Gather finances before building

Stay within your debt potential and keep your congregation informed.
   
That pronouncement was made by John MacLaren, director of Cooperative Program and stewardship development for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM), during the Jan. 28–29 church building conferences.
   
In his seminar on raising funds for church building projects, MacLaren encouraged church leaders to be financially prepared for any construction project and to communicate effectively with church members throughout the process.
   
“If we are open and honest with our people we can go a long way with them,” he said.
According to MacLaren, Alabama Baptist church leaders should choose the Challenge to Build or Forward in Faith fund-raising method to finance church building projects depending on their needs. Both programs, sponsored by the SBOM, have helped countless churches fund building projects of all sizes.
   
As a short-term capital funds program, Forward in Faith should be used only if the church’s financial need is less than one-third of its annual budget. Collected in a one-day offering, this method can be useful to churches seeking to purchase property, perform emergency church repairs, replace equipment or begin debt retirement plans.
   
As explained in an SBOM brochure, church leaders begin this fund raiser four to six weeks prior to the offering date by setting a capital fund goal and developing materials that will be posted throughout the church and mailed to members, including brochures, banners, offering envelopes and commitment cards. Letters are mailed to members, testimonies and sermons on giving are shared with the congregation and there will be Sunday School lessons on sacrifice.
   
On Forward in Faith Day after specific prayer time and a sermon on the joy of sacrifice, the offering is received. At the close of morning worship, a report is given on the amount received and committed to the church. Later, follow-up and acknowledgment letters are sent to members.
   
The other more commonly used option for fund raising sponsored by the SBOM is Challenge to Build. On average, churches using this method raise one to two times their nondesignated income from the prior year, although three times is not uncommon.
   
Many churches exceed their expectations through Challenge to Build, MacLaren said, remembering one church that raised five times its nondesignated income.
   
Unlike financial campaigns headed by commercial firms, the focus of Challenge to Build is on spiritual and financial growth in the church rather than profit, according to MacLaren. A brochure lists the following ministry principles for the program:
   
–Build upon the foundation of prayer, sacrifice and testimony.
  
–Challenge members to give over and above regular budget gifts.
   
–Follow the theme “not equal gifts, but equal sacrifice” so both large and small gifts are perceived as significant if sacrificial.
   
–Commitments should be made individually, usually in the privacy of the home. 
   
–Build giving decision into a meaningful spiritual experience.
   
–Use highly-trained consultants with a successful track record in fund raising and ministry in churches.
   
Once a church decides to initiate a Challenge to Build campaign, church leaders begin a 13-week preparation period.
   
The program peaks with commitment day where the congregation pledges their gift amount which will be collected throughout the next 156 weeks.
   
During the next three years, the church can begin building with confidence since the SBOM reports that churches usually receive between 92 and 115 percent of the committed amount.