The ongoing ministry health of a church is of utmost concern
Sometimes, the enormity of a church’s need or desire for improved facilities can stifle exploration options.
What would the project cost? Can we afford to purchase that building? What improvements would it need? Seemingly difficult questions can easily be put off until a later time.
These are often generational decisions, said CIF President and CEO Scott Achterling. Often the unfamiliar and unknown can become uncomfortable, but CIF exists to help with careful analysis to discover what is possible, the CEO explains.
“The ongoing ministry health of a church is of utmost concern to us, and that’s a large part of what makes us a preferred partner to so many,” Achterling said. “As we work through each loan request, we keep the full ministry picture in mind.”
Sometimes, the time just isn’t right and a church isn’t ready, and CIF provides counsel on how to prepare. Then a church comes back later for a loan to expand its ministry.
“A true financial partner will keep a church’s best interests in mind, and that’s where we excel,” the CEO said.
Sometimes, church leaders can get heavily focused on the interest rate for a church loan as the sole factor in choosing a lender. No doubt, it is important, but there are also many other factors to consider – such as additional fees, term length, loan covenants, and annual requirements to name a few. It is… Continue Reading
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Question: Churches exist to do ministry. How does a church balance that overarching mission with the need to save for the unexpected and build up reserves to cover property-related expenses, including maintenance for buildings, updates and expansion? Answer: Being good stewards of financial resources requires prudent planning both now and in the future. We advise… Continue Reading
Continue ReadingSome people never stop learning. We at CIF see this is crucial to our continued success. That’s why Curiosity is among the Core Values we ascribe to. Some may remember a little monkey who exhibited this value, one we read about in children’s books. President and CEO Scott Achterling explains.
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