Podcast Episode #317
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Nearly every church has a facility. But not every church stewards their facility well. Tim Cool joins us to discuss facility stewardship and how churches can save money on their facilities in the long run.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
- Everything on earth has been entrusted by God to us to care for.
- Stewardship in the church isn’t just about money.
- The expenses needed to take care of a facility are not an optional thing, they are an inevitable thing.
- We know facility issues will come up in the church, it’s prudent for us to plan for them.
- Facilities won’t save souls. They are tools for us to use to see people saved and to disciple the saints.
- Churches need four master plans—ones for ministry, finance, facility, and sustainability.
- Church utility costs should average between $1 and $1.50 per square foot.
- Effective facility usage can lead to more effective ministry because you’re able to put more resources into ministry.
About Tim Cool:
Tim Cool is founder of Cool Solutions Group, and has assisted nearly 400 churches, (equating to over 4 Million Sq Ft) throughout the United States with their facility needs. He has collaborated with churches in the areas of facility needs analysis, design coordination, pre-construction and construction management as well as life cycle planning/facility management. Cool Solutions Group is also the developer of eSPACE Facility Management software products including Event Scheduler, Event Registration, Work Order Management, Life Cycle Calculator and HVAC integration. Tim is also the author of three books, Why Church Buildings Matter: The Story of Your Space, Church Locality (co-authored with Jim Tomberlin) and Plan 4 It: The 4 Essential Master Plans For Every Church as well as a church Facility Management manual entitled Intentional Church Series: Facility Stewardship. Tim lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife of 32 years, Lisa, and supports his triplet college students at Appalachian State University.
Episode Sponsors
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Find out more at mbts.edu/TimothyTrack.
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Feedback
If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of Who Moved My Pulpit?
“Church utility costs should average between $1 and $1.50 per square foot.” I believe this is per year, and not per month.
Hey Greg…that is correct…that is an annualized number. Sorry about that
I am left wondering if the salary of a facility manager(s) is part of the maintenance cost, or in addition to the average yearly costs that were cited.
Greg…another great question.
The facility Manager…if their sole role is to mange the facility, manage staff, etc, then no, they are not include. However, if that person is also performing some of the tasks (i.e. repairs, setups, janitorial, etc), then what ever portion of their time is allocated to those tasks would be included.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Tim
Hi, I was also wondering if you have any kindof formula that could estimate what a facility manager should make for a salary? Didn’t know if you could do that based of size of the building? Size of the congregation? Or something else? Thanks!
Hi Joe,
I have worked in the maintenance field for many years and I have also work as a Church facilities manager. I am now a pastor and my experience has shaped how I see this role. There are many professional organizations out there that help with setting a wage. Some things to consider is that as you would like to make a career out of what you are doing so would your facility manager. As much as you like vacation, sick days, and 401k so would they. What I have found is that when you work with a church we want to pay our pastors well but no one else. We don’t want to pay our maintenance and facilities people a living wage. There is a industry standard for how many square feet per maintenance person as well. Make sure they know their stuff but pay them for knowing their stuff.