Is your Facility Limiting your Ministry Growth & Impact?
Learn from the Experts!
Discover how to unlock the potential of your campus, foster growth, and create a safe environment that inspires and nurtures!
Design & Construction
Planning a building project can be a challenging prospect for any organization today, much less a church or Christian school. Inflation and supply chain disruptions have contributed to an already fragmented construction process in which 78% of commercial projects finish over budget, 30% end in legal dispute and the average project finishes 70 days late. These sessions will uncover innovative strategies focused on delivering the highest level of stewardship, God-honoring relationships and intentional ministry focus.
A Radically Unique Approach
Learn about a unique approach to design & construction, developed exclusively for ministry organizations. Beginning with a highly collaborative and cost-effective 3-day conceptual design exercise and continuing through construction drawings and project completion, learn how this stewardship-based approach can significantly reduce both upfront building costs and long term maintenance and operation expenses.
Key Design Trends & Considerations
Learn about some key shifts that have taken place in recent years with church and Christian school design, including innovations in building systems and materials, as well as growing trends to address rising costs, such as adaptive re-use, flexible / multi-use strategies, integration of financially sustainable models and more.
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Don MahoneyPrincipal Architect / President
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Building God's WayDon MahoneyPrincipal Architect / President
Building God's WayDon has one of the most extensive backgrounds in worship and performing arts architecture in the U.S. He has designed prominent facilities all across the country throughout his 42-year career and has been recognized with a number of awards for innovative and creative church design, including multiple WFX Solomon Awards for Best Church Architect, Best Church Design, Best Special Project and Best Digital Church. Don is also a recipient of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund Arts & Architecture Award for Best Liturgical Design.
Don specializes in helping ministries cast their vision during the very earliest stages of the project through creative master planning and preliminary design concepts. He has always emphasized the importance of maintaining a solid design approach in all budget environments by taking advantage of the free tools of architecture such as scale, proportion, texture, color, and form. Don earned his Master’s Degree in Architecture from the University of Utah in 1982 and formerly served as President of the American Institute of Architects for the State of Utah.
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Gary VargasThe Collage Companies
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Lake Mary, FloridaGary VargasThe Collage Companies
Lake Mary, FloridaGary leads the church building and community projects divisions for the Collage Companies, which includes company efforts with many philanthropic partners and clients. In over twenty five years in the construction business, Gary has completed a wide range of commercial projects, helping clients plan, build, manage, or close-out their projects successfully. Working in both the private and public sector, Gary has provided program management, pre-construction, construction, and asset management expertise and he is committed to being a relentless ally to those he is entrusted to build or plan for.
“We are building spaces that deliver on our commitment to strengthen the foundation and fabric of the community. The opportunity to construct places of worship and facilities for non-profits is such a gratifying way to apply my experience in a way that can truly make a difference in the world”.
Funding
Regardless of your ministry size and scope, there is almost always a gap between your resources and your God-inspired vision. With so many options available for capital fundraising and financing, it can be difficult to know which direction is best to accomplish your goal. These sessions will give you the tools to better evaluate the wide range of lenders and capital campaign consultants in the market place today.
Accelerating Generosity to Fund Your God-Inspired Vision
There is nothing that moves a church forward in faith more effectively than going before God, both collectively & individually, and trusting Him in bold faith through extravagant generosity. Learn strategies for closing the gap between resources and vision by creating a sustainable culture of generosity that can fund your vision for years to come. Discover a holistic strategy that is discipleship driven, biblically rooted and promotes mission alignment.
Understanding Your Financing Options
Evaluating all the available borrowing options, from traditional bank loans and bond financing to non-profit church extension funds and more, can be overwhelming for any ministry leader. Whether you’re building a new facility, renovating an existing one, or simply looking to refinance your current loan, learn how an experienced Christian funding consultant can help you evaluate the myriad of borrowing options.
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Chris StovallSenior Generosity Strategist
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GenerisChris StovallSenior Generosity Strategist
GenerisChris Stovall has over 30 years of church leadership and ministry experience. During that time, he has served in almost every capacity on a church staff including 15 years as a lead pastor and church planter. He currently serves as Senior Generosity Strategist for Generis, an industry leader that has worked with more than 3,100 churches over the past 26 years. Generis specializes in helping ministries to close the gap between resources and vision by creating a sustainable culture of generosity that can fund your vision for years to come.
Chris has been consulting and coaching churches and nonprofits for over 15 years now. He has an extensive combination of both business and ministry experience that gives him a unique perspective in his consulting. Chris is very adept at helping churches and organizations strategize vision, discover opportunities out of obstacles, develop compelling communication for objectives, and layout a plan to accomplish their God-inspired dreams. In addition to his Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) certification, Chris has a BS in Business from Murray State University, a BA in Music from Western Kentucky University, and both an MA and MDiv from Luther Rice University.
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Tom Gordon
Founder
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Cornerstone Funding ConsultantsTom GordonFounder
Cornerstone Funding ConsultantsTom began his career in the financing group of General Electric, where he provided financing for corporate clients of GE for ten years. He took this skill set into the banking environment where he provided financing for some of the largest companies in the United States. He served those clients by providing long-range debt planning and comparative analysis of financing alternatives. Tom managed teams across multiple states and trained bankers in best practices in lending.
In 2018 Tom left corporate banking to serve the body of Christ full time by working with churches and Christian schools in facility financing. Cornerstone Funding Consultants was created to provide financial clarity for Christian-based organizations desiring to move from the current status to the preferred future.
Facility Safety & Security
In recent years, the alarming rise of active shooter incidents at places of worship and schools has sent shockwaves through communities. This session will delve into the underlying factors contributing to these tragic incidents, focusing on how church leaders and school administrators can be better equipped to prevent and respond to unforeseen emergencies.
Preparing for the Unthinkable
Learn about the importance of proactive threat assessments, situational awareness, and crisis response planning. Participants will learn how to identify warning signs, implement effective safety protocols, and foster environments that prioritize the physical and psychological well-being of your members or students.
Real-world case studies and expert insights will be used to explore innovative solutions, from developing security partnerships to building strong lines of communication with local law enforcement and mental health professionals.
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Jason Cann
Certified Instructor / Veteran Police Officer / Director of Operations, Pusch Ridge Christian Academy
Click here for BioJason CannCertified Instructor / Veteran Police Officer / Director of Operations, Pusch Ridge Christian Academy
Jason is a military veteran and former police officer with over 30 years of security and law enforcement experience. He is a certified instructor in firearms, active shooter response, and the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG). Jason’s passion is helping private Christian schools and churches develop comprehensive, reasonable, and affordable security solutions that balance safety with an organization’s unique culture.
Financial Sustainability
Church facilities have traditionally been among the most under-utilized buildings in America, sitting empty throughout most of the week. Learn how BGW works with ministries nationwide to develop facilities that allow them to serve the needs of the local community, not just on Sundays, but 7 days a week, while creating an additional revenue stream for the ministry.
Early Childhood Education Centers in Church Facilities
While there are a number of possibilities for churches to generate people flow in their facilities throughout the week and even create additional revenue streams for the ministry, early childhood and pre-k centers have proven to be the most natural fit.
In partnership with the Christian professionals at True North Kids, BGW is working with churches all across the country to design and effectively manage early childhood education centers that serve as vibrant hubs of spiritual growth, academic excellence, and community engagement, while generating additional revenue for the ministry.
From professional consulting and planning services to shared-revenue partnerships with leading providers, learn how the professionals at True North Kids can help you navigate the journey of establishing exceptional childcare services in your facility.
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Matt Roberts
Founder, True North Kids
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Lead Pastor, the Genesis ProjectMatt RobertsFounder, True North Kids
Lead Pastor, the Genesis ProjectMatt is the Founder and Lead Pastor of The Genesis Project, a church based in Ogden, Utah that has grown to a multi-side movement in 6 communities across the nation reaching thousands every week. He also serves as a Strategic Consultant for BGW, coming alongside churches and Christian schools all across the country and supporting them in establishing a clear and vibrant missional identity. As the Founder of True North Kids, Matt specializes in helping ministries to establish and manage early childhood education centers within their facilities, with a focus on expanding outreach opportunities in the community while generating a sustainable income for the ministry.
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Mechele Rogers
Corporate Strategy Executive Leader
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True North KidsMechele RogersCorporate Strategy Executive Leader
True North KidsMechele has a rich background in the childcare industry, bringing over two decades of expertise in business development and strategy. Previously, Mechele has served in numerous corporate capacities in the Childcare space, where she honed her skills in business sales and remote operations. She also owned and operated the Cornerstone Learning Center, a successful early education center known for its robust educational programs, including music, foreign language, and STEM.
Audio / Video & Lighting
In today’s churches, technology plays such a crucial role in creating a dynamic worship environment, fostering community engagement, and ensuring clear communication. This session is designed to equip church leaders with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about Audio, Video and Lighting (A/V/L) systems during the early stages of design and construction.
Innovative & Cost-Effective A/V/L Solutions for your Church or School
Learn about innovative and cost-effective audio, video, and lighting systems and turn-key services that can transform your worship or performing arts experience. We will explore why partnering with an A/V/L provider early in the process is crucial for establishing accurate budget parameters and addressing essential infrastructure needs.
By engaging experts at the right time, church leaders can avoid costly changes, minimize disruptions, and ensure that their facilities are ready to support high-quality A/V/L installations when construction is complete.
Beginning with initial consultation and preliminary budgeting, learn how an experienced worship technician can walk with your ministry throughout the entire process, from design, procurement and installation to tuning, commissioning and side-by-side training. Discover a stewardship-based approach that provides no hassle project management for the entire life cycle of your A/V/L project.
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Jeff Mathis
Founder
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Performance Technology GroupJeff MathisFounder
Performance Technology GroupJeff leads a team of audio, video, and lighting (A/V/L) designers, installation technicians, and project managers that work closely with the architectural team at BGW to serve church and Christian school clients all across the country. As a 30+ year veteran of the industry, Jeff has a wealth of experience in all aspects of the A/V/L business, including sales, installation, management, and design. Jeff and his team at PTG deliver cutting-edge worship technology with a focus on stewardship of ministry resources, a key element of the BGW program. They also have a proven track record of delivering fully integrated and cost-effective systems for large stage productions, performing arts, and professional events and concerts.
Facility Branding & Wayfinding
Aligning Your Facility Design with Your Brand Identity
Whether you’re building a new facility or trying to expand your reach in the community through an existing building, it is important to incorporate aspects of your brand into the aesthetics and way- finding of the facility to reinforce your values and create a desired experience or emotion for visitors.
Learn how a branding and awareness campaign can help you establish your unique identity and clarify your mission, while uncovering the broader needs of the community and the challenges that need to be solved.
Learn how essential data can be collected through Voice of the Customer Studies, team interviews, demographic research and more to develop an “empathic user identity” that will generate new ways to help your visitors take the next step of engagement: visit, attend, volunteer and more.
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Jason Manarchuck
Founder, Sprout Consultants
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Strategic Branding & MarketingJason ManarchuckFounder, Sprout Consultants
Strategic Branding & MarketingJason is a growth strategist & branding consultant, serving clients from Wall Street to Main Street, including Fortune 500 companies, and consulting in 10 countries including Israel, the United Kingdom, Honduras, and Austria. He is the founder/co-founder of multiple non-profits and businesses, including SPROUT Consulting a firm that works with ministry leaders as well as corporate executives to develop higher impact and growth through strategic branding and marketing.
Jason is an expert in helping ministries to align their facility design with their brand identity. He works with organizational leadership to help them understand the importance of incorporating key brand aspects into the aesthetics of the facility to reinforce the organization’s values and create a desired experience or emotion for visitors.
