If your church is planning to expand, remodel, or build a new facility, you will not want to miss this seminar event, coming to 12 cities this spring!
Featuring presentations and opportunities for one-on-one interactions with leading experts in the areas of church architecture, construction, lending, capital campaigns, leadership, worship technology and more. Learn strategies and insight from a team that has worked with more than 1,000 ministry organizations nationwide.
Featuring presentations and opportunities for one-on-one interactions with leading experts in the areas of church architecture, construction, lending, capital campaigns, leadership, worship technology and more. Learn strategies and insight from a team that has worked with more than 1,000 ministry organizations nationwide.
March 9 – Tulsa, OK
OSU-Tulsa Conference Center
March 10 – McKinney, TX
March 10 – McKinney, TX
Brookhaven Church
March 22 – Phoenix, AZ
Salvation Army Kroc Center
March 23 – Escondido, CA
March 23 – Escondido, CA
New Vintage Church / The Grand
April 5 – Greenville, SC
Salvation Army Kroc Center
April 6 – Raleigh, NC
April 6 – Raleigh, NC
The McKimmon Conference and Training Center at NC State
April 26 – Fishers, IN
Northview Church Fishers Campus
April 27 – Brentwood, TN
April 27 – Brentwood, TN
Envision Conference Center
May 10 – Woodland, CA
Life Pointe Church
May 11 – Aloha, OR
May 11 – Aloha, OR
Korean Bethel Presbyterian Church
May 24 – Akron, OH
Hilton Akron / Fairlawn
May 25 – Madison, WI
May 25 – Madison, WI
Location TBA ( To pre-register, call 800-752-7910 or email info@bgwservices.com )
Seminar Discussion Topics:
Building God’s Way: A Better Way for Ministries to Build –Learn how the unique Building God’s Way approach to design & construction, developed exclusively for ministry organizations, can significantly reduce both upfront building costs and long term maintenance and operation expenses.
Funding Your Ministry Vision – Learn how to overcome common funding barriers and gain access to capital for remodel, new construction or refinance. Hear from trusted BGW funding partners, including church extension funds, bond lenders and capital campaign experts that offer a full complement of solutions to fit the specific funding needs of your project.
- Cultivating a Culture of Generosity to Fund your Vision. Generis has worked with more than 3,100 churches over the past 26 years and specializes in helping ministries close the gap between resources and vision by creating a sustainable culture of generosity that can fund your vision for years to come.
- Innovative loans for Growing Churches. Learn how The Solomon Foundation, a unique non-profit Church Extension Fund, raises investment dollars and lends to churches for refinancing, church building acquisitions, and construction projects.
- Long Term Financing for Long Term Success – Learn how Stifel Religion Finance helps churches and schools map out and implement a financing strategy that minimizes risk to your ministry and maximizes opportunities for long term success. The experienced professionals in Stifel’s Religion Finance Practice bring to the table the full complement of solutions to consider, whether that is long-term, fixed rate bond financing, short-term bank financing, or even tax-exempt options.
The Keys to Forming an Effective Church Building Committee – If your church is planning a construction or remodel project, the road ahead can seem overwhelming. There are a number of critical decisions to be made early on in the process and one of the most important is ensuring that you have the right people to lead your church in accomplishing this mission. Learn 5 keys to forming an effective church building committee, to ensure your God-given vision for a new facility becomes a reality.
The BGW Charrette: The First Step in Bringing your Ministry Vision to Life. Learn how this highly collaborative and cost-effective 3-day design exercise can quickly build unity and momentum toward your ministry vision. Discover how the visual tools that result from the charrette, including floor plans, site plans, elevations, exterior renderings and animation will help you cast your vision in a powerful way!
Childcare Centers in Churches: A Financially Sustainable Ministry Opportunity. Lionheart Children’s Academy CEO Stan Dobbs will share how this Christian non-profit partners with local churches to launch and operate child care centers in their facilities — offering full-time preschool, after school, and summer programs for ages infant to 12 years. Lionheart blesses the church by attracting and assimilating more young families, generating additional funding for ministry and handling all the operational concerns. They are involved in BGW projects from the earliest stages of design, providing valuable input on business feasibility, space layout, code requirements and more.
Leveraging Audio, Video & Lighting to Create a More Immersive Worship Experience.Today like never before, technology has the ability to transform your sanctuary environment and fully engage your audience into an immersive worship experience. Learn about innovative and cost-effective audio, video and lighting systems and turn key services available to churches all across the U.S., from consultation and preliminary budgeting to design, installation, and side-by-side training.
Building God’s Way: A Better Way for Ministries to Build –Learn how the unique Building God’s Way approach to design & construction, developed exclusively for ministry organizations, can significantly reduce both upfront building costs and long term maintenance and operation expenses.
Funding Your Ministry Vision – Learn how to overcome common funding barriers and gain access to capital for remodel, new construction or refinance. Hear from trusted BGW funding partners, including church extension funds, bond lenders and capital campaign experts that offer a full complement of solutions to fit the specific funding needs of your project.
- Cultivating a Culture of Generosity to Fund your Vision.Generis has worked with more than 3,100 churches over the past 26 years and specializes in helping ministries close the gap between resources and vision by creating a sustainable culture of generosity that can fund your vision for years to come.
- Innovative loans for Growing Churches. Learn how The Solomon Foundation, a unique non-profit Church Extension Fund, raises investment dollars and lends to churches for refinancing, church building acquisitions, and construction projects.
- Long Term Financing for Long Term Success – Learn how Stifel Religion Finance helps churches and schools map out and implement a financing strategy that minimizes risk to your ministry and maximizes opportunities for long term success. The experienced professionals in Stifel’s Religion Finance Practice bring to the table the full complement of solutions to consider, whether that is long-term, fixed rate bond financing, short-term bank financing, or even tax-exempt options.
The Keys to Forming an Effective Church Building Committee – If your church is planning a construction or remodel project, the road ahead can seem overwhelming. There are a number of critical decisions to be made early on in the process and one of the most important is ensuring that you have the right people to lead your church in accomplishing this mission. Learn 5 keys to forming an effective church building committee, to ensure your God-given vision for a new facility becomes a reality.
The BGW Charrette: The First Step in Bringing your Ministry Vision to Life. Learn how this highly collaborative and cost-effective 3-day design exercise can quickly build unity and momentum toward your ministry vision. Discover how the visual tools that result from the charrette, including floor plans, site plans, elevations, exterior renderings and animation will help you cast your vision in a powerful way!
Childcare Centers in Churches: A Financially Sustainable Ministry Opportunity. Lionheart Children’s Academy CEO Stan Dobbs will share how this Christian non-profit partners with local churches to launch and operate child care centers in their facilities — offering full-time preschool, after school, and summer programs for ages infant to 12 years. Lionheart blesses the church by attracting and assimilating more young families, generating additional funding for ministry and handling all the operational concerns. They are involved in BGW projects from the earliest stages of design, providing valuable input on business feasibility, space layout, code requirements and more.
Leveraging Audio, Video & Lighting to Create a More Immersive Worship Experience.Today like never before, technology has the ability to transform your sanctuary environment and fully engage your audience into an immersive worship experience. Learn about innovative and cost-effective audio, video and lighting systems and turn key services available to churches all across the U.S., from consultation and preliminary budgeting to design, installation, and side-by-side training.
Featured Speakers & Guests
Don Mahoney
Principal Architect & President, BGW Architects
March 9, 10, 22, 23; April 5, 6, 27; May 10, 11, 25
Don 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 37 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 to 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 Masters 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.
Don Mahoney
Principal Architect & President, BGW Architects
March 9, 10, 22, 23; April 5, 6, 27; May 10, 11, 25
Don 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 37 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 to 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 Masters 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.
Lead Architectural Designer, BGW Architects
April 26 and May 24
Austin has led more than 100 design charrettes for BGW Architects and has assisted more than 250 ministries through the preliminary design process. He is uniquely skilled in guiding church administrators and ministry team leaders through the conceptual design stages and translating their God-given vision into tangible architectural designs. Austin is a graduate of Judson University in Elgin, IL, the only evangelical Christian university in the U.S. to offer a fully accredited professional architecture degree program. He brings a unique perspective to church design as an experienced ministry leader that has been involved in many areas of church leadership. Over the years, he has served as a small group leader, worship team member, and in 2014 he was ordained as a pastor, serving on the church leadership team and participating in church planting.
Austin Fredrickson
Lead Architectural Designer, BGW Architects
April 26 and May 24
Austin has led more than 100 design charrettes for BGW Architects and has assisted more than 250 ministries through the preliminary design process. He is uniquely skilled in guiding church administrators and ministry team leaders through the conceptual design stages and translating their God-given vision into tangible architectural designs. Austin is a graduate of Judson University in Elgin, IL, the only evangelical Christian university in the U.S. to offer a fully accredited professional architecture degree program. He brings a unique perspective to church design as an experienced ministry leader that has been involved in many areas of church leadership. Over the years, he has served as a small group leader, worship team member, and in 2014 he was ordained as a pastor, serving on the church leadership team and participating in church planting.
Matt Roberts
Senior Pastor, The Genesis Project National Network of Churches / Author of “The God of new Beginnings”
Matt is the Founder and Lead Pastor of The Genesis Project, a church based in Ogden, Utah that has grown to a multi-site movement in 6 communities across the nation reaching thousands every week. He began his ministry as a youth pastor in the inner cities of Tampa, FL and Portland, OR. In addition to his present ministry in Utah, Matt serves as a church strategy consultant with BGW, coming alongside churches all across the country and supporting them in establishing a clear and vibrant missional identity. Matt and his team at The Genesis Project are certified in facilitating the StratOp Strategic Planning System and are uniquely equipped to help your leadership team bring clarity out of uncertainty and help facilitate meaningful growth.
Matt Roberts
Senior Pastor, The Genesis Project National Network of Churches / Author of “The God of new Beginnings”
Matt is the Founder and Lead Pastor of The Genesis Project, a church based in Ogden, Utah that has grown to a multi-site movement in 6 communities across the nation reaching thousands every week. He began his ministry as a youth pastor in the inner cities of Tampa, FL and Portland, OR. In addition to his present ministry in Utah, Matt serves as a church strategy consultant with BGW, coming alongside churches all across the country and supporting them in establishing a clear and vibrant missional identity. Matt and his team at The Genesis Project are certified in facilitating the StratOp Strategic Planning System and are uniquely equipped to help your leadership team bring clarity out of uncertainty and help facilitate meaningful growth.
Bill Shalkowski
Senior VP of Construction Management, The Solomon Foundation
Bill has served in leadership roles in the construction industry for nearly 3 decades and he works closely with ministries as well as BGW Architects and Builders all across the country to help leaders respond to growth and community needs. The Solomon Foundation empowers ministry through the use of the dollars invested by individuals, congregations, schools, and organizations within the Restoration Movement churches and Churches of Christ. The Solomon Foundation is known for their willingness to partner with churches and generate creative financing options, which provide unique solutions based on the specific needs of every church.
Bill Shalkowski
Senior VP of Construction Management, The Solomon Foundation
Bill has served in leadership roles in the construction industry for nearly 3 decades and he works closely with ministries as well as BGW Architects and Builders all across the country to help leaders respond to growth and community needs. The Solomon Foundation empowers ministry through the use of the dollars invested by individuals, congregations, schools, and organizations within the Restoration Movement churches and Churches of Christ. The Solomon Foundation is known for their willingness to partner with churches and generate creative financing options, which provide unique solutions based on the specific needs of every church.
Bill Dodson
Managing Director, Stifel Religion Finance
March 8, 9, 22, 23; May 10, 11
Bill has more than 21 years of church and not-for-profit financing experience. He has directly managed the origination, distribution, or funding of more than one billion dollars in church financing for ministries nationwide and serves as one of Stifel’s lead bankers, structuring taxable bonds issued by churches, schools, and not-for-profit organizations. Bill received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and later earned his Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He is also a graduate of the SIFMA Securities Industry Institute at The Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania) and the Wharton/SIA Branch Management Leadership Institute.
Bill Dodson
Managing Director, Stifel Religion Finance
March 8, 9, 22, 23; May 10, 12
Bill has more than 21 years of church and not-for-profit financing experience. He has directly managed the origination, distribution, or funding of more than one billion dollars in church financing for ministries nationwide and serves as one of Stifel’s lead bankers, structuring taxable bonds issued by churches, schools, and not-for-profit organizations. Bill received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and later earned his Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He is also a graduate of the SIFMA Securities Industry Institute at The Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania) and the Wharton/SIA Branch Management Leadership Institute.
David Schlosser
Managing Director, Stifel Religion Finance
April 5, 6, 26, 27; May 24, 25
Dave has been in religion and education banking since 1986. As a managing director, he is responsible for the underwriting and structuring of many of the firm’s taxable church bond issues. He has originated loans for churches of all denominations nationwide and has underwritten more than 165 individual church issues totaling in excess of $650 million. He holds a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin and is a registered representative through the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. He has spoken at various national conventions on the merits of bond financings for churches and schools.
David Schlosser
Managing Director, Stifel Religion Finance
April 5, 6, 26, 27; May 24, 25
Dave has been in religion and education banking since 1986. As a managing director, he is responsible for the underwriting and structuring of many of the firm’s taxable church bond issues. He has originated loans for churches of all denominations nationwide and has underwritten more than 165 individual church issues totaling in excess of $650 million. He holds a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin and is a registered representative through the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. He has spoken at various national conventions on the merits of bond financings for churches and schools.
Stan Dobbs
Founder and CEO, Lionheart Children’s Academy
Stan is the founder of several ministries including Lionheart Children’s Academy, which has a mission to empower local churches to take leadership of the child care industry. Stan and his team believes that reaching more children is THE key strategy for significant incremental advancement of the Gospel, and the child care industry represents the best opportunity to do so. During a medical crisis in 2011, God gave Stan the vision for Lionheart, which opened its first academy in 2014.
Stan also launched Apartment Life in 2000 to help churches more effectively reach apartment communities for Christ. Apartment Life has over 1,000 team members living in apartments across the country ministering to their neighbors.
Stan Dobbs
Founder and CEO, Lionheart Children’s Academy
Stan is the founder of several ministries including Lionheart Children’s Academy, which has a mission to empower local churches to take leadership of the child care industry. Stan and his team believes that reaching more children is THE key strategy for significant incremental advancement of the Gospel, and the child care industry represents the best opportunity to do so. During a medical crisis in 2011, God gave Stan the vision for Lionheart, which opened its first academy in 2014.
Stan also launched Apartment Life in 2000 to help churches more effectively reach apartment communities for Christ. Apartment Life has over 1,000 team members living in apartments across the country ministering to their neighbors.
Regional Generosity Strategists, Generis
Generis is a team of experienced guides who walk with churches and ministries of all shapes, sizes, and personalities to develop a sustainable culture of generosity to fund their God-inspired vision. Since 1989, Genesis has helped more than 3,100 churches close the funding gap by guiding them through a process that results in a sustainable culture of generosity. Generis connects your unique vision to proven strategies that have helped fund more than six billion dollars in the faith community with a “make-it-last” mindset. This mindset ensures that everything that is accomplished outlives the length of any one campaign, project, or initiative and continues to fund your vision for years to come.
Regional Generosity Strategists, Generis
Generis is a team of experienced guides who walk with churches and ministries of all shapes, sizes, and personalities to develop a sustainable culture of generosity to fund their God-inspired vision. Since 1989, Genesis has helped more than 3,100 churches close the funding gap by guiding them through a process that results in a sustainable culture of generosity. Generis connects your unique vision to proven strategies that have helped fund more than six billion dollars in the faith community with a “make-it-last” mindset. This mindset ensures that everything that is accomplished outlives the length of any one campaign, project, or initiative and continues to fund your vision for years to come.
Performance Technology Group
National Project Managers
A worship tech expert from Performance Technology Group (PTG) will be in attendance at each seminar. PTG has a full staff of designers, installation technicians and project managers that work closely with the design team at BGW to serve church clients across the country. They utilize a 3-Step installation process that includes the rough-in phase, the finishes phase, and the commissioning / training phase. In addition to delivering cutting-edge worship technology, PTG’s approach is most importantly focused on delivering the highest level of stewardship to ministry clients. This includes fully integrated systems for large stage productions, performing arts, and professional events and concerts.
Performance Technology Group
National Project Managers
A worship tech expert from Performance Technology Group (PTG) will be in attendance at each seminar. PTG has a full staff of designers, installation technicians and project managers that work closely with the design team at BGW to serve church clients across the country. They utilize a 3-Step installation process that includes the rough-in phase, the finishes phase, and the commissioning / training phase. In addition to delivering cutting-edge worship technology, PTG’s approach is most importantly focused on delivering the highest level of stewardship to ministry clients. This includes fully integrated systems for large stage productions, performing arts, and professional events and concerts.
Local Church Construction Experts
Exclusive BGW Builder Partners
BGW Builder representatives will also be in attendance at each seminar. The construction of Building God’s Way projects is delivered through a nationwide network of faith-based contractors that work in close partnership with BGW Architects from the earliest stages of design, helping keep projects intact from a cost perspective as we launch ideas and explore solutions. In addition to their local expertise with church and school construction, BGW Builders are also skilled in delivering the unique BGW Approach that has consistently proven to cut construction costs by reducing conflict, scheduling delays, change orders and product mark-up. This includes leading coordinated ministry efforts on every job site and supporting churches and Christian schools in having a spiritual impact on construction workers through The BGW Ministry of Construction program.
Local Church Construction Experts
Exclusive BGW Builder Partners
BGW Builder representatives will also be in attendance at each seminar. The construction of Building God’s Way projects is delivered through a nationwide network of faith-based contractors that work in close partnership with BGW Architects from the earliest stages of design, helping keep projects intact from a cost perspective as we launch ideas and explore solutions. In addition to their local expertise with church and school construction, BGW Builders are also skilled in delivering the unique BGW Approach that has consistently proven to cut construction costs by reducing conflict, scheduling delays, change orders and product mark-up. This includes leading coordinated ministry efforts on every job site and supporting churches and Christian schools in having a spiritual impact on construction workers through The BGW Ministry of Construction program.
