H E L P I N G L E A D E R S B E C O M E B E T T E R S T E W A R D S

BUILDING amp CONSTRUCTION

Presented by Churches by Daniels Construction

CHURCH EXECUTIVE bull C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N2 churchexecutivecom

C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N bull CHURCH EXECUTIVE 3churchexecutivecom

Table of Contents

WHEN A CHURCH MOVES WILL ITS PEOPLE FOLLOW 4Churches relocate more than you think In fact your own church might be moving Or maybe yoursquore wondering how to relocate successfully sometime in the future

In either scenario yoursquoll face some primary challenges

bull Communicating the church move to your members and regular attendees (the congregation)

bull Communicating the church move to your neighbors (the community)

Thatrsquos why you need a communications strategy before you make the move

By Rachael D Rowland MPA

HOW TO AVOID COST OVERRUNS TRIED-AND-TRUE STRATEGIES 6Often when a church decides it wants to build the first step is to get a set of plans designed and then bid out with several contractors

Nearly every month we encounter churches where mdash after bidding the plans mdash the project is over budget and cannot be completed

Other church leaders tell us their buildings were built using this process hellip and yet they ended up spending a significant amount more than the contractorrsquos original bid

You might ask how this could happen The answer cost overrun

By Rodney James

NEW-BUILD RENOVATION HOW TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF PROJECT MAKES THE MOST SENSE FOR YOUR CHURCH 8Your church (and every church) needs a partner to design its facilities mdash one who understands your ministry Having the right team to first guide in an effective evaluation and then begin to create and design a facility that functions for your ministry helps your church be more effective

By Rodney James

ON TIME amp ON BUDGET TRIED-AND-TRUE STRATEGIES FOR MAKING IT A REALITY FOR YOUR NEXT CHURCH CONSTRUCTION PROJECT 10Over nearly 30 years in business mdash and with church builds from coast to coast mdash our team of construction experts has learned a thing or two about how to ensure projects are completed on time and within the financial parameters

In fact if you do it right (and efficiently count the costs) itrsquos absolutely possible to complete your project under budget mdash something that supposedly ldquojust never happensrdquo in the construction world

To make it happen there are five strategies you need to know

By Rodney James

CHURCH EXECUTIVE bull C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N4 churchexecutivecom

By Rachael D Rowland MPA

An effective pre-relocation communications strategy starts with a statement of purpose It doesnrsquot need to be very detailed it acts as a reference for what you hope to achieve and as a reminder of your commitment to the vision You should be able to communicate effectively with your congregation and community

Word of Life in Flowood MS mdash under the leadership of Pastor Joel Sims mdash made a concerted organized effort to get the congregation to move with them when they built their new campus in the suburb of Flowood 20 minutes away

Executive Pastor Ryan Lamberson says the move was 10 years in the making ldquoThe senior pastor at that time began the building project as the facility had been outgrownrdquo he recalls ldquoDuring this season the senior pastor went home to be with The Lord His son took over pastoring the church and wanted to fulfill the vision God had given his fatherrdquo

Although the new facility was state-of-the art and offered many new and exciting features it was on the other side of town As such the church wanted to prepare the congregation for the move so as not to lose members in the process

BUILDING amp CONSTRUCTION

Churches relocate more than you think

In fact your own church might be moving Or maybe yoursquore wondering how to relocate successfully sometime in the future

In either scenario yoursquoll face some primary challengesbull Communicating the church move to your members

and regular attendees (the congregation)

bull Communicating the church move to your neighbors (the community)

Thatrsquos why you need a communications strategy before you make the move

When a church

will its people

moves

follow

Word of Life (Flowood MS)

C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N bull CHURCH EXECUTIVE 5churchexecutivecom

Leaders implemented a five-step process1 Reach out early As Lamberson explains during the entire

building process pastoral staff reached out through card calls and in person to those who would be making the furthest drives to the new location The message they conveyed was clear Those individuals and their families were valuable appreciated and a huge part in the next step in the vision of the church

2 Communicate mdash consistently mdash the whole way ldquoWe kept the congregation informed every step of the wayrdquo Lamberson says ldquo[This gave] them ownershiprdquo

This was done by mailing vision letters as well as giving a short update at the weekend services regarding the progress being made

3 Connect members with the construction process At a World of Life onsite event held during construction everyone was fed Chick-Fil-A and introduced to the vision of the new church

ldquoDuring this event we connected [members] spiritually and emotionally by giving each person a Sharpie marker and asking them to write their names mdash and anything God put on their hearts mdash on the steel that was erectedrdquo Lamberson recalls

4 Enlist staff enthusiasm and support At the departmental level Word of Life engaged its staff to keep the vision strong and exciting for all its ldquodream teamrdquo members (read volunteers) This dream team was instrumental in getting the site staged for the churchrsquos grand opening

Staff members sent emails to volunteer teams and held team update meetings They also engaged volunteers to help plan the grand opening calling upon their unique experience in particular areas of ministry

5 Use the final few weeks in the existing facility wisely According to Lamberson possibly the most important commitment

driver mdash implemented a few weeks prior to the church moving into its new location mdash was hosting an additional worship service at the existing facility This provided additional buy-in from core attendees and members

ldquoWe were running out of room and everyone knew itrdquo Lamberson recalls So they asked each volunteer department leader commit to serve during two of the three service times Church leaders communicated that how needed these volunteer leaders were in reaching new people who were far from God

Additionally a church-wide campaign mdash called ldquoUniterdquo mdash asked everyone to commit to attending two services serving at two services or attending one and serving at one Cards were passed out to get commitments and the church gave out T-shirts as a thank-you to each person who made a commitment

Casting the visionThe Bible tells us in Habakkuk 22 ldquoAnd the LORD answered me lsquoWrite

the vision make it plain on tablets so he may run who reads itrsquordquo And in Proverbs 2918 ldquoWhere there is no vision the people perishrdquo As a church God gives the vision mdash but as church leaders itrsquos important

for us to project that vision before our congregations in as many ways as possible if we hope to get them connected and committed to where the church is going If members can catch the vision theyrsquoll move with you

Get creative Ask the Lord to give you ideas to help engage your members and excite them about the changes coming

For some change can be challenging Acknowledge this and help prepare members for change before it occurs

Rachael D Rowland MPA has a heart for churches and has been blessed to serve them through her roles as marketing director and now office manager for Churches by Daniels Construction wwwchurchesbydanielscom Located in Broken Arrow OK this construction company specializes in designing and building churches nationwide

CHURCH EXECUTIVE bull C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N2 churchexecutivecom

C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N bull CHURCH EXECUTIVE 3churchexecutivecom

Table of Contents

WHEN A CHURCH MOVES WILL ITS PEOPLE FOLLOW 4Churches relocate more than you think In fact your own church might be moving Or maybe yoursquore wondering how to relocate successfully sometime in the future

In either scenario yoursquoll face some primary challenges

bull Communicating the church move to your members and regular attendees (the congregation)

bull Communicating the church move to your neighbors (the community)

Thatrsquos why you need a communications strategy before you make the move

By Rachael D Rowland MPA

HOW TO AVOID COST OVERRUNS TRIED-AND-TRUE STRATEGIES 6Often when a church decides it wants to build the first step is to get a set of plans designed and then bid out with several contractors

Nearly every month we encounter churches where mdash after bidding the plans mdash the project is over budget and cannot be completed

Other church leaders tell us their buildings were built using this process hellip and yet they ended up spending a significant amount more than the contractorrsquos original bid

You might ask how this could happen The answer cost overrun

By Rodney James

NEW-BUILD RENOVATION HOW TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF PROJECT MAKES THE MOST SENSE FOR YOUR CHURCH 8Your church (and every church) needs a partner to design its facilities mdash one who understands your ministry Having the right team to first guide in an effective evaluation and then begin to create and design a facility that functions for your ministry helps your church be more effective

By Rodney James

ON TIME amp ON BUDGET TRIED-AND-TRUE STRATEGIES FOR MAKING IT A REALITY FOR YOUR NEXT CHURCH CONSTRUCTION PROJECT 10Over nearly 30 years in business mdash and with church builds from coast to coast mdash our team of construction experts has learned a thing or two about how to ensure projects are completed on time and within the financial parameters

In fact if you do it right (and efficiently count the costs) itrsquos absolutely possible to complete your project under budget mdash something that supposedly ldquojust never happensrdquo in the construction world

To make it happen there are five strategies you need to know

By Rodney James

CHURCH EXECUTIVE bull C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N4 churchexecutivecom

By Rachael D Rowland MPA

An effective pre-relocation communications strategy starts with a statement of purpose It doesnrsquot need to be very detailed it acts as a reference for what you hope to achieve and as a reminder of your commitment to the vision You should be able to communicate effectively with your congregation and community

Word of Life in Flowood MS mdash under the leadership of Pastor Joel Sims mdash made a concerted organized effort to get the congregation to move with them when they built their new campus in the suburb of Flowood 20 minutes away

Executive Pastor Ryan Lamberson says the move was 10 years in the making ldquoThe senior pastor at that time began the building project as the facility had been outgrownrdquo he recalls ldquoDuring this season the senior pastor went home to be with The Lord His son took over pastoring the church and wanted to fulfill the vision God had given his fatherrdquo

Although the new facility was state-of-the art and offered many new and exciting features it was on the other side of town As such the church wanted to prepare the congregation for the move so as not to lose members in the process

BUILDING amp CONSTRUCTION

Churches relocate more than you think

In fact your own church might be moving Or maybe yoursquore wondering how to relocate successfully sometime in the future

In either scenario yoursquoll face some primary challengesbull Communicating the church move to your members

and regular attendees (the congregation)

bull Communicating the church move to your neighbors (the community)

Thatrsquos why you need a communications strategy before you make the move

When a church

will its people

moves

follow

Word of Life (Flowood MS)

C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N bull CHURCH EXECUTIVE 5churchexecutivecom

Leaders implemented a five-step process1 Reach out early As Lamberson explains during the entire

building process pastoral staff reached out through card calls and in person to those who would be making the furthest drives to the new location The message they conveyed was clear Those individuals and their families were valuable appreciated and a huge part in the next step in the vision of the church

2 Communicate mdash consistently mdash the whole way ldquoWe kept the congregation informed every step of the wayrdquo Lamberson says ldquo[This gave] them ownershiprdquo

This was done by mailing vision letters as well as giving a short update at the weekend services regarding the progress being made

3 Connect members with the construction process At a World of Life onsite event held during construction everyone was fed Chick-Fil-A and introduced to the vision of the new church

ldquoDuring this event we connected [members] spiritually and emotionally by giving each person a Sharpie marker and asking them to write their names mdash and anything God put on their hearts mdash on the steel that was erectedrdquo Lamberson recalls

4 Enlist staff enthusiasm and support At the departmental level Word of Life engaged its staff to keep the vision strong and exciting for all its ldquodream teamrdquo members (read volunteers) This dream team was instrumental in getting the site staged for the churchrsquos grand opening

Staff members sent emails to volunteer teams and held team update meetings They also engaged volunteers to help plan the grand opening calling upon their unique experience in particular areas of ministry

5 Use the final few weeks in the existing facility wisely According to Lamberson possibly the most important commitment

driver mdash implemented a few weeks prior to the church moving into its new location mdash was hosting an additional worship service at the existing facility This provided additional buy-in from core attendees and members

ldquoWe were running out of room and everyone knew itrdquo Lamberson recalls So they asked each volunteer department leader commit to serve during two of the three service times Church leaders communicated that how needed these volunteer leaders were in reaching new people who were far from God

Additionally a church-wide campaign mdash called ldquoUniterdquo mdash asked everyone to commit to attending two services serving at two services or attending one and serving at one Cards were passed out to get commitments and the church gave out T-shirts as a thank-you to each person who made a commitment

Casting the visionThe Bible tells us in Habakkuk 22 ldquoAnd the LORD answered me lsquoWrite

the vision make it plain on tablets so he may run who reads itrsquordquo And in Proverbs 2918 ldquoWhere there is no vision the people perishrdquo As a church God gives the vision mdash but as church leaders itrsquos important

for us to project that vision before our congregations in as many ways as possible if we hope to get them connected and committed to where the church is going If members can catch the vision theyrsquoll move with you

Get creative Ask the Lord to give you ideas to help engage your members and excite them about the changes coming

For some change can be challenging Acknowledge this and help prepare members for change before it occurs

Rachael D Rowland MPA has a heart for churches and has been blessed to serve them through her roles as marketing director and now office manager for Churches by Daniels Construction wwwchurchesbydanielscom Located in Broken Arrow OK this construction company specializes in designing and building churches nationwide

C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N bull CHURCH EXECUTIVE 3churchexecutivecom

Table of Contents

WHEN A CHURCH MOVES WILL ITS PEOPLE FOLLOW 4Churches relocate more than you think In fact your own church might be moving Or maybe yoursquore wondering how to relocate successfully sometime in the future

In either scenario yoursquoll face some primary challenges

bull Communicating the church move to your members and regular attendees (the congregation)

bull Communicating the church move to your neighbors (the community)

Thatrsquos why you need a communications strategy before you make the move

By Rachael D Rowland MPA

HOW TO AVOID COST OVERRUNS TRIED-AND-TRUE STRATEGIES 6Often when a church decides it wants to build the first step is to get a set of plans designed and then bid out with several contractors

Nearly every month we encounter churches where mdash after bidding the plans mdash the project is over budget and cannot be completed

Other church leaders tell us their buildings were built using this process hellip and yet they ended up spending a significant amount more than the contractorrsquos original bid

You might ask how this could happen The answer cost overrun

By Rodney James

NEW-BUILD RENOVATION HOW TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF PROJECT MAKES THE MOST SENSE FOR YOUR CHURCH 8Your church (and every church) needs a partner to design its facilities mdash one who understands your ministry Having the right team to first guide in an effective evaluation and then begin to create and design a facility that functions for your ministry helps your church be more effective

By Rodney James

ON TIME amp ON BUDGET TRIED-AND-TRUE STRATEGIES FOR MAKING IT A REALITY FOR YOUR NEXT CHURCH CONSTRUCTION PROJECT 10Over nearly 30 years in business mdash and with church builds from coast to coast mdash our team of construction experts has learned a thing or two about how to ensure projects are completed on time and within the financial parameters

In fact if you do it right (and efficiently count the costs) itrsquos absolutely possible to complete your project under budget mdash something that supposedly ldquojust never happensrdquo in the construction world

To make it happen there are five strategies you need to know

By Rodney James

CHURCH EXECUTIVE bull C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N4 churchexecutivecom

By Rachael D Rowland MPA

An effective pre-relocation communications strategy starts with a statement of purpose It doesnrsquot need to be very detailed it acts as a reference for what you hope to achieve and as a reminder of your commitment to the vision You should be able to communicate effectively with your congregation and community

Word of Life in Flowood MS mdash under the leadership of Pastor Joel Sims mdash made a concerted organized effort to get the congregation to move with them when they built their new campus in the suburb of Flowood 20 minutes away

Executive Pastor Ryan Lamberson says the move was 10 years in the making ldquoThe senior pastor at that time began the building project as the facility had been outgrownrdquo he recalls ldquoDuring this season the senior pastor went home to be with The Lord His son took over pastoring the church and wanted to fulfill the vision God had given his fatherrdquo

Although the new facility was state-of-the art and offered many new and exciting features it was on the other side of town As such the church wanted to prepare the congregation for the move so as not to lose members in the process

BUILDING amp CONSTRUCTION

Churches relocate more than you think

In fact your own church might be moving Or maybe yoursquore wondering how to relocate successfully sometime in the future

In either scenario yoursquoll face some primary challengesbull Communicating the church move to your members

and regular attendees (the congregation)

bull Communicating the church move to your neighbors (the community)

Thatrsquos why you need a communications strategy before you make the move

When a church

will its people

moves

follow

Word of Life (Flowood MS)

C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N bull CHURCH EXECUTIVE 5churchexecutivecom

Leaders implemented a five-step process1 Reach out early As Lamberson explains during the entire

building process pastoral staff reached out through card calls and in person to those who would be making the furthest drives to the new location The message they conveyed was clear Those individuals and their families were valuable appreciated and a huge part in the next step in the vision of the church

2 Communicate mdash consistently mdash the whole way ldquoWe kept the congregation informed every step of the wayrdquo Lamberson says ldquo[This gave] them ownershiprdquo

This was done by mailing vision letters as well as giving a short update at the weekend services regarding the progress being made

3 Connect members with the construction process At a World of Life onsite event held during construction everyone was fed Chick-Fil-A and introduced to the vision of the new church

ldquoDuring this event we connected [members] spiritually and emotionally by giving each person a Sharpie marker and asking them to write their names mdash and anything God put on their hearts mdash on the steel that was erectedrdquo Lamberson recalls

4 Enlist staff enthusiasm and support At the departmental level Word of Life engaged its staff to keep the vision strong and exciting for all its ldquodream teamrdquo members (read volunteers) This dream team was instrumental in getting the site staged for the churchrsquos grand opening

Staff members sent emails to volunteer teams and held team update meetings They also engaged volunteers to help plan the grand opening calling upon their unique experience in particular areas of ministry

5 Use the final few weeks in the existing facility wisely According to Lamberson possibly the most important commitment

driver mdash implemented a few weeks prior to the church moving into its new location mdash was hosting an additional worship service at the existing facility This provided additional buy-in from core attendees and members

ldquoWe were running out of room and everyone knew itrdquo Lamberson recalls So they asked each volunteer department leader commit to serve during two of the three service times Church leaders communicated that how needed these volunteer leaders were in reaching new people who were far from God

Additionally a church-wide campaign mdash called ldquoUniterdquo mdash asked everyone to commit to attending two services serving at two services or attending one and serving at one Cards were passed out to get commitments and the church gave out T-shirts as a thank-you to each person who made a commitment

Casting the visionThe Bible tells us in Habakkuk 22 ldquoAnd the LORD answered me lsquoWrite

the vision make it plain on tablets so he may run who reads itrsquordquo And in Proverbs 2918 ldquoWhere there is no vision the people perishrdquo As a church God gives the vision mdash but as church leaders itrsquos important

for us to project that vision before our congregations in as many ways as possible if we hope to get them connected and committed to where the church is going If members can catch the vision theyrsquoll move with you

Get creative Ask the Lord to give you ideas to help engage your members and excite them about the changes coming

For some change can be challenging Acknowledge this and help prepare members for change before it occurs

Rachael D Rowland MPA has a heart for churches and has been blessed to serve them through her roles as marketing director and now office manager for Churches by Daniels Construction wwwchurchesbydanielscom Located in Broken Arrow OK this construction company specializes in designing and building churches nationwide

CHURCH EXECUTIVE bull C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N4 churchexecutivecom

By Rachael D Rowland MPA

An effective pre-relocation communications strategy starts with a statement of purpose It doesnrsquot need to be very detailed it acts as a reference for what you hope to achieve and as a reminder of your commitment to the vision You should be able to communicate effectively with your congregation and community

Word of Life in Flowood MS mdash under the leadership of Pastor Joel Sims mdash made a concerted organized effort to get the congregation to move with them when they built their new campus in the suburb of Flowood 20 minutes away

Executive Pastor Ryan Lamberson says the move was 10 years in the making ldquoThe senior pastor at that time began the building project as the facility had been outgrownrdquo he recalls ldquoDuring this season the senior pastor went home to be with The Lord His son took over pastoring the church and wanted to fulfill the vision God had given his fatherrdquo

Although the new facility was state-of-the art and offered many new and exciting features it was on the other side of town As such the church wanted to prepare the congregation for the move so as not to lose members in the process

BUILDING amp CONSTRUCTION

Churches relocate more than you think

In fact your own church might be moving Or maybe yoursquore wondering how to relocate successfully sometime in the future

In either scenario yoursquoll face some primary challengesbull Communicating the church move to your members

and regular attendees (the congregation)

bull Communicating the church move to your neighbors (the community)

Thatrsquos why you need a communications strategy before you make the move

When a church

will its people

moves

follow

Word of Life (Flowood MS)

C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N bull CHURCH EXECUTIVE 5churchexecutivecom

Leaders implemented a five-step process1 Reach out early As Lamberson explains during the entire

building process pastoral staff reached out through card calls and in person to those who would be making the furthest drives to the new location The message they conveyed was clear Those individuals and their families were valuable appreciated and a huge part in the next step in the vision of the church

2 Communicate mdash consistently mdash the whole way ldquoWe kept the congregation informed every step of the wayrdquo Lamberson says ldquo[This gave] them ownershiprdquo

This was done by mailing vision letters as well as giving a short update at the weekend services regarding the progress being made

3 Connect members with the construction process At a World of Life onsite event held during construction everyone was fed Chick-Fil-A and introduced to the vision of the new church

ldquoDuring this event we connected [members] spiritually and emotionally by giving each person a Sharpie marker and asking them to write their names mdash and anything God put on their hearts mdash on the steel that was erectedrdquo Lamberson recalls

4 Enlist staff enthusiasm and support At the departmental level Word of Life engaged its staff to keep the vision strong and exciting for all its ldquodream teamrdquo members (read volunteers) This dream team was instrumental in getting the site staged for the churchrsquos grand opening

Staff members sent emails to volunteer teams and held team update meetings They also engaged volunteers to help plan the grand opening calling upon their unique experience in particular areas of ministry

5 Use the final few weeks in the existing facility wisely According to Lamberson possibly the most important commitment

driver mdash implemented a few weeks prior to the church moving into its new location mdash was hosting an additional worship service at the existing facility This provided additional buy-in from core attendees and members

ldquoWe were running out of room and everyone knew itrdquo Lamberson recalls So they asked each volunteer department leader commit to serve during two of the three service times Church leaders communicated that how needed these volunteer leaders were in reaching new people who were far from God

Additionally a church-wide campaign mdash called ldquoUniterdquo mdash asked everyone to commit to attending two services serving at two services or attending one and serving at one Cards were passed out to get commitments and the church gave out T-shirts as a thank-you to each person who made a commitment

Casting the visionThe Bible tells us in Habakkuk 22 ldquoAnd the LORD answered me lsquoWrite

the vision make it plain on tablets so he may run who reads itrsquordquo And in Proverbs 2918 ldquoWhere there is no vision the people perishrdquo As a church God gives the vision mdash but as church leaders itrsquos important

for us to project that vision before our congregations in as many ways as possible if we hope to get them connected and committed to where the church is going If members can catch the vision theyrsquoll move with you

Get creative Ask the Lord to give you ideas to help engage your members and excite them about the changes coming

For some change can be challenging Acknowledge this and help prepare members for change before it occurs

Rachael D Rowland MPA has a heart for churches and has been blessed to serve them through her roles as marketing director and now office manager for Churches by Daniels Construction wwwchurchesbydanielscom Located in Broken Arrow OK this construction company specializes in designing and building churches nationwide

C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N bull CHURCH EXECUTIVE 5churchexecutivecom

Leaders implemented a five-step process1 Reach out early As Lamberson explains during the entire

building process pastoral staff reached out through card calls and in person to those who would be making the furthest drives to the new location The message they conveyed was clear Those individuals and their families were valuable appreciated and a huge part in the next step in the vision of the church

2 Communicate mdash consistently mdash the whole way ldquoWe kept the congregation informed every step of the wayrdquo Lamberson says ldquo[This gave] them ownershiprdquo

This was done by mailing vision letters as well as giving a short update at the weekend services regarding the progress being made

3 Connect members with the construction process At a World of Life onsite event held during construction everyone was fed Chick-Fil-A and introduced to the vision of the new church

ldquoDuring this event we connected [members] spiritually and emotionally by giving each person a Sharpie marker and asking them to write their names mdash and anything God put on their hearts mdash on the steel that was erectedrdquo Lamberson recalls

4 Enlist staff enthusiasm and support At the departmental level Word of Life engaged its staff to keep the vision strong and exciting for all its ldquodream teamrdquo members (read volunteers) This dream team was instrumental in getting the site staged for the churchrsquos grand opening

Staff members sent emails to volunteer teams and held team update meetings They also engaged volunteers to help plan the grand opening calling upon their unique experience in particular areas of ministry

5 Use the final few weeks in the existing facility wisely According to Lamberson possibly the most important commitment

driver mdash implemented a few weeks prior to the church moving into its new location mdash was hosting an additional worship service at the existing facility This provided additional buy-in from core attendees and members

ldquoWe were running out of room and everyone knew itrdquo Lamberson recalls So they asked each volunteer department leader commit to serve during two of the three service times Church leaders communicated that how needed these volunteer leaders were in reaching new people who were far from God

Additionally a church-wide campaign mdash called ldquoUniterdquo mdash asked everyone to commit to attending two services serving at two services or attending one and serving at one Cards were passed out to get commitments and the church gave out T-shirts as a thank-you to each person who made a commitment

Casting the visionThe Bible tells us in Habakkuk 22 ldquoAnd the LORD answered me lsquoWrite

the vision make it plain on tablets so he may run who reads itrsquordquo And in Proverbs 2918 ldquoWhere there is no vision the people perishrdquo As a church God gives the vision mdash but as church leaders itrsquos important

for us to project that vision before our congregations in as many ways as possible if we hope to get them connected and committed to where the church is going If members can catch the vision theyrsquoll move with you

Get creative Ask the Lord to give you ideas to help engage your members and excite them about the changes coming

For some change can be challenging Acknowledge this and help prepare members for change before it occurs

Rachael D Rowland MPA has a heart for churches and has been blessed to serve them through her roles as marketing director and now office manager for Churches by Daniels Construction wwwchurchesbydanielscom Located in Broken Arrow OK this construction company specializes in designing and building churches nationwide

CHURCH EXECUTIVE bull C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N6 churchexecutivecom

Also known as a cost increase or budget overrun cost overrun involves unexpected costs incurred due to an underestimation of the actual cost during design undiscovered due diligence items outside the designerrsquos scope missed details in the plans that are discovered in bidding or construction or simply poor execution of project management tasks

To avoid these pitfalls we recommend the design-build construction delivery method For the most cost-effective results the owner should negotiate directly with the design-build firm first to establish an overall project budget For the best possible results it is absolutely essential that a thorough evaluation of the design-build company being considered is completed prior to any other discussion Choosing the right team can help you reduce common missteps that lead to cost overruns and help avoid barriers to timely decision-making

Additionally there are several strategies to help avoid cost overruns

Start with accurate pricing Itrsquos important to begin with a budget and accurately estimate the entire

project cost during designEstimates are a common reason for cost overruns When the bids for

subcontractors or the actual costs come in they are often higher than anticipated this is why you need accurate costs for the work during design This can only be accomplished by a company who actually does the construction and knows the costs rather than simply budgeting with square foot or estimated pricing

TRIED-AND-TRUESTRATEGIES

How to avoid cost overruns

Often when a church decides it wants to build the first step is to get a set of plans designed and then bid out with several contractors Nearly every month we encounter churches where mdash after bidding the plans mdash the project is over budget and cannot be completed

Other church leaders tell us their buildings were built using this process hellip and yet they ended up spending a significant amount more than the contractorrsquos original bid

You might ask how this could happen The answer cost overrun

By Rodney James

C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N bull CHURCH EXECUTIVE 7churchexecutivecom

Development-associated costs to considerSight costs mdash Do you know the requirements to prepare your land for

construction Often restrictions are not determined during the design phase of the facility For example the City could require you to put in a stop light a turn lane or extensive storm water management All can add unexpected drain on time and money The right design-build firm can help uncover more of these unexpected costs earlier in the process helping to eliminate budget surprises

Scope changes mdash Changes in the scope of work within a project frequently cause cost overruns These changes result when owners introduce new requirements too late in design or even after construction begins They can also arise from unknown problems discovered during construction

Change orders always result in higher final project cost and are common in the construction industry Here again the right design-build firm should manage the design process and structure its fee so there is no incentive for change orders to occur

Value engineering mdash The maximum financial benefit of value engineering is the result of constant communication between contractor subcontractors and architect during the planning phase At this time changes or adjustments can be made without incurring any additional costs

There is a unique level of expertise specifically needed for church design and construction If an architect and or builder are unfamiliar

with specific church requirements and opportunities to save in designing and building a church facility the result will be a higher overall cost

Not all design-build is created equalTypically the problem with conventional design-bid arises when the

owner selects the lowest-priced architect who supplies the lowest-quality set of drawings which is subsequently given to a general contractor to bid The general contractor then awards the contract to the lowest bidder resulting in the work being done by the lowest-priced subcontractor for each trade In theory the owner expects the highest-quality job for the lowest possible price mdash but this never happens

To deliver a high-quality product for the best possible price requires a single source of responsibility one that combines the architect and builder into one entity This allows the builder to assign actual costs to each part of the building throughout the design process It also gives the owner a more accurate ldquopicturerdquo of project costing

In this approach the design is driven by the budget mdash not just the dream

Rodney James is Director of Business and Finance for Churches by Daniels Construction wwwchurchesbydanielscom Located in Broken Arrow OK this construction company specializes in designing and building churches nationwide

The maximum financial benefit of value engineering is the result of constant communication between contractor subcontractors and architect during the planning phase

CHURCH EXECUTIVE bull C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N8 churchexecutivecom

New-buildHow to know what kind of project makes the most sense for your church

By Rodney James

When it comes to church design culture is a rarely evaluated mdash but critical mdash element

Some would argue we shouldnrsquot evaluate the churchrsquos ministries Even if a church doesnrsquot invite critique it takes place every Sunday on an informal level We know guests make a decision about a church within the first seven minutes of arriving on the campus

Knowing this your church (and every church) needs a partner to design its facilities mdash one who understands your ministry Having the right team to first guide in an effective evaluation and then begin to create and design a facility that functions for your ministry helps your church be more effective

Many churches have built new facilities without carefully thinking through the purpose of each building and the needs of the ministries that will be housed within Naturally the main purpose of each building should be to advance the kingdom of God mdash but this wonrsquot happen automatically Often new buildings are constructed when existing facilities could possibly be repurposed and renewed to meet the same needs

Case in point While assisting a church in a recent evaluation the scope of the project dramatically changed from building a new 60000-square-foot building into renovating 50000 square feet of existing facility and building only 35000 square feet of new construction The end result was a $48-million savings and a much more functional facility

You start your churchrsquos evaluation by defining your ministries and then fitting your ministries into your facilities so that each building is assured of being used to its maximum potential There must be clear objectives and goals Make sure each objective is in line with the others driving the project forward

Here are several items to include and considerbull Where and when the church startedbull Average weekly attendancebull Annual givingbull The churchrsquos vision for its future with projected growthbull Existing and new ministry opportunitiesbull Timeline and process of how to facilitate ministry and growthbull Proper space requirements to meet ministry needs

The point is this the ministry must drive the project When people see your churchrsquos vision mdash and know the purpose behind what yoursquore doing mdash yoursquoll be able to garner the greatest financial support and church member buy-in People want to invest in Kingdom work not just buildings When they see how their giving is advancing the Kingdom not just facilitating a building project they are moved to give not motivated by a campaign

Choose your building partner wiselyAnother item to consider during your evaluation is a good building

C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N bull CHURCH EXECUTIVE 9churchexecutivecom

partner Every pastor needs someone who can come alongside him or her the staff and or building team to educate and lead them toward wise informed decisions Every church needs a partner who will be honest about the realities of what the church can and canrsquot do and what it can and canrsquot afford This same partner must be able to walk with the church in faith for what might seem like an impossible goal That is the kind of partner every church needs

The partner your church chooses can make the difference in the success of your project Itrsquos important to partner with a team that has been in the ministry and understands design and ministry function from the churchrsquos point of view

Your building partner should do its own evaluation and understand your churchrsquos and ministryrsquos culture The right partner will ask questions about who you are as a church how you do ministry and what your mission is in the Kingdom before asking you what you want to build or how much you want to spend

When your vision and missions are molded into the design plans and phases of a project yoursquore building with a purpose mdash and will end up with a project that advances your ministry into the future

Rodney James is Director of Business and Finance for Churches by Daniels Construction [ wwwchurchesbydanielscom ] Located in Broken Arrow OK this construction company specializes in designing and building churches nationwide

Renovation

C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N bull CHURCH EXECUTIVE 7churchexecutivecom

Development-associated costs to considerSight costs mdash Do you know the requirements to prepare your land for

construction Often restrictions are not determined during the design phase of the facility For example the City could require you to put in a stop light a turn lane or extensive storm water management All can add unexpected drain on time and money The right design-build firm can help uncover more of these unexpected costs earlier in the process helping to eliminate budget surprises

Scope changes mdash Changes in the scope of work within a project frequently cause cost overruns These changes result when owners introduce new requirements too late in design or even after construction begins They can also arise from unknown problems discovered during construction

Change orders always result in higher final project cost and are common in the construction industry Here again the right design-build firm should manage the design process and structure its fee so there is no incentive for change orders to occur

Value engineering mdash The maximum financial benefit of value engineering is the result of constant communication between contractor subcontractors and architect during the planning phase At this time changes or adjustments can be made without incurring any additional costs

There is a unique level of expertise specifically needed for church design and construction If an architect and or builder are unfamiliar

with specific church requirements and opportunities to save in designing and building a church facility the result will be a higher overall cost

Not all design-build is created equalTypically the problem with conventional design-bid arises when the

owner selects the lowest-priced architect who supplies the lowest-quality set of drawings which is subsequently given to a general contractor to bid The general contractor then awards the contract to the lowest bidder resulting in the work being done by the lowest-priced subcontractor for each trade In theory the owner expects the highest-quality job for the lowest possible price mdash but this never happens

To deliver a high-quality product for the best possible price requires a single source of responsibility one that combines the architect and builder into one entity This allows the builder to assign actual costs to each part of the building throughout the design process It also gives the owner a more accurate ldquopicturerdquo of project costing

In this approach the design is driven by the budget mdash not just the dream

Rodney James is Director of Business and Finance for Churches by Daniels Construction wwwchurchesbydanielscom Located in Broken Arrow OK this construction company specializes in designing and building churches nationwide

The maximum financial benefit of value engineering is the result of constant communication between contractor subcontractors and architect during the planning phase

CHURCH EXECUTIVE bull C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N8 churchexecutivecom

New-buildHow to know what kind of project makes the most sense for your church

By Rodney James

When it comes to church design culture is a rarely evaluated mdash but critical mdash element

Some would argue we shouldnrsquot evaluate the churchrsquos ministries Even if a church doesnrsquot invite critique it takes place every Sunday on an informal level We know guests make a decision about a church within the first seven minutes of arriving on the campus

Knowing this your church (and every church) needs a partner to design its facilities mdash one who understands your ministry Having the right team to first guide in an effective evaluation and then begin to create and design a facility that functions for your ministry helps your church be more effective

Many churches have built new facilities without carefully thinking through the purpose of each building and the needs of the ministries that will be housed within Naturally the main purpose of each building should be to advance the kingdom of God mdash but this wonrsquot happen automatically Often new buildings are constructed when existing facilities could possibly be repurposed and renewed to meet the same needs

Case in point While assisting a church in a recent evaluation the scope of the project dramatically changed from building a new 60000-square-foot building into renovating 50000 square feet of existing facility and building only 35000 square feet of new construction The end result was a $48-million savings and a much more functional facility

You start your churchrsquos evaluation by defining your ministries and then fitting your ministries into your facilities so that each building is assured of being used to its maximum potential There must be clear objectives and goals Make sure each objective is in line with the others driving the project forward

Here are several items to include and considerbull Where and when the church startedbull Average weekly attendancebull Annual givingbull The churchrsquos vision for its future with projected growthbull Existing and new ministry opportunitiesbull Timeline and process of how to facilitate ministry and growthbull Proper space requirements to meet ministry needs

The point is this the ministry must drive the project When people see your churchrsquos vision mdash and know the purpose behind what yoursquore doing mdash yoursquoll be able to garner the greatest financial support and church member buy-in People want to invest in Kingdom work not just buildings When they see how their giving is advancing the Kingdom not just facilitating a building project they are moved to give not motivated by a campaign

Choose your building partner wiselyAnother item to consider during your evaluation is a good building

C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N bull CHURCH EXECUTIVE 9churchexecutivecom

partner Every pastor needs someone who can come alongside him or her the staff and or building team to educate and lead them toward wise informed decisions Every church needs a partner who will be honest about the realities of what the church can and canrsquot do and what it can and canrsquot afford This same partner must be able to walk with the church in faith for what might seem like an impossible goal That is the kind of partner every church needs

The partner your church chooses can make the difference in the success of your project Itrsquos important to partner with a team that has been in the ministry and understands design and ministry function from the churchrsquos point of view

Your building partner should do its own evaluation and understand your churchrsquos and ministryrsquos culture The right partner will ask questions about who you are as a church how you do ministry and what your mission is in the Kingdom before asking you what you want to build or how much you want to spend

When your vision and missions are molded into the design plans and phases of a project yoursquore building with a purpose mdash and will end up with a project that advances your ministry into the future

Rodney James is Director of Business and Finance for Churches by Daniels Construction [ wwwchurchesbydanielscom ] Located in Broken Arrow OK this construction company specializes in designing and building churches nationwide

Renovation

CHURCH EXECUTIVE bull C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N8 churchexecutivecom

New-buildHow to know what kind of project makes the most sense for your church

By Rodney James

When it comes to church design culture is a rarely evaluated mdash but critical mdash element

Some would argue we shouldnrsquot evaluate the churchrsquos ministries Even if a church doesnrsquot invite critique it takes place every Sunday on an informal level We know guests make a decision about a church within the first seven minutes of arriving on the campus

Knowing this your church (and every church) needs a partner to design its facilities mdash one who understands your ministry Having the right team to first guide in an effective evaluation and then begin to create and design a facility that functions for your ministry helps your church be more effective

Many churches have built new facilities without carefully thinking through the purpose of each building and the needs of the ministries that will be housed within Naturally the main purpose of each building should be to advance the kingdom of God mdash but this wonrsquot happen automatically Often new buildings are constructed when existing facilities could possibly be repurposed and renewed to meet the same needs

Case in point While assisting a church in a recent evaluation the scope of the project dramatically changed from building a new 60000-square-foot building into renovating 50000 square feet of existing facility and building only 35000 square feet of new construction The end result was a $48-million savings and a much more functional facility

You start your churchrsquos evaluation by defining your ministries and then fitting your ministries into your facilities so that each building is assured of being used to its maximum potential There must be clear objectives and goals Make sure each objective is in line with the others driving the project forward

Here are several items to include and considerbull Where and when the church startedbull Average weekly attendancebull Annual givingbull The churchrsquos vision for its future with projected growthbull Existing and new ministry opportunitiesbull Timeline and process of how to facilitate ministry and growthbull Proper space requirements to meet ministry needs

The point is this the ministry must drive the project When people see your churchrsquos vision mdash and know the purpose behind what yoursquore doing mdash yoursquoll be able to garner the greatest financial support and church member buy-in People want to invest in Kingdom work not just buildings When they see how their giving is advancing the Kingdom not just facilitating a building project they are moved to give not motivated by a campaign

Choose your building partner wiselyAnother item to consider during your evaluation is a good building

C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N bull CHURCH EXECUTIVE 9churchexecutivecom

partner Every pastor needs someone who can come alongside him or her the staff and or building team to educate and lead them toward wise informed decisions Every church needs a partner who will be honest about the realities of what the church can and canrsquot do and what it can and canrsquot afford This same partner must be able to walk with the church in faith for what might seem like an impossible goal That is the kind of partner every church needs

The partner your church chooses can make the difference in the success of your project Itrsquos important to partner with a team that has been in the ministry and understands design and ministry function from the churchrsquos point of view

Your building partner should do its own evaluation and understand your churchrsquos and ministryrsquos culture The right partner will ask questions about who you are as a church how you do ministry and what your mission is in the Kingdom before asking you what you want to build or how much you want to spend

When your vision and missions are molded into the design plans and phases of a project yoursquore building with a purpose mdash and will end up with a project that advances your ministry into the future

Rodney James is Director of Business and Finance for Churches by Daniels Construction [ wwwchurchesbydanielscom ] Located in Broken Arrow OK this construction company specializes in designing and building churches nationwide

Renovation

C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N bull CHURCH EXECUTIVE 9churchexecutivecom

partner Every pastor needs someone who can come alongside him or her the staff and or building team to educate and lead them toward wise informed decisions Every church needs a partner who will be honest about the realities of what the church can and canrsquot do and what it can and canrsquot afford This same partner must be able to walk with the church in faith for what might seem like an impossible goal That is the kind of partner every church needs

The partner your church chooses can make the difference in the success of your project Itrsquos important to partner with a team that has been in the ministry and understands design and ministry function from the churchrsquos point of view

Your building partner should do its own evaluation and understand your churchrsquos and ministryrsquos culture The right partner will ask questions about who you are as a church how you do ministry and what your mission is in the Kingdom before asking you what you want to build or how much you want to spend

When your vision and missions are molded into the design plans and phases of a project yoursquore building with a purpose mdash and will end up with a project that advances your ministry into the future

Rodney James is Director of Business and Finance for Churches by Daniels Construction [ wwwchurchesbydanielscom ] Located in Broken Arrow OK this construction company specializes in designing and building churches nationwide

Renovation

CHURCH EXECUTIVE bull C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N10 churchexecutivecom

Tried-and-true strategies for making it a reality for your next church construction project

By Rodney James

Over nearly 30 years in business mdash and with church builds from coast to coast mdash our team of construction experts has learned a thing or two about how to ensure projects are completed on time and within the financial parameters

In fact if you do it right (and efficiently count the costs) itrsquos absolutely possible to complete your project under budget mdash something that supposedly ldquojust never happensrdquo in the construction world

To make it happen there are five strategies you need to know

1 Understand the entire process of project due diligence After defining the vision mdash and before you begin to think about the details of the building itself mdash consider the impacts Some people call this ldquodoing your due diligencerdquo on the property

Translation If yoursquore doing new construction you must first determine if the site is fully developed

One client in Alabama learned this lesson the hard way Unexpectedly the church had to incorporate utilities under a four-lane highway and run them quite a long distance to the property This came with a $200000 price tag Obviously this cost was immediately taken out of the overall budget which affected the end result

The church demanded an explanation from the architect but he couldnrsquot help No architect will question the potential difficulties of bringing in the utilities itrsquos just not within their scope

2 Get your priorities straight mdash right from the start A wise church once asked ldquoDo we determine what we want and then figure out how much it will cost Or do we figure out how much we have to spend and then decide what we can afford to buildrdquo

Most churches answer this question backwards they start with what they want to do and then figure out what itrsquos going to cost

The vast majority of the time (82 percent) projects that begin without a budget never get completed

So do the budget first before you begin that first phase of due diligence You can expect the due diligence to have associated costs which must come right out of the budget before you pay for even one square foot of the new building

3 Before proceeding Check twice and complete all due diligence Due diligence gathers data which warrants the allocation of associated costs Only after yoursquove taken the time to complete all due diligence mdash and accurately apply cost projections mdash can you know how much is left for the design and construction of your building

Due diligence takes some time but itrsquos an investment that will prevent a lot of heartache (or even disaster) in the future

C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N bull CHURCH EXECUTIVE 11churchexecutivecom

4 Design your building within budget parameters Designing a building has several phases starting with the concept or schematic design During this phase you should have great input on what you desire in your building Your design team should have an intimate understanding of your ministry To this end they should first ask how you do ministry not what you want in your building

While design is often fluid and changes many times these changes should be held to an absolute minimum once this phase is complete Changing features after you start the next phase of the design process costs money

5 Get accurate pricing prior to the design This is big The biggest in fact You absolutely must make sure cost estimate are done frequently and are detailed during design

You also need to determine project costs not building costs Ascertaining basic square footage estimates of what you think itrsquos going to cost is a dangerous game You need someone who truly understands what the real costs of construction will be

Rodney James served as executive pastor then senior pastor at Sequoyah Hills Baptist Church in Tulsa OK for 20 years In that time he led and completed multiple building and renovation projects In 2012 James joined Churches by Daniels Inc in Broken Arrow OK [wwwchurchesbydanielscom] as director of business and finance The company specializes in designing and building churches nationwide

The Kirk Crossing Community Church project (Jenks OK) spans nearly 35000 square feet and includes a 510-seat worship area a main gathering area with a cafe and a separate childrenrsquos worship area nursery and class-rooms for 3- 4- and 5-year-olds The childrenrsquos worship area seats 100

C H U R C H FA C I L I T I E S B U I L D I N G A N D C O N S T R U C T I O N bull CHURCH EXECUTIVE 11churchexecutivecom

4 Design your building within budget parameters Designing a building has several phases starting with the concept or schematic design During this phase you should have great input on what you desire in your building Your design team should have an intimate understanding of your ministry To this end they should first ask how you do ministry not what you want in your building

While design is often fluid and changes many times these changes should be held to an absolute minimum once this phase is complete Changing features after you start the next phase of the design process costs money

5 Get accurate pricing prior to the design This is big The biggest in fact You absolutely must make sure cost estimate are done frequently and are detailed during design

You also need to determine project costs not building costs Ascertaining basic square footage estimates of what you think itrsquos going to cost is a dangerous game You need someone who truly understands what the real costs of construction will be

Rodney James served as executive pastor then senior pastor at Sequoyah Hills Baptist Church in Tulsa OK for 20 years In that time he led and completed multiple building and renovation projects In 2012 James joined Churches by Daniels Inc in Broken Arrow OK [wwwchurchesbydanielscom] as director of business and finance The company specializes in designing and building churches nationwide

The Kirk Crossing Community Church project (Jenks OK) spans nearly 35000 square feet and includes a 510-seat worship area a main gathering area with a cafe and a separate childrenrsquos worship area nursery and class-rooms for 3- 4- and 5-year-olds The childrenrsquos worship area seats 100