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Is your Facility Limiting your Ministry Growth & Impact?

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First Family Church - Iowa Seminar church architect

Join us in
Ankeny, Iowa

Learn how First Family Church and 1,200+ churches & Christian schools across the U.S. have leveraged the unique and cost-effective BGW approach to build their vision!

Learn from the Experts

If your church or Christian school is growing and considering facility expansion, remodel or new construction, you will not want to miss this seminar!<

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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

Discover a unique approach to design & construction, developed exclusively for ministry organizations. Learn about a distinctive delivery method and design philosophy centered around financial sustainability, community integration, flexibility, brand alignment and a focus on ministry outreach during construction. Also hear about a five-phase design process and fee structure tailored specifically for churches and Christian schools.

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Stewardship-Driven Design

Learn how principles of good stewardship are woven into the BGW approach to transform the design and construction process, beginning with the highly collaborative and cost-eﬀective 3-day conceptual design charrette exercise and continuing through construction completion. Discover how this collaboration builds unity and momentum, allowing design solutions to evolve quickly with real-time adaptations by the architect, based on the feedback of key ministry leaders and the general contractor.

Don Mahoney
Principal Architect / President
Building God's Way
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Don Mahoney
Principal Architect / President
Building God's Way

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 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.

Mike Espeset

CEO
Story Construction
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Mike Espeset

CEO
Story Construction

Mike has over 25 years of experience in the construction industry and has spent his career building projects as well as developing relationships in the community. As CEO of Story Construction, he directs the overall corporate operations and leads the business development effort for the company. Mike also serves on the Iowa Association of Business & Industry Board and is a member of the Professional Developers of Iowa, Iowa City Area Development Group, Ames Rotary Club, Ames Chamber of Commerce and Ames Economic Development Commission. Story Construction began as a small father-and-sons operation and has expanded into an employee-owned company favored by midwest public and private sectors alike. As the Certified BGW Builder for the state of Iowa, Story Construction has a deep conviction to help churches and Christian schools build the vision God has given them.

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Capital Campaigns

Regardless of your ministry size and scope, there is almost always a gap between your ministry resources and your God-inspired vision. We believe wholeheartedly that there is nothing that moves a church or Christian school forward in faith more effectively than going before God, both collectively & individually, and trusting him in bold faith through extravagant generosity. In this session, you will hear about a holistic fundraising strategy that is discipleship driven, biblically rooted and promotes mission alignment.

Accelerating Generosity to Fund Your God-Inspired Vision

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. A biblical understanding of stewardship and generosity can transform culture and hearts, and make God-inspired visions a reality. We’ve seen it happen in churches, schools, and organizations around the world, and we want to see it happen for you.

Chris Stovall

Senior Generosity Strategist
Generis
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Chris Stovall

Senior Generosity Strategist
Generis

Chris 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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Financing

While capital campaigns can go a long way in helping to fund your building project, many churches and Christian schools will also rely on some type of loan financing to reach their budget requirements. Evaluating all the borrowing options and the advantages and disadvantages of each loan product can be overwhelming. An experienced Christian funding consultant can help you prepare your financial statements, solicit multiple lender bids and negotiate the best possible loan terms.

Maximizing Your Leverage with Lenders

Understanding what lenders will require for your specific building project is the key to securing financing. This session is designed to demystify the loan approval process and give your team the crucial insights needed before approaching lenders. Learn how to determine your funding capacity prior to starting design and then effectively “turn the tables” with potential lenders, giving your church or school maximum leverage to negotiate the most favorable financing terms.

Tom Gordon
Founder
Cornerstone Funding Consultants
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Tom Gordon
Founder
Cornerstone Funding Consultants

Tom 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.

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Audio / Video & Lighting

In today’s churches and Christian schools, technology plays such a crucial role in creating a dynamic worship or learning environment, fostering community engagement, and ensuring clear communication. In recent decades, worship facilities have undergone a profound transformation—not just in architectural design, but in how they engage their congregations. Central to this evolution is the strategic integration of Audio, Video, and Lighting systems (A/V/L). Once considered optional or supplementary, A/V/L systems are now foundational components in creating immersive, accessible, and spiritually uplifting worship experiences.

Enchancing Engagement and Communication

At its core, worship is about connection with God and with the community and A/V/L technology can serve to amplify that connection. It’s not just about keeping up with the times—it’s about using every available tool to glorify God, serve the community, and spread the message in ways that resonate with people today. When done right, A/V/L doesn’t overshadow the worship experience—it deepens it. And in that deeper connection, churches find new opportunities to fulfill their mission.

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This session is designed to equip church and Christian school leaders with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about A/V/L systems during the early stages of design and construction. Learn about innovative and cost-eﬀective systems and turn-key services that include consultation, preliminary budgeting, design, installation, and side-by-side training. Discover how engaging with an A/V/L expert early in the design process can help you avoid costly changes, minimize disruptions, and ensure that your facility is ready to support high-quality A/V/L components when construction is complete.

Jeff Mathis

Founder
Performance Technology Group
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Jeff Mathis

Founder
Performance Technology Group

Jeff 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.

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Childcare Centers

95% of churches don’t have a preschool childcare program during the week. We believe that many churches are missing out on one of the most powerful and authentic ministries available. A well-run childcare program provides an incredible opportunity to engage with young families and new visitors. It can foster meaningful connections with your faith community on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis while creating an additional revenue stream for the ministry.

Early Childhood Education:

A Financially Sustainable Ministry Opportunity

Learn how True North Kids helps churches and Christian schools establish and manage early childhood education centers that can serve as a vibrant hub of spiritual growth, academic excellence, and community engagement. From professional consulting and planning services to shared-revenue partnerships with leading providers, learn how True North can help you bring early childhood education to your campus and your community.

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Nearly 60% of U.S. Children under 6 are in Childcare: By starting a childcare program, your church can help support local families by providing a safe space for their children while they’re at work. This service can also increase church attendance, as families are more likely to attend more knowing their children are in a positive environment. Discover a 7-step approach for ministries that will guide you through initial assessment and feasibility, design and construction, licensing, staffing, enrollment marketing and grand opening.

Matt Roberts
Founder, True North Kids
Lead Pastor, the Genesis Project
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Matt Roberts
Founder, True North Kids
Lead Pastor, the Genesis Project

Matt 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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Facility Branding & Awareness

Every Building Speaks...What is Yours Saying?

When most people hear the term “brand identity”, they think of corporate logos, color palettes, and taglines. But in the context of a church or Christian school, your brand identity is far more meaningful—it’s the visual and experiential expression of your mission, your culture, and your calling. And nowhere is this identity more visibly lived out than in your physical space.

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As churches and schools grow or prepare for renovation or new construction, it’s essential to think beyond square footage and seating capacity. Your building isn’t just a place to gather; it’s a physical extension of your ministry. It can help tell your story, shape first impressions, and reinforce what you stand for. Visitors often decide within minutes whether a place “feels right.” Learn how a branding and awareness campaign can help you design spaces that reflect your values, mission, and community and make a powerful first impression. Whether it’s a welcoming entryway, an intentional use of natural light, or artwork that speaks to your church’s story, your facility sets the tone before a sermon is ever preached or a classroom lesson is ever taught.

Jason Manarchuck

Founder, SPROUT Consultants
Strategic Branding & Marketing
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Jason Manarchuck

Founder, SPROUT Consultants
Strategic Branding & Marketing

Jason 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.

Cafés & Coffee Programs

As church cafés have developed over the years, so has the basic formula for creating a café that meets both the needs of the community and the mission of the church. Precise layout, design and flow are essential to the success of a church café. Every extra step adds a second, which adds minutes to the people in the back of the line. Equipment, menu, pricing and product selections can derail your success before it even starts.

The Daily Java has often been called the Church Café Experts and for good reason. They understand the difference between a regular café and a church café and the importance of aligning the café with a specific purpose. The Daily Java works with churches and non-profits all across the country, making sure their ministry vision is reached.

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Coffee with a Purpose:

Designing Church Café Programs for Ministry Impact

In this session, Mike Bacile, founder of The Daily Java, will share insights from over a decade of experience assisting churches in creating cafés and coffee programs that serve as extensions of their ministry. Attendees will learn how to build a program that fosters community engagement, supports church missions, and operates efficiently. Key topics will include aligning your coffee program with your mission and the needs of the community, implementing efficient café layouts and operations tailored for church environments, developing sustainable models that support both fellowship and financial stewardship, and the Top Five Do’s and Don’ts of building and running a successful church café.

Mike Bacile

Founder & Owner, The Daily Java
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Mike Bacile

Founder & Owner, The Daily Java

Since 1995, Mike has been instrumental in supporting the establishment and operation of successful cafés, with a particular focus on church environments. His journey began with providing espresso machines to restaurants, but a pivotal moment occurred in 2006 when a Dallas-area church sought his expertise to set up a café within their facility. Recognizing the unique needs of church cafés, Mike developed specialized programs like the “25 Steps to Success” and “Coffee With a Purpose” to ensure these cafés not only serve quality beverages efficiently, but also foster fellowship and support missions.

Under Mike’s leadership, The Daily Java has assisted over 100 churches nationwide to accomplish their ministry vision. His approach emphasizes the importance of purpose-driven cafés that align with a church’s mission, ensuring that each cup served contributes to building community and making a difference in the world. Mike’s passion for community building is deeply personal. Inspired by his family and guided by mentorship from his father, Namie Bacile, he envisions a world where cafés serve as hubs of connection and positive impact.