Search
About Us
Contact Us
855.204.2400
View Our Listings
Start the Process
Churches/Properties for Sale/Lease
Churches/Properties for Sale
Spaces for Lease
Schools for Sale/Lease
Land for Sale
Properties Sold
Sell My Property
10 Steps for Selling Your Church or Synagogue
Value My Property
Congregations We've Served
Resources
Property Management
Office Management
Forms & Docs
Articles
Directory of Suppliers
Resources
/
Articles
PraiseBuildings Articles
A library of useful articles on every topic impacting your PraiseBuilding.
Funding The Local Church
On April 9, 2013 in
Fundraising
by
Eighty percent of giving in evangelical churches comes from 20 percent of the people. The remaining 20 percent of giving is from another 30 percent of the people, leaving 50 percent not participating. Published national statistics by Barna, the Southern Baptist Convention, and others suggest that 80 percent of giving in evangelical churches comes from 20 percent of the people. The remaining 20 percent of giving is from another 30 percent of the people, leaving 50 percent not participating. The average amount contributed represents about 2.5 percent of the contributor`s gross income, rather than the basic tithe (10%). Historically, most churches have sought to stretch giving by increasing the budget or appealing through Faith Promise Missions—a single category of the overall ...
Read More »
Tagged With:
funding
,
giving
,
local church
Funding The Local Church: Borrowing For Building With Bonds
On April 9, 2013 in
Fundraising
by
(No church project I have been involved with has failed when the church followed my conservative guidelines.) Now state and federal regulations have added more registry controls that further safeguard the churches and the investors. Why do churches borrow with bonds for building? a. Long-term fixed interest rates are possible with bonds, while most banks offer variable or adjustable rates with balloon balances. The fixed interest rate removes the uncertainty of having to refinance at a higher rate of interest and additional fees when the balloon comes due. b. Bonds provide the opportunity for members to earn a higher return on their investments than banks pay on certificates of deposit. To the extent that bonds are purchased by the membership of the church, the interest is retained by the church members. c. A graduated payment schedule is an option. The loan payment can begin low and increase as church membership and giving increase. But the graduated payment schedule would pay all interest and principal within the specified period for loan maturity without a balloon. d. There is an open-ended deed of trust for future expansion loans. Unlike most conventional loans, if ...
Read More »
Tagged With:
bonds
,
borrowing
,
funding
,
local church
Funding The Local Church: The Debt-Free Debate
On April 9, 2013 in
Fundraising
by
The Continuing Debate I recently read the 1996 Moody Press book by Jeff Berg and Jim Burgess, with foreword by Larry Burkett, titled "The Debt-Free Church". The distinction is made in the text between “debt” as unsatisfied commitments and “borrowing” money from individuals or lending institutions. The comment is made that perhaps the book should have been titled “The Borrowing-Free Church,” placing the emphasis on the ills of ever borrowing money. The majority of the quotations in the book are from Larry Burkett`s writings or from retired architect Ray Bowman who wrote "When Not to Build". I disagree with both of these authors on this topic. After nearly 24 years of work as a conservative church development consultant, I do not believe their views on this issue represent an accurate interpretation of Scripture or a wise approach to ministry and facility development. I agree with Berg and Burgess that there have been many problems and failures in churches related to building program debts. But building a case on atypical extremes and abuses is wrong. Many churches have used borrowed funds wisely and have prospered. Borrowing churches are not necessarily ...
Read More »
Tagged With:
debt-free
,
local church
,
funding
,
praise buildings
Funding The Local Church: Liabilities Of Fund Raising
On April 9, 2013 in
Fundraising
by
As I awaited my opportunity to present church development at the church board meeting, the church treasurer presented the financial report. “Since announcing our building fund, we have accumulated $30,000 through designated giving—not nearly enough to launch our building program. However, our giving in the general fund and missions accounts is way down.” I have often heard similar comments in churches that have established a building fund, invited the people to contribute offerings to the fund, or engaged in fund raising for expansion. In many instances, giving has been designated to the building fund which previously had been directed to the general fund or missions. This practice may have minimal risks in a committed congregation of assimilated members who accept ownership of ministry and giving responsibilities. But there are many liabilities that must be considered in most churches characterized as 80/20 churches—80 percent of the giving and serving from 20 percent of the people (a national average in evangelical churches). What are the liabilities of fund raising to be avoided? a. The appeal is primarily to the existing contributors. The self-effort of ...
Read More »
Tagged With:
funding
,
fundraising
,
Liabilities
,
praise buildings
Search
Categories
General (15)
Building Features (15)
Fundraising (7)
Renovation (4)
Building Design (4)
New Construction (13)
Reuse of Existing (5)
Structural Elements (6)
Authors
Stephen Ferrandi (37)
Archives
2013
February (9)
April (60)
Tags
act
architects
building
buildings
buliding church
catholic
checklist
church
classroom
construction
contractor
debt-free
design
elements
energy
funding
fundraising
interior
Liabilities
local church
narthex
old church
praise
praise building
priasebuildings
questions
remodel
savings
square
synagogue
temple
walk through
worship
worship house
ACLJ
administrative
architect
architecture
architeect
assembly hall
babies
banquet
baptistry
before you build
big
bonds
borrowing
building
building campaign
buildings
catholic
chairs
checklist
children
church
church facility
Church Site Selection
classrooms
COLUMNS
comfort
committee
construction
contractors
CONTRACTS
day school
demographic guide
design
designated gifts
efficiency
elevator
entrance
fellowship
fellowship hall
finance
food
foyer
functions
funding
giving
gymnasium
hire
hiring
infants
kitchen
land buying
land use
landuse
light
lobby
local church
location
MASONRY
Master Planning
measure
mission
not to build
nursery
offices
parking
plan
planning
PLASTER AND WALLS
praise
praise building
praise buildings
praisebuilding
praisebuildings
preparation
progression
questions
Religious land use
relocate
renovating
restrooms
right property
ROOFING/CEILING
rules
safety
sanctuary
schedule
school
seat
seating
serve
Site Development Limitations
solutions
stackseating
subcontractors
tricks
vendors
vision
Walk through
WINDOWS AND DOORS
worship
worship center
zoning