Creating a meaningful and memorable first impression is essential for welcoming guests to your church. In this engaging talk, you’ll learn six practical strategies to transform how first-time visitors experience your space. […]
Few things stretch an Executive Pastor like a building project—it’s exciting, exhausting, and full of surprises. ChurchWay Advisors founder Mike Kern will walk through the six phases of solving a space constraint […]
In church building projects, it’s easy to equate bigger spaces with greater impact—but that’s not always the case. This session explores how thoughtful planning and strategic budgeting can create more meaningful ministry spaces without unnecessary […]
A church building project is one of the biggest financial and ministry investments you’ll ever make—but one wrong move can send it […]
A church building project is one of the biggest financial and ministry investments you’ll ever make—but one wrong move can send it off the rails. Dave Milam, Chief Strategy Officer at […]
Come learn how strategic, people-first design can transform a church’s environment into a powerful tool for ministry. In this session, you will discover how intentional spaces improve guest experiences, empower connection, and […]
There’s a moment when band-aid solutions stop working—and bold leadership is required. In this practical, no-fluff webinar, we’ll unpack seven clear signs that it may be time to pull the trigger on a new building […]
These before and after shots tell the story. Churches with adequate facilities become beautiful and functional places for ministry.
Your congregation may be reporting some challenges, but what are the core problems that you need to identify? Bruce Woody brings years of experience in church architecture. This discussion will help you identify […]
Starting a new student ministry chapter can be both exciting and intimidating. Whether it’s a youth lobby, small group area, or large program room, creating a welcoming environment is essential to help new students feel […]
Here we go again, preaching about the significance of the ‘Gen Next,’ but ever notice how our students seem to get stuck with the short end of the stick? They’re often put in […]
Every year brings a parade of design trends that often create an avalanche of expenses. In case you missed Dave’s Breakfast season at the 2024 XPastor Seminar last month, he is going to […]
People want connection and fellowship at church. Great preaching and family ministries are a must as well—of course! Pivotal, though are spaces that foster community and engagement. Tune in to this webinar to […]
This is part two of our time with Matt Messier and Carlin Beekman. We had so much great material in part one, that we needed a follow-up. See this link for part […]
You can raise the visibility of your church with a campus improvement. Mike Gould, an XP at First Baptist Church of Frisco, did that in a series of campus changes. Those small steps […]
Multi-site church leaders nationwide are acquiring and launching campuses in record numbers. In this exclusive XPastor webinar, Dave will present five field-tested design strategies for overhauling and launching a new campus without going […]
Churches can feel stuck with their property. Real estate should not be the driving factor in your ministry. Ministry comes first and your property should fulfill your church vision. There are local and […]
Wasting money on spaces that really don’t matter is one of the most dangerous pitfalls that a church can fall into. The truth is, anyone can justify why they need room for a […]
When was the last time that you built or renovated your facility? For some it was last year, others 10 years and others … never. Let’s talk with a seasoned and award winning […]
Most projects start with a vision, idea, or dream and then quickly run into reality—specifically, the reality of, How are we going to pay for all of this? Join us as we sit down […]
From Introverts who actively dodge your overzealous door greeters to extroverts who are the overzealous door greeters, the needs of our communities are as diverse as the people who attend. Add to the […]
Our church was in the middle of planning for a sound system renovation for our worship center. Then came the live XPastor broadcast on Auditoriums Post-Covid: Big Ideas to Think Through When Designing Your Space. […]
Most projects start with a vision, idea, or dream and then quickly run into reality—specifically, the reality of, “How are we going to pay for all of this?” Join us as we sit down […]
For years you’ve imagined that irresistible coffee hot-spot on the corner of your property that lures the community to your campus and increases the bottom line. But, you’re not sure how to pull […]
What are the seven most common church designs mistakes? You know, the ones that create the biggest headache for church leaders. Dave Milam will explain a mistake, then watch Bob Bergmann fix it […]
There is the familiar story of the church that built a new building, only to discover on opening day that needed aspects were missing. Does a church ever have enough closets? Is the […]
When we design a church building, cultural factors heavily influence us. We add certain elements, such as a steeple, for cultural reasons. The size of the building is culturally-driven. The decision to install air conditioning […]
Most pastors have facility needs. Perhaps you’re bursting at the seams in your current building and need to get into a new building, or maybe you just need to revamp your office. The children’s ministry […]
Building healthy churches is certainly not the same thing as constructing buildings. Yet we all intuitively know that buildings and their interiors can and do contribute to the growth of many healthy churches if used wisely.
I’ve […]
Facilities are an enormous blessing and a simultaneous curse. Having an efficient facility takes careful thinking about traffic flow, space utilization and knowledge of what is cost effective. Brad Simmons has done some great thinking in […]
Here’s my challenge to all pastors: Go outside your church, stand at the curb and look at your facilities through the eyes of a person making a decision to come in and “check it out.” […]
Today “Church” comes in many different forms, sizes and ministry focuses. While everyone can agree that stewardship should be a guiding principle for committees making financial decisions, what does that mean practically? What should the […]
Do your church facilities seamlessly serve or are they simply frustrating? A well-run campus is a blessing to every church ministry. But building troubles strain our operations and our people. So how do we run […]
Is it possible to seek the Shalom—peace and prosperity—in the people with whom you are negotiating a lease and still achieve the results you need for your church or organization? That is the big question. […]
When I accepted the role of Executive Pastor at EvFree Fullerton two months ago, everybody forgot to tell me that I would be the staff contact on the Worship Center remodeling project. I started getting […]
I fly a lot. Living in Charlotte, North Carolina, I used to predominately fly USAir, as Charlotte is their primary hub. Most anywhere I want to go is a direct flight. They have a significant number of flights […]
How does the church fit into the restoration of compact, walkable, mixed-use communities? While large tract homes (sometimes unkindly called McMansions), big box stores, and seas of parking lots have defined the suburban ideal for […]
The following was a presentation made at a conference, explaining the process of moving into a newly-built church building. The PowerPoint is available at the bottom of this page, complete with photos and samples of […]
When you are interviewing potential Construction Managers for your church’s building project, what type of questions should you ask? What things should you ask them to discuss and describe? Below are some suggested questions, provided by […]
What is the architectural process, from start to finish, for planning a new church building? Below is insight and wisdom from John Jackson, an architect experienced in helping churches build, on the process of designing a […]
What are the steps in finding the right architect for your church’s building project? Below are words and suggestions from an experienced architect, sharing the steps and technical terms that you will encounter throughout the process.
You’ve interviewed architects and decided on the firm to design your new church building. How can you and your church leadership be a great client to the architect? The following are some words of wisdom […]
Bob Feitl was an Architect and a Project Manager before he became an Executive Pastor. When he attended the XP-Seminar, he would often lead workshops regarding how to have a successful building project at your church. […]
As Grace Covenant Church celebrated thirty years of ministry as a Bible church in Austin, Texas, we began to look forward to what the Lord had for us for the next thirty years. We needed to […]
David Fletcher developed this PDF for several workshops on Building the New Building. See also his article on The Spiritual DNA of Grace Covenant Church […]
Port City Community Church held its first service on October 24, 1999 in a rented auditorium at a middle school in Wilmington, North Carolina. However, the first service was not the actual beginning; Mike Ashcraft […]
XPastor tries to help churches by providing some of the essentials for running a church—items like job descriptions, employment applications, review forms and church policies. Below is an example of a Construction Manager at Risk Request […]
“Pitch 39 Boss Reverse Pass” was the play and as soon as Executive Pastor Bill Northrop saw the Pittsburgh Steelers run it in Super Bowl XL, he knew his life had just gotten much, much more complicated.
It […]
You have a good problem—your church attendance is growing and you’re busting at the seams. Having found a great location in the heart of your community, your church has purchased some nice land. Suddenly you’re […]
I was sitting in a meeting the other day, discussing the way the church uses its space, when someone boldly said: “We’ve built spaces for us and then gone out and tried to bring the […]
PBS has produced a series of videos entitled, “America’s Houses of Worship.” I saw it when they used it as one of those programs that they intermittently interrupt with an appeal for the viewer to […]
