The building process can be daunting for people of any profession; however, it seems to be particularly difficult for pastors. As they try to balance the needs of the congregation while also managing the business of the church, many pastors become burnt out by the end of the project. Suffragen Bishop Donald Tyler pastor of Greater Grace Apostolic Temple said, "Pastors have to pastor during the building process, so the church is not losing as the building goes up, but gaining."

Many pastors do not realize the pressure that is involved in the construction process. We usually tell pastors that when entering into a building program, "It is a marathon, not a sprint." It usually takes years to complete a project from concept to completion. There are many steps in this long process; however, here are a few tips to get you started in the right direction.

1. Planning is very important.
Start with monthly planning sessions. First organize a group that you would like to be involved in the planning process. Begin having meetings at least once a month in order to brainstorm and define the church's basic needs and desires. Your planning phase should last at least one year.

2. If possible, hire a civil engineer before you purchase your property. 
The civil engineer will help determine if the property is zoned properly, if it has any unusual easement issues, or if there are any restrictions imposed on the property. Soil tests and soil borings should be done as soon as possible. We have seen many churches spend thousands of dollars purchasing land that seemed to be a good deal, and then, when they got ready to build, it cost them thousands more to fix the problems that they did not realize they had inherited in that piece of property. It is very important to consult a professional before purchasing land, if you can. 

3. Get the entire building team involved in the planning process. 
This team includes architects, engineers, and your contractor. This can help you to match your design with your budget. A pastor that we worked with once said about choosing a contractor, "Get a good contractor – someone that you can trust that has your best interest at heart. You have to have faith in your builder. Pray and get confirmation on who you hire. Don't be so money conscious that you go with someone who is not the right fit for your church."

4. Hire an architect that can prepare just a floor plan and building elevations that are close to the square footage requirements. 
Pay this architect by the hour for their services. Then, take these very preliminary drawings to a couple of contractors (if you do not already have one) for a preliminary square foot price. This will give you a rough estimate of how much money you will need.

5. Talk to the bank and determine whether you can get a loan and how much they will loan you. 
A good rule of thumb to follow is that a bank will normally loan you four to one or three to one of your yearly income. What this means is that if you bring in $1 million a year in income, you can estimate that you will be able to borrow between $3 million and $4 million. Although this is the typical rule, you should still consult your lender to make sure the exact amount for which your church will qualify. This helps to establish the size project the church should plan.

6. At this point, determine if the overall square foot price is affordable and choose your method of design and construction
Methods include construction management, design-build, general contracting, etc. It is best to get some information on the different construction delivery systems and choose the one that best fits your project goals.

7. Expect that changes will occur.
It is important to be flexible. Proper planning is key to keeping you from pitfalls.  Construction is not rocket science; however, there are many field adjustments to be made.  You will need someone to manage these adjustments for you.

8. Create a good team.
The team concept creates the best results. If you can create a team with the architect, owner, and the builder, this will create the best possible situation for a successful project.  The most important aspect of choosing a team is that you make sure that all the members on the team have the church's best interest at heart. Although every project has its ups and downs, this will give you the peace of mind that you may need throughout the project.

9. Consider hiring a liaison to act as the owner's representative during the project. 
This individual should have experience in the area of construction project management, if possible, and should be responsible to sign off on all payment applications in order to ensure that the work being invoiced is actually completed. This helps to relieve the pastor of this responsibility, freeing them up to focus on pastoring. As I mentioned before, a building project can take a toll on a pastor. 

10. Continually cast the vision. 
Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision the people perish…" The pastor must always keep the vision before the church. This helps the flock to hook up with the vision that God has given you both spiritually and financially. Many churches are using computer-generated renderings to help them place the vision before the church. This can be a great tool to use in order to give the church something tangible that they can see in order to hook up with the pastor's vision.    

Rachael D. Rowland, M.P.A., serves as marketing director for Daniels & Daniels Construction, www.churchesbydaniels.com. 

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Quick Keys to Success
* In order to get the look you desire on a fixed budget, you must mix budget and design. 
* Start fundraising early. It is best to begin fundraising when you begin planning.
* Start with a budget in mind in order to not design something you cannot afford to build.  Another way to make sure you can build what you design is to build in phases. Create a master plan and then build each phase as the finances come available.
* Create a team with the architect, owner, and builder. The team concept is the best way to build!
* Cast your vision!