In our annual coverage of Church Construction, we have rounded up some of the leaders in this industry to share their expertise and reveal how they counsel churches when working with them on a building project. Here are some great "take-aways" from this section.

Understanding Life-Cycle Costs
By thinking ahead, you are less likely to waste land by having sprawling buildings, less likely to develop a confusing maze, and less likely to develop spaces that are poorly utilized. It is less likely you will develop a building that looks like a hodge-podge mess, less likely to have roof problems as the different buildings are hooked together, and less likely to lose the focus of where the entrance to the building is. Plus, you can save a massive amount by avoiding unnecessary remodeling costs.

Before You Build
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.

The Building Committee
It is critical for the team to understand and embrace the vision that is being placed before them. A member of the congregation would not be able to make a wise decision on whether or not to be a part of the building committee without having before them the vision that has been painted by the ministry staff. There needs to be a clear understanding of the goal that is being set before them so that they can formulate the strategy for reaching the goal in the most expeditious way.

Leadership Tips
For lack of a better term, church leadership must continually "sell" the congregation on the new building program. Consequently, regular updates about the progress of the building project are essential. In order to keep the congregation excited about the project and, therefore, maintain their financial support, they must continually be informed about what is happening with the project. Update the congregation often with announcements from the pulpit or in the bulletin.

Planning, Process and Prayer
No amount of pre-planning can curtail the natural enemies and frustrations that arise during the construction process. Planning, process and prayer are three mainstays of the church building process that should never be abandoned. They have been the tools for successful building programs as far back as creation. Organizing your plans and procedures will ease many of the difficulties that bog down the process.