Imagine being a child experiencing sexual abuse by someone from your church. Maybe even while you are at church. You’ve told people in your own, scared way, what is happening to you. No one seems to understand. Maybe it’s something they can’t bring themselves to think...
Churches these days represent a lot more than just providing a brick-and-mortar venue where people come together to worship. Today, churches are communities. Yes, today parishioners don’t just arrive at church, attend service and go home. They visit the social hall...
If you have noticed your worship facility’s insurance premiums rising recently, you’re not alone—across the insurance industry, premiums and deductibles have increased considerably. This article, the third in a three-part series on factors impacting insurance, focuses...
In periods of high inflation, we all feel the financial pinch. The climbing cost of goods and services affects everything from food and fuel to airfare and insurance premiums. In this second part of our series on the factors impacting your worship facility’s...
By Eric Spacek Few situations can cause more upheaval for a worship community than when a child comes forward with allegations of sexual abuse against a staff member, volunteer, or another child in the congregation. After all, while people are attending your services...
The term Executive Pastor is not to be found in the Bible...at least from what I can find. So, what are they, who are they, what do they do? I talked to Dr. John C. Mrazek who is an XP, but also a consultant to churches who may need some assistance in this area. ...
You know how we all have that one friend who's always ready for anything? The one with an umbrella when the rain begins to fall, or a spare charger when your phone is ready to die? Well, being prepared for all kinds of potential trouble at church is kind of like being...
Looking for ways to help things run smoothly in your ministry? Project management may help
Seriously, stop. If you are not seeking and following energy saving guidelines, you are spending money you do not have to. Money spent on facilities, when not necessary, take away dollars available for your ministerial mission. The logical response to this opening is...
At Easter, or during any overwhelming church season, a church communicator (or Pastor) needs to be mindful of burnout self-care. Here are some self-care strategies so you can protect yourself from burnout: Prepare with Adequate Expectations: Church communicators often...
While the idea of budgeting and advance planning may not be the most exciting thing on a church tech’s to-do list, it can definitely be one of the most impactful. Not all churches’ fiscal year aligns with the calendar year, but for those that do, this is the ideal...
Welcoming first-time guests to your church, and encouraging them to return, involves thoughtful planning and intentional actions. Here are seven practical steps to help ensure that first-time guests become long-term members of your church community: 1. Warm and...
Churches are largely supported financially by the members that belong to their communities, and the money members can give — whether it’s put in a collection basket at service or deducted automatically from a checking account — is contingent on a lot of factors. That...
Has your church ever thought of starting a school? I have worked with dozens of churches that at some point thought they would best serve their local community by starting a school...usually in their existing church facilities. While this can be exciting, there are...