Stewarding together in 2026

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV)

In whatever good we do, with our talents and service, God gets the glory. Economies fluctuate and people make choices, but God does not change. We serve Him.

At CIF, we are gifted Christians in the financial arena. We serve churches, stewarding the finances of others to advance God’s Kingdom through ministry. Yes, we are growing and planning to serve more churches this year, but there is more to this than numbers, funds disbursed and payments received.

Grounded relationships, looking ahead

Behind it all are relationships, and we seek to deepen them with our customers while also developing new connections, partnerships and even stronger relationships as we work together. CIF is a relationship-based organization through and through, and our team is growing in number, both as a collaborative unit and as individuals, while we serve a growing number of customers.

There are positive trends in the economy. Consumer and business confidence were on the upswing in 2025. Construction costs were stabilizing and we even saw some category reductions. Value engineering, a thorough analysis of functional benefits and costs for a building, for example, is showing good fruits in church projects.

Stewardship as a guide and core value

Whatever route a church decides to go, we are here as good stewards and purveyors of stewardship, so much so that it leads the conversation in our Core Values.

With this in mind, getting churches from point A to point B for a project or purchase can take time. We know this, and we are patient, keeping the long-term success of each ministry in mind. The goal is to see ministries thrive and flourish, not struggle with a debt they cannot afford. (This is shown tangibly in this month’s case study story on Trinity City Church.)

If your church is making property plans, it is wise to talk to us, asking us questions early on. But please know that our timing isn’t always God’s timing. Stay faithful, work the plan and it will happen in due time. Waiting can be difficult, but believe me, thinking through the primary impacts of these decisions is well worth it.

Continued impact

Investments made with CIF are impactful because as Investment Certificates earn interest, they also fund construction, renovation, and real estate financing loans for churches and related ministries, so that ministry can be done more effectively in their communities. That makes each of our investors – individuals, churches, and businesses alike – a partner with us in the ministries of churches around the country.

The impact we have together brings glory to God every day! We invite and encourage you to be part of what He’s doing through an individual or corporate investment, a loan or one of our consulting services, such as a campaign, to better serve your church’s community.

Our ministry is different than the churches we serve, but our desire is the same – to expand God’s Kingdom as good stewards of the resources He has provided.

We offer faith-based financial solutions, which makes us different. We can honestly say, without reservation, that when you invest with CIF, ministry happens.

It is a joy to serve in this way, and we are grateful for what the Lord is doing through CIF. We can’t wait for you to join us in 2026. To God be the glory!

Scott Achterling
President and CEO

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