The Pastor and the Gym: A Church Capital Campaign Parable

Pastor Ben had a vision. His church was growing, and it was clear they needed a larger building to welcome new members. But to achieve this, Faith Bible Church needed to launch a church capital campaign to raise the necessary funds. 

Although Pastor Ben was eager to lead the campaign, he felt uncertain about the best way to proceed. Reflecting on his recent fitness journey, he noticed some striking similarities between getting in shape and running a successful capital campaign.

Pastor Ben’s Fitness Lessons: Two Approaches with Lasting Impacts

Approach 1: Doing It On Your Own

Pastor Ben’s own path to better fitness started with just enthusiasm and a gym membership. He would show up, try out various machines, and hope for the best. 

But without a structured workout plan or expert guidance, his motivation faded quickly. He wasn’t seeing results, and eventually, he stopped going altogether.

Pastor Ben realized the same could happen with a church capital campaign. If he and his team simply jumped in without a clear strategy or professional input, they might lose momentum, miss important opportunities, and leave the congregation unsure of how to participate. 

Without a plan and guidance, a campaign could easily fall flat, just as his first attempt at fitness had.

Approach 2: Doing It With Professional Help

Everything changed for Pastor Ben when he hired a personal trainer. The trainer didn’t just hand him a plan, he was there every step of the way, correcting Ben’s form, designing workouts tailored to his needs, and keeping him motivated. With dedicated support, he achieved far greater results than he could have on his own.

When considering his church’s campaign, Pastor Ben realized that working with a church capital campaign consultant was like hiring a personal trainer. An experienced consultant would provide tailored expertise, step-by-step guidance, and accountability for the entire process, significantly increasing the chances of meeting, or even exceeding, the church’s fundraising goals.

The Lesson for Churches: Experts Bring Results

Pastor Ben saw firsthand that doing it alone, with no plan or expert support, led to disappointment and little success. By contrast, with professional guidance from a consultant, he achieved real transformation, both at the gym and, now, potentially for his church.

The experience taught him an important lesson: For a church capital campaign, relying only on internal efforts and enthusiasm rarely moves the needle. Churches that go it alone typically raise about 1 times their annual giving, a fraction of what’s possible with professional help.

So, when launching a church capital campaign, the smartest choice is to invest in expert guidance. A church capital campaign consultant brings the strategy, experience, and motivation needed to help any church reach their vision and fully engage their congregation.

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Need a Biblical Church Capital Campaign? Rod and Stephen at Abundant Giving would love to work with you! 

Dr. Rod and Stephen Rogers

Owner-Consultants