Needs and Feasibility
What Is a Needs & Feasibility Study?
A Needs & Feasibility study is an objective analysis of what a church needs--and what is feasible for it--to build. Church building today is both complex and expensive. A needs and feasibility study will identify the current and future needs of the ministries and translate those needs into land and building requirements along with a feasible plan to make it happen.
We recommend that a Needs and Feasibility Study be done as early in the planning process as possible. Certainly, the best time is before you invest a lot of money in design and as early as two to three years before you build.
The Needs and Feasibility Study Process
The study is kicked off with the collection of information about the ministry, the congregation, and the community including attendance history, current member demographics, and ministry finances. During an onsite visit, we conduct personal interviews with church leaders and members to solicit their input on the needs of each of the ministries and to understand the church's culture, goals, and vision.
Additionally, we implement a professional online congregational survey to determine church health. We then analyze and review the data through the lens of our experience. Based on our experience and sound church growth practices we answer the following questions:
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Does the church need to build?
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What does the church need to build and how was this determined from our needs?
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What can the church afford to build and how will it pay for the building program?
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When is the right time to build with consideration to need & financial ability?
We then provide the church with a report with a recommendation on the most feasible solutions and a suggested timeline for moving forward.
Better Results with Less Effort
An independent study showed that those churches that performed a feasibility study prior to their building program had much higher overall satisfaction with the outcome and experienced less conflict during the process. Practical experience also demonstrates that proper planning makes for an overall smoother and less expensive building program.
The benefit of this process in developing confidence, unity, and widespread support cannot be overstated. A proper process that solicits the input of the congregation and then presents a coherent plan to meet the need is a unifying force. Typically, once the congregation votes to adopt the recommendations, the church enjoys the endorsement and support of over 90% of the congregation in a church vote.
Benefits of a Building Program Needs & Feasibility Study
Your church will enjoy many of the following benefits:
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Increased overall support for the building program.
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Understanding of what the church needs to build and how this was determined.
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Congregational unity on appropriate action and timing.
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Reduced conflict in the planning of church facilities.
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Increased confidence in the plan, timeline, and budget.
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Reduction in time commitments for the church leaders and building committee.
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Elimination of dead-end ideas that waste time, money, and effort.
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Reduced stress on the leadership and building committee.
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Reduced cost in architectural and engineering fees.
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Reduced cost by avoiding preventable errors or omissions.
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Reduced risk: financial, legal, and relational.
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More realistic expectations for the building program, a major factor in overall satisfaction.
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A faster, easier, and more efficient building program.
Testimonial: How Our Needs and Feasibility Study Saved a Church $1M!
“Without speaking in exaggeration or hyperbole, Steve Anderson of Abundant Giving saved New Hope Church at least $1,000,000 and who knows how many hours of frustration and endless dead-ends, not to mention the discouragement that accompanies those problems. That’s just what we saved. Because of Steve and his objective needs and feasibility process, New Hope Church also gained a better understanding of our strengths and weaknesses, which led to a customized strategy for an expansion phase. I shudder to think of the mistakes we would have made, (let alone the dollars that would have been wasted) without Steve and this engagement.”
John Brock, Pastor Emeritus, New Hope Church
Church Building Guide: Preparing to Build
This book may be the best investment you make in your entire building program. It is a trivial investment that can save you time, effort, stress, and precious dollars in your church construction effort.
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3rd edition – 200 pages, with numerous illustrations
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Forward by Dr. Paul Smith, Sr. Pastor, Crosspoint Alliance Church
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3 Appendices, including a readiness to build assessment
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Available in paperback or eBook form (Purchase)
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Free 53 Page Preview (Download pdf)
“Thanks for cutting through all of the baloney out there and getting to the point. I spent hours on the internet trying to get good unbiased information on building a church. When I was almost ready to give up, I happened upon a one-page document you had written of concise guidelines for building a church. I learned more in five minutes from that page than I had learned in the previous five hours. I ordered your book and got a real education in this whole process we are embarking on!” – M. Briney
Preparing to Build is a comprehensive church building guide that will help prepare your church for a building program. As a book on church construction, it is a ‘must read’ for any church that is planning on building in the next few years