Strategic Facility Planning

As we work in the church community, we encounter so many churches evaluating their long term facility needs who eventually look seriously at relocation. Facilities restrict churches from fulfilling their mission.

The common denominator in the churches that attempt to relocate and fail is the lack of formulating a workable relocation plan. Trying on your own efforts to complete a once in a lifetime event such as relocating a church can move a congregation forward, but many elements in their plan often have faulty information, thereby yielding a plan that is doomed to fail.

Faulty information generally relates to low estimate of construction costs on new facilities, calculating site improvement and design cost in the total budget, net proceeds from property sales, timetables, and/or low estimate of cost of land for a new campus. Credibility of leadership is destroyed when a poorly thought out relocation plan fails. The church that needs to relocate will be further weakened by a failed relocation plan. Before we begin work with a church on selling their facility or buying land, we know it is mandatory to see that a workable plan is prepared; otherwise, the banker is going to eventually be the bearer of bad news when the church wastes time on presenting a plan that will not work.

We formulate workable plans, when given the opportunity, and let the church continue their mission of spreading the gospel. Remember, facilities limit ministries.

Some of the questions to be addressed in formulating a workable plan are:

What is the Vision and Mission of our church?

What facility needs will be necessary to realize our church’s vision and mission?

What is our church’s long term plan (for the next thirty years) to meet our facility needs and realize our vision and mission?

What will it cost to meet our facility needs if our current facility is not adequate?

How will we pay for the acquisition or expansion of facilities?

Can we afford the cost of relocating?

What are our options if we cannot afford to relocate?

If your church is being limited by its facilities, give us a call for professional assistance in addressing these issues, and, if applicable, marketing your current facility and relocating your church. We will assist you in evaluating your options and developing a workable relocation plan.