Tag Archive - Church Construction
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Can Walmart Be A Worship Experience?

April 12, 2011 in Uncategorized with 7 Comments

God is in the redemption business, and business is good.  Very soon Athens Church will have their grand opening in a building formerly known as Wal-Mart. 

A little over a year ago Sean Seay and the team at Athens Church (A Strategic partner of North Point Community Church with Video teaching from Andy Stanley) decided to redeem this building by remodeling 47,000 square feet of prime real estate to impact their city for Jesus.   In less than 6 months it’s already beginning to feel like redemption.  What do you think?

  

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE “BEFORE AND DURING SHOTS”


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3 Things To Know About Church Construction Budgets

April 7, 2011 in Leadership, Uncategorized with 1 Comment

One of the first things we accomplish when we take on a new client is to nail down just how much the church can afford.  Understanding Affordability is the Critical Success Factor in any church construction project.  One of the biggest communication miss-steps is when the church says they have $3,000,000 to spend and then they begin to design a $3,000,000 building. 

DOWNLOAD THIS FIRST  New Construction Sample Budget

Today I’m going to walk you through 3 budgets you need to be concerned with during construction

  1. Construction Budget – Just like it sounds the construction budget is everything involved in the physical construction of the building.  That sounds simple and it can be.  If you’ve ever heard the phrase “good fences make good neighbors” you get the sense of how important it is to determine exactly what the builder is planning to be responsible for.  Because if they aren’t responsible for it guess what….you are.  You need to ask a million questions and make sure that both you, and the builder understand who is responsible for what items.  When they reply, if you have gaps in your understanding, ask another question.  (For more on this technique talk to a 7 year old girl and try to explain to her why she can watch Hanna Montana like everyone else, when she starts asking questions you’ll get a good feel for how you should be with your builder)

 CLARITY = GREAT RELATIONSHIP

  1. Soft Cost Budget – The Soft Cost Budget is everything related to the project that isn’t covered under the Construction Budget.  Things Audio, Visual, Lighting, Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment.  Permits, preparing the site may or may not be covered in the construction cost.   You can see from the included picture that there are quite a few items that fall into this category.  Usually between 25% and 40% of the cost is related to the Soft Cost Budget.    That means in a $3,000,000 budget $750,000 to $1,200,000 will be Soft Costs. 

 Can you see why it’s important to make sure you let the budget drive the project? 

  1. Total Construction Budget – When a church tells me they have $3,000,000 for construction, this is usually the number they’re talking about.  Most churches think in “soup to nuts” terms when it comes to money.  Like I wrote at the top, it is incredibly important to determine just what the Total Construction Budget is as early in the process as possible so it can be used to make every decision that adds or takes away cost from the project. 

 I like to manage these three budgets as independent parts of the whole.  When a church decides to add $50,000 to their audio budget I want them to have to make a decision about where it comes from in another part of the budget.  Does it come out of the furniture budget or are we giving up square footage for it?  This is exactly how we manage our personal budgets right?  We don’t spend money and then go and ask to have our budget increased.  We try to get as much as we can for what we have.

If you have any questions about putting your budget together shoot me an email at rwchancy@cogun.com.  I’d love to help!

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7 Ways Smart Churches Are Using Social Media

April 6, 2011 in Leadership, Uncategorized with 4 Comments

What is your church doing to leverage Social Media?  Here are just a few things to think about as you move into the age of technological evangelism.

  1. Podcasts – If you don’t do anything else here, do this!  Podcasts are too easy for people to share with their friends.
  2. Blogging – Here’s how Athens Church (A North Point Strategic Partner) is using their blog to keep their congregation up to date on our renovation project.  Click Here and make sure you scroll down to see the pics.  Feel free to vote for the T-Shirt as well.  
  3. Vlogging – (Video Blogging) If people see that you’re a real person they’re more likely to connect with you.  Click Here to see my latest. 
  4. Twitter – 7% of Americans are on Twitter (the real influencers like you and I).   This is an easy way for you to add value to people every day.  If you do it well people will feel more connected to you.   FYI –Tweet stuff that matters. 
  5. Facebook – 42.3% of Americans are on Facebook.   4 OUT OF 10 PEOPLE YOU ARE TRYING TO REACH ARE ON FACEBOOK.    Somebody needs to be on this at your church.   Click Here to like my Facebook Fan Page.  (Keep in mind I have acceptance issues if you decide not to “like” me) 
  6. Youtube – My church (North Point Community Church) does this well.  Click Here to see what I’m talking about.   See how easy that is to share?
  7. Be Human – Our biggest challenge in reaching the “lost” is to stop thinking of them as lost people and start thinking of them as “my neighbor Todd”.   Using technology to bridge the gap between the people who love Jesus and “Todd” is THE most effective use of social media.

 

How is your church using social media to reach people?   Even if you never comment on blogs, don’t be stingy with your ideas.  Share the love Man!!!  If you’d rather send an email and have me post it, you can get me at rwchancy@cogun.com

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Andy Stanley On Confession

April 5, 2011 in Leadership, Uncategorized with 2 Comments

 These are my notes from 3.27.11 at North Point Community Church.  Andy Stanley and Jeff Henderson are in 6 part series call Life Apps.  With so much pressure against us is so easy to fail morally.  Confession is the key to prevention.  So here are my notes.

James 1:22 (NIV)

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.  Application is everything.  Listening is nothing.  Doing is everything.

 Life app 1 is forgiveness

Forgiven people forgive people.  who can hold us accountable

 Life app 2 is Confession

In every religious system there is some sort of ploy where we try to outsmart God.  But trying to outsmart God IS A SIN.

 Somewhere along the way we began to believe that confession was about relieving our guilt.  Emptying out sin bucket.  Genuine confession serves as a first step towards repentance and reconciliation.  Change is the ultimate goal of confession.

 Genuine confession leads to genuine change.  Confessing our sin to God is almost always attached to confessing our sin to those we’ve offended and to those who can hold us accountable.

 Numbers 5:6-7 (NIV)

“Say to the Israelites: `When a man or woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the Lord, that person is guilty [7] and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged.

In the Old Testament confession was attached to restitution

 Luke 19:8-9 (NIV)

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” [9] Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.”

Genuine confession leads to genuine change.

 James 5:16 (NIV)

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

 Genuine confession leads to genuine change.  Let the light of God’s truth shine in.  Secrets are like splinters, the longer it’s in there the more it hurts.  The best thing to do is get it out.  If you have a secret sin an you’re in the habit of saying to God I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry, there is a word for that.  Hypocrite.  If you have a routine worked out with God and you continue to sin confess sin confess YOU ARE A HYPOCRITE.

 Genuine confession leads to genuine change.

 If you think “I got a thing worked out but I’m not going to change.  I’m not ready to change.”  ATLEAST PRAY HONEST PRAYERS

Pray honestly and tell God you’re going to keep on doing what you’re doing.  Be honest without yourself and be honest with God.  Admitting things to God that he already knows is worthless.  Just tell him you aren’t willing to quit.

 If You’re Ready

 If you are ready you just tell the person you’ve hurt, and maybe someone you know who can help you defeat it the sin and hold you accountable.

There are sin habits you can’t break by telling God about it.  The genuine change comes when you open you’re soul and confess.

 We fear the consequences of confession more than we fear the consequences of concealment.

 Ultimately the consequences of concealment are far worse than the consequence of confession.

 At the end of the day Genuine confession leads to genuine change.

 What do you need to tell and who do you need to tell it to?

Click Here to Download the message from Andy Stanley on Confession.  Or click play below to listen to it here.

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The Boy Who Went To Heaven

March 29, 2011 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

This is worth 6 minutes.

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Personal Board Of Directors

March 23, 2011 in Uncategorized with 3 Comments

I meeting with my Personal Board Of Directors this morning and thought I let you take a look into how I plan to engage these guys, who are my closets friends and most trusted advisors.  I’ve got to brag on them a bit

Brian Cole – Catalyst Conference – Handles all things production for the conferences

Brad Scholle – Orange Conference Operations guru – Husband to the Amazing Jenn from Atlanta Mission.  (no shame promoting that orginization)

Reggie Goodin – CFO of Rethink and the Orange Confernce founded by Reggie Joiner

Mark Cole – Business Manager for The John C. Maxwell Company and Dr. Les Parrott (You gotta check his video channel on marriage relationships when you’re done here)

Yes I’m bragging.  I’m incredibly blessed to have this group of guys keeping me straight.  I grew up in a small town and for much of my early years I was the “slow kid”  now I’m the slow adult and God’s over compensating for me.

Here is my outline for my Personal Board meeting:

Life – Intimacy With God

  • 9.5% Body Fat  – See Appendix A
  • Connect Daily with the trinity

 

Family – Live Love

  • 6 Life Memories in 2011 – See Appendix B

 

Marriage – Deep Emotional Connection

  • 4 Overnight Dates With Kristy – 1 Completed (Cruise in June)
  • 20 Dates – 4 Completed – need focus here

 

Work – Worship

  • Make a significant investment in 12 churches – See Appendix C
  • Write and Publish “Church Construction Quick Start Guide” – See Appendix D

 

Church – Serving

  • Missional Community Weekends 1 down 2 to go
  • High school Boys Small Group Leader – Begin May 1

 

Finance

  • Goal of Giving 10% this year net income – Currently Up to date.  Wrote a 950 check last night
  • Save 10% – Lord Help me
  • Live on the rest

 

Opportunities

  • Rest where I am while looking for ways I can be used

 

Threats

  • Investing in churches unwilling to move

 

Appendix A

Body Fat Plan

  • Paleo Diet for 30 Days
  • Assessment at the end of 30 Days and then every 30 days until goal is reached
  • Join Bodyplex with Todd before April 15th
  • Write down everything
  • Update my wardrobe as a reward
  • Date is Jun Goal e 30th

 

Appendix B

6 Life Memories

  • March 11th Miss Com
  • Project x
  • DC trip with Jordan in the summer
  • Camping trip

 

Appendix C

12 Churches

  1. LFBC – In Process
  2. Crosspoint – In Process
  3. BMBC – On Hold
  4. FSDA – In process
  5. AC – In Process
  6. HBC  – In Process
  7. Tulsa Matt – To re-engage
  8. SBC – Meeting Today
  9. TBD
  10. TBD
  11. TBD
  12. TBD

 

Appendix D

Quick Start Guide Schedule

  • Outline with sub-headings completed by April 15th
  • Blog each Title and subtitles
  • Publish by June 30th
  • Blog and Social Media Shock and Awe campaign beginning August 15th

To some of you this probably seems like overkill, and it may in fact be.  But I’ve walked with these guys for 8 years and much of what I am today I give them alot of credit for.   God moves me through them.

Who is moving you?

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Church Construction – 1 Great Question Before You Start

March 10, 2011 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

This week I had someone ask me a great question.  ”How has the change in the economy changed the way a church prepares for construction?”

Obviously the preparation you need to do to borrow money has been stepped up and there are far more church construction “experts” now than any other time in history, so you have to do your homework on potential partners.  Instead of me sharing all my ideas though,  I want to hear what you have to say about how you might prepare you church if you were about to build.

So what do you think?  Here are some topics to get you started but feel free to go outside the boundaries:  

  • Funding
  • Capital Campaigns
  • Inflation
  • Vision Casting
  • Community Impact

I’m looking forward to seeing your comments.

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TOP 10 REASONS TO RE-PURPOSE BUILDINGS FOR MINISTRY

February 25, 2011 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

Guest Blog – Bill Couchenour

More and more churches are finding that purchasing and repurposing existing buildings can be an effective way for developing the right ministry space. We asked the Cogun Project Consultants that are working directly with churches about what is driving this trend. Here are their Top Ten reasons why re-purposing buildings for ministry can be a good idea:

1. UNUSUAL MARKET CONDITIONS - More suitable buildings are empty and open in many areas. Commercial property is at unprecedented low prices.

2. DEVELOPED SITE – The parking lot, site lighting, and other site work is usually in place, so site approvals are usually significantly shorter. Site development fees are also minimal or non-existent.

3. TAX BENEFITS FOR SELLER - Many sellers can sell to churches cheaper since they may qualify for a tax break (discounted sale to non-profit).

4. REDEMPTION METAPHOR - “Redeeming” a decaying building is a powerful image to the community. The story of redemption can be told in renovation … renovation is restoration.

5. ADDITIONAL FUNDING POTENTIAL - Because renovation may be less costly than new construction, it has potential to allow more funds for Audio/Visual elements, thematic design, added staff, etc.

6. SPEED TO MINISTRY – Design and construction timelines are typically shorter giving more opportunity for ministry in the new facility.

7. LOCAL FAVOR - Local government agencies want to see these empty eyesores filled and are generally favorable to re-purposing existing buildings in the community.

8. FAMILIARITY – People in the area know about the building because it’s a recognizable location.

9. IT’S GREEN – Re-purposing existing buildings already have a footprint developed so there’s minimal added environmental impact.

10. CONTEXTUAL – Moving to an existing building potentially serves a population that otherwise would not have access to your ministry. It engages people where they are and in their context.

Before you go, check out our renovation progress on Athens Church (A North Point Community Church Strategic Partner)

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Creative Church Funding

February 24, 2011 in Uncategorized with 1 Comment

This is one of the many creative ideas that Athens Church is using to create emotional buy-in from their church for their renovation project. Raising money can be more about life change and trusting God than church buildings… if you do it right.

Click Here Check out the details of the Athens Church project.

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Chopping Down Trees and Building The Church

February 23, 2011 in Uncategorized with 4 Comments

This past weekend I did two things for the first time.  I cut down an enormous tree in my yard, and I went to a local church for the first time.  Here is what learned from both.

The reason I had to cut the tree down wasn’t because of the tree itself, but the box elder bugs that like to have romantic interludes on it.  That’s right, the box elder tree is apparently the Poconos of the flora family and business is very good!  The exterminator said “you can’t get rid of the bugs if you don’t get rid of the tree”.  So in the name of Dave Ramsey, I decided to cut down the tree myself and save the $300 bucks.  So this little bug caused me to have a major job on my hands.

The church I visited yesterday has been on my mind for almost a year.  Long ago I drove by and felt God telling me to stop in and help them.  I stop by alot of churches with my job, so that isn’t unusual.  The prompting of the Holy Spirit IS ALWAYS unusual to me though.

So I connected with them and found out they are searching for a new pastor. Yesterday, on my first visit,  their youth pastor announced he will also be leaving.  After the sermon, I had a chance to speak to a couple of the key people on the search team and I could sense the emotion.  A very real frustration and hurt compounded by an up hill battle ahead of them.  There is a general sense of question about the future and the vision for this church.

So as stood beneath the tree that afternoon,  I had this church on my mind.   I was impressed about how much bigger it looked underneath it that it does from a distance.  You don’t really appreciate the power God placed in something as simple as a tree until there’s a real chance it could fall on you.  You’ll notice my emotion on the video.

So here is what I learned.  Trees, and life’s challenges, always look bigger when you stand beneath them.  So don’t stand under there by yourself.  Find someone who can help you take a look at the situation from a distance.  Get perspective, do your best, then stand back and watch God work.

What’s the tree your standing under right now?  Who will you talk with today about it?

Have an incredible day!

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