Building God's Way Workshop | Mechanicsburg, PA

If your church or Christian school is growing and facing challenges with limited or outdated space, you will not want to miss this event
About this Event

Is your church or Christian school growing and facing challenges with limited or outdated space? If so, you will not want to miss this event! This is a unique opportunity to meet with industry leaders in faith-based architecture, construction, capital campaigns, financing, A/V/L technology, strategic planning, childcare integration and more. Discover a turn-key solution to your facility needs and a nationwide network of trusted partners that have a shared mission and heart to support Christian ministry!

If your facility is limiting your potential for growth and community impact, we invite you and your leadership team to join us as we explore innovative facility solutions that support ministry, enhance learning environments, and serve your community throughout the week! Network with other church and Christian school leaders throughout your region and learn from shared experiences and shared challenges. Learn how 1,200+ churches & Christian schools across the U.S. have leveraged the unique and cost effective Building God’s Way Approach to plan, fund, design and build their ministry vision!

We invite you and your leadership team to join us at Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, PA on Wednesday, October 28th. Doors open at 8:00am for continental breakfast and fellowship and workshop sessions begin at 8:30am. Lunch will be served from 12:00 - 1:00pm and there will be a Q&A session at the conclusion of the event from 1:30-2:00pm.

Agenda

🕑: 08:00 AM - 08:30 AM
Continental Breakfast & Fellowship
🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:30 AM
Beyond Sunday: Designing Your Church to Serve the Community 7 Days a Week
Host: Don Mahoney, Principal Architect ? Building God's Way

Info: Places of worship are being rethought in exciting and unexpected ways. Church design is no longer just about a building for Sunday morning worship gatherings. It’s about crafting spaces that serve not only your congregation, but your broader community in a more holistic way – 7 days a week. Whether it’s through adaptable and flexible architecture, cutting-edge technology, community-centered lobbies, or financially sustainable business models like childcare centers, today’s design innovations reflect a deeper understanding of what sacred space can be in a rapidly changing world. By embracing this change, churches are not only enhancing their own ministry efforts but also offering vital community infrastructure that resonates far beyond worship services.

In this session, we will explore how designing church facilities for community use throughout the week can expand ministry impact, strengthen neighborhood relationships, and enhance financial sustainability.

🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Why Most Capital Campaigns Fall Short — and How to Reignite Generosity
Host: Chris Stovall, Sr. Generosity Strategist | Generis

Info: Regardless of your ministry size and scope, there is almost always a gap between your ministry resources and your God-inspired vision. We believe wholeheartedly that there is nothing that moves a church or Christian school forward in faith more effectively than going before God, both collectively & individually, and trusting him in bold faith through extravagant generosity.

In this session, Chris Stovall, Senior Generosity Strategist for Generis, a BGW Strategic Partner, will share how he helps churches and schools to close the gap between resources and vision by creating a sustainable culture of generosity that can fund your vision for years to come. A biblical understanding of stewardship and generosity can transform culture and hearts and make God-inspired visions a reality. We’ve seen Generis make this happen in churches, schools, and organizations all around the country, and we want to see it happen for you!

🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Strategic Financing: How to Attract Multiple Lenders to your Building Project
Host: Tom Gordon, Founder of Cornerstone Funding Consultants

Info: While capital campaigns can help fund a large portion of your building project, most churches and Christian schools also rely on some type of loan financing to reach their budget requirements. Evaluating all the borrowing options and the advantages and disadvantages of each can be overwhelming. The key to securing favorable financing is understanding what lenders will require for your specific building project. This session is designed to demystify the loan approval process and give your team the crucial insights needed before approaching lenders. Tom Gordon of Cornerstone Funding Consultants, a BGW Strategic Partner, will share how he helps BGW clients to first determine their financial capacity to fund a project and then effectively “turn the tables” on potential lenders, creating a competitive environment that will give you maximum leverage to negotiate the most favorable financing terms.

🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Stewardship Before Structures: Foundations of a Successful Building Campaign
Host: Don Mahoney, Principal Architect | Building God's Way

Info: Planning a building project can be a challenging prospect for any organization today, much less a church or Christian school. Inflation and supply chain disruptions in recent years, caused in large part by the global pandemic, have contributed to an already fragmented construction process in which 78% of commercial projects finish over budget, 30% end in legal dispute and the average project finishes 70 days late.

In this session, Architect Don Mahoney will share about an innovative approach developed exclusively for churches and Christian schools that is focused on delivering the highest level of stewardship, God-honoring relationships and intentional ministry focus. Learn how these principles are woven together to transform the design and construction process, utilizing a distinctive delivery method and a turn-key network of trusted strategic partners that have a heart for Christ and a keen understanding of ministry.

🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Avoiding Costly A/V/L Mistakes: Innovative & Cost Effective Worship Tech
Host: Jeff Mathis, Owner | Performance Technology Group

Info: In today’s churches and Christian schools, technology plays such a crucial role in creating dynamic worship and learning environments, fostering community engagement, and ensuring clear communication. In recent decades, worship facilities have undergone a profound transformation—not just in architectural design, but in how they engage their congregations. Central to this evolution is the strategic integration of Audio, Video, and Lighting systems (A/V/L).

This session is designed to equip church and Christian school leaders with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about A/V/L systems during the early stages of design. BGW Strategic Partners Jeff Mathis and Kevin Ritchie with Performance Technology Group (PTG), will share about some innovative yet cost-effective systems they have developed for BGW clients, as well as turn-key services that include consultation, preliminary budgeting, design, installation, and side-by-side training.

🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Lunch
🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Smart Furniture Decisions for Churches & Christian Schools
Host: Drew Coleman, Founder | Integrity Furniture

Info: Churches and Christian schools often face significant challenges when it comes to resourcing furniture that is both affordable and durable enough to support daily ministry use. Limited budgets must stretch across multiple competing priorities—worship spaces, classrooms, fellowship areas, and administrative needs—often forcing difficult tradeoffs between quality and cost. Learn how our strategic partners at Integrity Furniture, a Lifeway One Source Provider with access to 200+ suppliers, offer churches and Christian schools a significant purchasing advantage, with quality furniture solutions that can fit any style and budget.

🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:00 PM
Childcare: An Untapped Opportunity Inside Many Church Buildings
Host: Pastor Matt Roberts, True North Kids

Info: 95% of churches in the U.S. don’t have a preschool childcare program during the week and we believe that many churches are missing out on one of the most powerful and authentic ministries available. A well-run childcare program provides an incredible opportunity to engage with young families and new visitors. It can foster meaningful connections with your faith community on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis while creating an additional revenue stream for the ministry.

In this session, Pastor Matt Roberts, Founder of True North Kids, will share how his organization helps churches to establish and manage early childhood education centers that can serve as a vibrant hub of spiritual growth, academic excellence, and community engagement. From professional consulting and planning services to shared-revenue partnerships with leading providers, learn how True North can help you bring early childhood education to your campus and your community.

🕑: 01:00 PM - 01:30 PM
Every Building Speaks...What is yours Saying? The Importance of Branding
Host: Jason Manarchuck, Branding Consultant

Info: When most people hear the term “brand identity”, they think of corporate logos, color palettes, and taglines. But in the context of a church or Christian school, your brand identity is far more meaningful—it’s the visual and experiential expression of your mission, your culture, and your calling. And nowhere is this identity more visibly lived out than in your physical space.

As churches and schools grow or prepare for renovation or new construction, it’s essential to think beyond square footage and seating capacity. Your building isn’t just a place to gather; it’s a physical extension of your ministry. It can help tell your story, shape first impressions, and reinforce what you stand for. In this session, Branding Consultant Jason Manarchuck will share how a branding and awareness campaign can help you design spaces that reflect your values, mission, and community and make a powerful first impression.

🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:00 PM
Q&A Session with the Speakers