By Doug Turner

Everyone knows that all foundations are not created equal. It might take considerably longer to lay a sound foundation; however, the lasting benefits far outweigh the additional time and inconvenience.

Jesus used the image of two men building a house — one on sand and one on rock — to illustrate the difference between building foolishly and building wisely. The point is clear: The distinction lies in a rock-solid foundation and having the wisdom to recognize the difference.

Assess need and create opportunity. If you’re building, there are obviously needs your current facilities aren’t able to meet. It’s important to carefully study the demands you have for space in light of your strategic plan for growth. Oftentimes, the new space will need to serve multiple purposes during the course of the week, which might create unique challenges and demands on both financial resources and space. A space-use study might be a helpful tool, especially if the space will serve multiple duties: church, school, youth groups, civic organizations, etc.

As you build, however, don’t be limited to a present evaluation of space limitations. Anticipate changing ministry opportunities in the future. If the demographics of your area are changing (i.e., a shift from a predominantly single neighborhood to one with young families), think ahead. Too many churches tend to build out of reaction to present circumstance and not enough consideration of the world they’ll be functioning in five years later.

Estimate the cost of building. Once you’ve determined the scope of the building project, an architect and engineer will be able to help you estimate the cost of construction. Costs vary widely depending on the type of facility. For example, worship space with audiovisual components will be different than a gym or classroom space.

There’s also considerable variance between regions of the country. It’s a good idea to work with at least two architects and engineers. We’ve found that even within the same city, construction costs can vary by 20 percent or more.

Blinded by the glare of a shimmering new building, operations costs are an obvious planning challenge that’s too often ignored. Once the building is built, you want to maximize the ministry effectiveness of this new tool. An understanding of the cost to maintain and operate the effectiveness of the facility from day to day is important to project.

In addition to utilities and general maintenance, consider the cost of the additional staff that will be needed to keep the facility clean and functioning. Sometimes a building project can save you money on annual operating expenses by installing more energy-efficient systems and materials. Historic churches find that it can be less expensive to engage a capital campaign and modernize the facility than to continue to pay high operations bills.

Estimate the cost of related expenses. There are several other costs to consider when pondering the financial picture of your new facility. Insurance will be needed to cover additional buildings on the site. While this might be an added expense, insurers often provide discounts for the installation of modern security systems. Your architect should be able to give you a cost schedule for the permits needed to build, which vary widely across the country. Zoning laws might require additional landscape, and the increased traffic to your church might require additional parking.

Analyze total cost against potential raised funds. Once you determine the size and scope of your ministry needs — and the facility required to support them — it’s time to consider your potential in a capital campaign and subsequent financing. An experienced church stewardship firm can help you analyze your campaign’s potential by considering factors such as the time since your last campaign, the strength of your strategic plan, the reception of the vision for growth among the congregants, and the potential for lead gifts.

Their expert involvement should take great strain off of the pastor, who often has no previous experience in capital campaigns. At RSI, we’ve also found that our involvement often results in a higher dollar amount raised in the campaign.

Using data from thousands of campaigns, our stewardship consultants have developed a tool called a Pledge Estimator™ that’s able to “guesstimate” pledges based on your church’s data. (Although this tool can help in the estimation process, it can’t begin to predict the number of lives changed or the indescribable scale of God’s blessings.) If the proposed project’s cost exceeds the potential funds committed, then options do exist. Phasing the building project can be a way to build a series of small successes that generate momentum and build towards the final success of the vision realized. Combining loans and a capital campaign is another way to bridge the gap. Many churches successfully create an endowment portion of their campaign to plan for the increased operating costs that might follow new construction.

While the vision for the building project is the most critical aspect of a successful campaign, securing a firm financial foundation is a critical component to achieving your ministry goals. The goal is to build a facility that will live and support your mission, not drain resources.

Ultimately, of course, the true test of a successful campaign is when you know you’ve chosen wisely and built on rock, not on sand.

Doug Turner is president of RSI Church Stewardship Group, fundraising specialists who have helped 5,200 churches raise more than $8 billion in the past 30 years. For more information, e-mail Turner at contactturner@viscern.com, or visit www.rsi.viscern.com.