ChurchDevelopmentServices

Do you ... ... know the cost? ... understand the relationship of space to function? ... understand the financial boundaries within which to operate? ... know the impact your project is going to create and the corresponding cost? ... know how design can impact cost, both good and bad? ... know where the money is going to come from and how it is to be repaid? ... know all the code/zoning requirements and how that impacts your project? Our 30+ years of experience has taught us i

Ask and Answer These Questions: 1. Do you need to build, and if so, why? 2. What do you need to build, and why? 3. What will your property support? 4. What can you afford to build and how will you pay for it? 5. When will you be able to build? 6. What are the next steps?

In our 30 years of experience, we have found that many church plans designed and “sealed” by a licensed architect never get built. Each year, millions of dollars are wasted on church plans which end up in a closet and are never constructed. Why? [endif]--A proper needs assessment or development process specific to churches is not followed. Not enough attention was paid to cost and financial ability during the visioning phase. There is conflict on project cost estimates betwe

Each church is unique in its ministry, and this uniqueness needs to be supported by the structure in which it functions. The space that your church occupies must reflect and support the programs, ministry, worship style, and culture of your church. Unlike other commercial buildings, many of the design goals of the building are spiritual rather than tactical, and this is just one of the many ways in which church design is different. We understand this, and even embrace it – it

[1] Hire an independent firm to review church finances before your architect draws anything. Why? Because a high percentage of sealed drawings are never built when the church discovers it cannot afford to build. [2] Hire an architect who will work on a price-per-square-foot basis. [3] Hire an experienced church building company -- not just a company that has built a church or two. [4] The open book construction management method normally provides the lowest total cost and

Church Development Services is sending out kudos to Builders Bloc Contracting Services. The brand new slab has been poured at St. Francis' Episcopal Church in Eureka, MO thanks to a very long day of work and determination. Both CDS and St. Francis' Episcopal Church truly appreciate the extra effort and attention to detail Builders Bloc continues to put forth!

As a follow-up to last week's blog post about rebuilding after a fire, we would like to share an informative article from St. Paul's local newspaper ... The Tribune-Review. Click here to read the article.

We see clearly in scripture that Moses was a strategic thinker—or at least he learned to be. Moses was struggling as a leader soon after he led the nation of Israel out of Egypt. His father-in-law, Jethro, came to see him after hearing the incredible things God had been doing. Jethro observed that Moses was overwhelmed with the burdens of leadership, and shared with him a God-given plan—a strategy—for dealing with the issue. Jethro taught Moses how to set up a strategic pl

Destroyed by fire on Friday, September 19, 2014, St. Paul Baptist Church in Oakmont, PA will rise again! Bidding is complete, and mobilization has begun on site. We are happy to report that sitework will begin any day now.

The book of Proverbs has a number of clear, practical principles regarding strategy and planning. Proverbs 14:15: "A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps." Proverbs 15:22: "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." Proverbs 16:3: "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." Proverbs 16:9: "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 20:18: "Make plans