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...
Responding to popular demand, CFX will again be offering special masterclass sessions in the areas of Audio, Video, Security, and Leadership. These sessions take place on October 21, the day before the expo and general sessions, and require separate registration. The...
Hello, I’m Gene Lass, Editor-in-Chief of Security Connections. To better serve your informational needs we’re looking for input on the topics most important to you and your church.Please take a minute or so to complete the...
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...
The insurance industry has experienced many challenges over the past few years that may be impacting the cost of insurance or even the ability to maintain insurance coverage for houses of worship. With this three-part series, we’ll explore those factors, including...
Unless you have unlimited church resources, you’ll need to stretch your church communication budget to get as much done for a small amount of expenditure. Certainly, at times during the year, you’ll have to stretch every communication dollar. There’s so much to do,...
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...
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...
An inspection process helps ensure policies and procedures are followed, and when it’s not, variances in practice are reported to management for correction.
A key leadership aspect that can greatly impact a ministry is finding a niche - a discovered thought area where you can flourish and become an expert. This focus is more effective than it is to know “a little something” about everything. People pursue experts. Every...
As a ministry leader, your church facility is more than just a place of worship on Sundays. It should be a vibrant hub that serves the community seven days a week. Transforming your church into a 7-day a week destination is not only a great vision but also a mission...
If you have read my blogs for just about any time at all, you know that I am a big Seth Godin fan. A few years ago he posted a blog entitled "Cheap Shower Curtains" that really caught my attention. Here is an excerpt: The unskilled cost accountant might suggest you...