The Secret to Selecting the Right Partners

Bill Couchenour | Monday, September 19, 2011

As I said last week, the right project delivery method can serve the team well, but no project delivery method is strong enough to overcome the wrong partners. The reality is that the fees paid to the architect and contractor are relatively small compared to the total cost of the project. And they become miniscule when you consider the lifecycle cost of the facility. Yet, these are the people you are hiring to tell you how to spend your big dollars.

Here are seven characteristics for selecting the right industry professionals for your team:

1) Experience – Look for specific experience not only in the building industry, but also with the specific type and size of facility you may be considering. Also look for experience in the specific project delivery method you are using.

2) Familiarity with current trends – Over the next decade, the way we “do” church is going to change significantly. Work with people that understand those trends, and how you can maximize the development of your facilities to anticipate those trends.

3) Breadth & Depth – A building project is a huge change initiative that will impact your church in more ways than you can imagine. Visioning, branding, communication, generosity, strategic planning, leadership development, assimilation, etc. are all important facets. Work with partners that have competencies and connections that can address ALL aspects of the project.

4) Flexibility – It requires patience and understanding to move with the ebb and flow of the variety of personalities and backgrounds in a church. A rigid position without regard for a global perspective will do damage to the people, the process and the product.

5) Fit – In most cases, you will be spending as much as two years or more with your industry partners. That’s longer than the average tenure of a youth pastor. If you wouldn’t hire an industry partner to be on your staff, don’t hire them to be on your team.

6) Collaboration – Collaboration is vital regardless of the project delivery method. Design/Build has overtaken Design/Bid/Build because it has been shown to be faster, less costly, less litigious and with better quality (per a Construction Industry Institute study). That certainly doesn’t mean it’s true in every circumstance, but what it does show is that working together in collaborative rather than adversarial roles will yield a better result. Work with people that know how to collaborate, not just cooperate.

7) Character - There is no amount of experience that can overcome a lack of integrity. Every project has challenges. You want people on your side with character you can count on. Be sure you are comfortable in this area – you will be spending the next couple of years together.

The industry partners you select are critical to the success of your project, even though their fees are a small percentage of the overall costs. If you could select 10 different teams and approaches, you would get 10 dramatically different projects delivered via dramatically different processes with dramatically different consequences. Even project costs (total or per sq. ft.) are only part of the picture. The ultimate goal is a facility that best fits the ministry needs so it propels you forward. And it should be developed through a process that strengthens you and your church.

Challenges are inevitable, so ask yourself this question: “Who do you want to be with in rough water?” The bottom line…

Hire for Competence & Integrity

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A Project Delivery Method Primer

Bill Couchenour | Monday, September 12, 2011

If you’re planning on building new or renovating facilities, you will likely use one of three general approaches to construction. The lack of understanding and even awareness of the different project delivery methods is certainly understandable in the world of ministry related facilities. It’s not something most churches will do often and it’s not taught in many seminaries. When the time arises, though, it’s important to at least have an awareness. Here’s a brief outline to get you started.

A) Traditional:

1) Design/Bid/Build (D/B/B) – In this approach, the church hires an architect to complete the construction drawings. Those drawings are then offered for contractors to review and submit bids at an assigned time and place. This is probably the approach that’s most widely known because it was the most prevalent approach until about the mid-90s.
2) Negotiated – This approach is similar to A1, except that the bid process is held prior to the completion of the construction documents - usually between the schematic and design development stages of the drawings. This approach adds input from the contractor on the development of the design, though it still positions the architect and contractor in adversarial roles.

B) Construction Management (CM): A fourth entity is added (in addition to the church, architect and contractor)

1) CM as Advisor – In this approach, the church hires someone to simply advise them. The Advisor has no legal authority or responsibility.
2) CM as Agent – The Agent, on the other hand, does have legal authority to sign contracts on behalf of the church. He is hired in addition to the architect and contractor, essentially to oversee their efforts.
3) CM at Risk – This approach is contracted very similar to Traditional/Negotiated. Here the Construction Manager takes on the liability and responsibility of the general contractor as the prime contractor by creating multiple bid packages.

C) Design/Build (D/B): In this approach, the church deals with a single entity for design and construction. The architect and contractor work as a team to develop the project. They may be part of the same company or united through appropriate agreements. D/B has grown over the past few decades, finally overtaking D/B/B over 10 years ago as the most popular approach. There are two other forms of Design/Build, D/B as Developer and Bridging, but you will rarely if ever see these in church projects.

The outline above is meant only as an introduction to the primary approaches a church can take to develop needed ministry facilities. There are pros and cons for each of the approaches and even nuances within each approach. They each have unique characteristics and vary widely in risk and responsibility for the church. But by recognizing that there are, in fact, different ways to go, you can better investigate the approach that’s right for you. NOTE: Don’t confuse project delivery methods (above) with contract methods. Contract methods such as “time and materials”, cost-plus, GMP, lump sum, etc. can be employed with almost any project delivery method, however, certain contract methods are often associated with a particular project delivery method.

Please feel free to comment here or email me at wlc@cogun.com if you have any questions or would like a deeper discussion.

Also, you may be hearing the phrase “Integrated Project Delivery”. If someone is telling you they’ve done IPD, it’s likely not true. They either have a lack of understanding of what IPD actually is, or they are using the term to try to say they’re “IPD-ish” (i.e. they work closely as a team). Real IPD involves combined, shared risk contracts and has only been done in some commercial projects. IPD-ish is good if it really represents an integration of a quality team. However, IPD is definitely on the horizon, and you can find out more by reading The Real Estate Revolution by our friend, Rex Miller. Also, keep your eyes on BIM (Building Information Modeling). BIM is a revolutionary design tool that will make IPD and other forms of deeper collaboration possible.

Any of the approaches above are capable of delivering a building (though I am convinced that some have a much greater chance of success than others to develop the right ministry facilities). But my nearly 30 years of experience has proven to me that the real difference is made with the industry partners you select to make up your team. The right project delivery method can serve the team well, but no project delivery method is strong enough to overcome the wrong partners. So…

…Check back next week for “The Secret to Selecting the Right Partner”

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Redemption (in Athens)!

Bill Couchenour | Monday, September 05, 2011

“When the Word was made flesh, there was no compromise on God's part!
God, in the Incarnation, became flesh…by the taking of mankind into God.
That is the wonder of redemption!” (A. W. Tozer)

We were bought with a great price. The sacrifice of Jesus paid a debt for us that we could not have paid on our own. His death and resurrection provides the opportunity of redemption and fellowship with God.

The transformation of a building is, in a sense, a metaphor for redemption. We have been repurposing a number of former Walmarts, Ashley Furniture warehouses and strip centers. They were sitting empty and decaying when we partnered with churches to transform them into places of ministry and worship – to, essentially, redeem them. Bringing new life to these facilities can be a powerful image for a community. It’s a contextual solution with minimal environmental impact. The redemption of a facility that in turn serves the community.

But the real redemption of the facility can only be done through its use. The space is redeemed by the activities that take place in the space it. When we connect with the spiritual through prayer or song or scripture or service, we redeem the space, wherever we are. Space becomes sacred not through physical geography, but through spiritual proximity. This has happened in a big way in Athens, GA. Athens Church, a North Point strategic partner, is committed to be a church that people unfamiliar or uncomfortable with “church” can attend. Athens Church is bringing the gospel of redemption to the people of Athens because…

Athens Church loves Athens!

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” (I Peter 1:18 & 19)

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The Story of Quarry

Bill Couchenour | Monday, August 29, 2011

Quarry Community Church is bringing the hope and compassion of the Gospel to Monticello, MN, about an hour northwest of Minneapolis. Lead Pastor, Michael Grose, and his team are doing a great work for Jesus. You get a glimpse of what they stand for with the analogy they use of a “quarry” (click here for the full Story of the Quarry):

The quarry is a place where you seek to find rocks.
The church is a place where you seek to find lost people.

The quarry is a place where rocks are formed, shaped and hewn for a specific purpose.
The church is a place where new believers in Jesus Christ are mentored and discipled to become fully devoted followers of Christ.

The quarry is a place where rocks are sent out to build something outside the walls of the quarry.
The church is a place where people are built up to be sent out and minister wherever God has called them.

The church is in the process of purchasing a building owned by the city. It was originally built as a bowling alley and over the last several years has fallen into disrepair. We are working with them to renovate this facility to develop needed ministry space and I had a chance to visit them, personally. We’re right at the crux of discerning vision, determining priorities and developing financial plans. It is always thrilling for me when I can be close enough to the vision to feel it.

I love this part because this is the very heart of what we do. The facilities are only tools for ministry but, because of the size of the capital expenditures, the facility decisions are critical. And I am more convinced than ever that bringing the right team into the room with the right process from the beginning results in the best facility decisions for church construction or renovation. I see this approach imitated by many under a variety of names but the “right team” and the “right process” are difficult to duplicate.

Please pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Monticello and the surrounding area.
May God use Quarry CC in a powerful way!

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Grace Brings You Back

Bill Couchenour | Monday, August 22, 2011

I was traveling through the Carolinas and Georgia recently and needed to meet with a friend of mine. We were about 2 hours apart so we selected a Starbucks just off I-85 that would be about halfway between us. After I arrived, I ordered one of my favorites (grande’ double-dirty soy chai), and we began our meeting. A short time later, my friend decided he wanted a strawberry Vivanno smoothie. He paid for his drink, and we quickly became engrossed in our meeting again. About 15 minutes later, it dawned on him that he hadn’t received his drink, so he went back to the counter to find out what was taking so long. He learned that they had made his drink and called for him, but he never came to the counter. In fact, because the drink melts, they had remade the drink and called for him a second time. Yet without hesitation, they made his drink a third time and even brought it directly to him. And on top of that, they gave him a free drink coupon!

Later that evening, my wife and I decided to grab dinner at one of our favorite South Carolina barbeque spots. We knew they were closing soon, so we hurried across town getting there at 8:53 pm, just 7 minutes before they locked the doors. The owner said he would take our order because we “just made it”. One more couple even squeezed in behind us to the chagrin of the owner, who then commented that he was “going to have to start closing at 8:45”. While we were ordering, I noticed they had a mix-up with a couple of their takeout orders. The owner’s explanation was, “That’s what happens when people come in at the last minute”.

We got our dinner and as we sat down, I couldn’t help but contrast this experience with the one at Starbucks earlier that day. On one hand, you have an owner that was not discrete in his aggravation with people arriving at the end of the day to patronize his business. On the other hand, because my friend and I weren’t paying attention, Starbucks had to make his drink 3 times. Instead of blaming us, they apologized and gave us a coupon inviting us back. I don’t want to judge the heart of the barbeque owner because I don’t know what kind of day he had, let alone the context of his story. But the attitude of the barista was grace filled – he didn’t give us what we deserved, he gave us something beyond our expectations. Which place would you be more excited about going back to?

As Christ-followers, we have experienced the most powerful expression of grace in history. I believe we honor that grace when we have the chance to bless others instead of giving them what they deserve. We honor Jesus when we forgive AND forget AND bless. It’s good to live in the grace we receive, and it’s good to have a posture of giving grace out of the overflow of what we have received.

When you have a choice between dealing justice and giving grace, choose grace. It brings people back to Jesus.

“…to the praise of his glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.” Ephesians 1:6

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Appreciation

Bill Couchenour | Monday, August 15, 2011

Do you remember a time when someone made you feel appreciated?

Do you remember what it felt like to be genuinely valued?

Appreciation is powerful because it adds to our sense of wholeness as an individual, yet connected to others in a community. Appreciation can feed our sense of meaning & purpose and give us hope, regardless of the current circumstances. Those are life-giving moments. Moments that for some people have been transformational in their lives. Think of the emotions you felt just now recalling a specific time when you were appreciated, or the emotions you’re feeling because it’s been so long since you’ve felt appreciated.

So why doesn’t appreciation happen more often?

One reason may be because some people don’t have a sense of gratitude. It’s nearly impossible to offer authentic appreciation when you don’t feel grateful. Another reason may be because we tend to see people with a label. It can be difficult to give appreciation to someone from another political or religious persuasion, when we subconsciously allow ourselves to reason that, if they’re wrong about that, how can they be right about anything. Another reason might be because we’re not good at it. We may have simply trained ourselves to see the negative first and foremost, or, maybe, our only examples of appreciation were actually manipulation. Perhaps the biggest reason is because we just don’t think of it. I know that I have had to be intentional about appreciation. Even though I deeply value people, too many times it doesn’t make it out of my head and heart to my lips and pen.

Let’s purpose to live gratefully, recognizing the value of the individual and be intentional about giving authentic appreciation. We have the power to create life-giving moments.

I often think back to a podcast by Len Sweet from his “Napkin Scribbles” series (hosted by George Fox Evangelical Seminary). The podcast is entitled, “The Water and the Words” and the premise is based on work by the Japanese researcher, Dr. Masaru Emoto. In his book, The Miracle of Water, Dr. Emoto found that words impacted the formation of water crystals. The more positive the words, the more beautiful the crystals. The language didn’t matter because it wasn’t the vibration of the sounds – it was the meaning. And the two words that formed the most beautiful water crystals were Love and Gratitude. If that’s true and the earth is made up of 70% water – we’re made up of 70% water – then “Love” and “Gratitude” become very powerful words.

What life-giving difference could you make today by using the 2 most powerful words in the world?

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The Internet at 30,000 Feet

Bill Couchenour | Monday, August 08, 2011

I was on a flight recently working on my computer and quietly complaining to myself about how slow the internet connection was. Then it dawned on me:

I’m sitting in a relatively comfortable seat (though I could use a little more leg room) flying at 600 mph and at nearly six miles above the earth.
AND I HAVE INTERNET ACCESS!

Funny how we take the opportunities in life for granted.

My preference when flying is always an aisle seat. Easy in, easy out – just like riding a bus. If necessary, I’ll take a window seat (anything to avoid the dreaded middle seat). But, when I do need to take a window seat, I am always amazed. At some point, I stop working long enough to look out the window to realize I am in the clouds. When you come through the clouds on the descent, you can see for miles. I try to imagine how many people, how many dogs, even how many insects are in the area of the earth that I can see at the moment. I think about the circumstances and the stories that would be represented by the thousands of people in this area of the earth. Then I realize that, as big as that area of the earth is, it’s a relatively small area on a relatively small planet in one of countless galaxies in the universe. And I again, get a glimpse at how much bigger God is than I had allowed Him to become in my everyday life.

Funny how we take the bigness of God for granted.

I can still remember an evening years ago when an architect friend of mine and I were driving back from a meeting in Florida. The sunset was spectacular (as many in Florida are). I remember the evening not just because of the sunset, but also because of our conversation. We were realizing that as spectacular as the sunset was, it was free. If it could be captured and ransomed, it would be priceless. Neither of us could afford it, yet God gives it to us for free. That led us to realize that the priceless blessings in life are, in fact, free. A brilliant blue and orange sunset. The aroma of fresh cinnamon bread. The taste of our favorite food. An embrace by a loved one. A simple, heartfelt “I love you.” The grace of an awesome God.

Funny how we take the priceless blessings of life for granted.

Pause, for a moment. Is there anything you’re taking for granted today?

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If the pilot says, “Never mind, we’re good to go”, should you be worried?

Bill Couchenour | Monday, August 01, 2011

My first flight was cancelled. We actually boarded, pulled away from the gate then sat on the tarmac until we heard the pilot say over the intercom, “Sorry folks, we’re having trouble with the flaps. They may tell you the flight is delayed but this plane isn’t going anywhere today.” We limped back and deplaned. They rerouted me through Philly on a fairly uneventful flight. But the flight from Philly to home (last one of the night) was delayed. We eventually boarded then waited for 9 people that were coming over from a Frankfurt flight. The pilot said it would just be a few minutes because the Frankfurt flight was already in. Nearly an hour later the Frankfurt 9 joined us and we were finally on our way. We pulled away from the gate and stopped – again.

The message from the pilot was genuinely heartbroken: “Folks, I have bad news. We have a mechanical problem and we have to go back to the gate.” The plane felt like it decompressed under a collective groan. We didn’t move for a couple minutes when the pilot came back on to announce, “Never mind, we’re good to go.” I strained to discern whether or not he was satisfied that the mechanical problem was truly resolved or if it was some sort of bravado. I found myself wondering about the personality profile of the pilot.

Often times in life we’re faced with whether or not this is a time to press on through the pain or pause and heal.

I have been faced with that question many times throughout my years in sports. Is it an injury or just soreness? My high school football coach taught me to assume it was just a temporary pain. In his mind, there wasn’t anything a little athletic tape couldn’t fix (I guess that’s why I stayed in another play after breaking my wrist in two places). There have been times when a good run actually healed the pain in my back. But there have been times when I pushed it too far and my wife had to gingerly help me into the back seat so she could drive me to the emergency room.

If I run with a knee injury I can do some damage to my body. But that’s nothing compared to the damage that can be done running through life with an injury to my soul. How about you? Are you going through a difficult time right now? Is it one of those times where you just have to grit your teeth and gut it out with God’s help? Or have you had a soul injury? If so, now’s the time to heal. I encourage you to listen in prayer, seek Godly counsel and get the injury healed. Jesus, the great physician for our bodies and our souls, is waiting for you now.

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What I’ve Learned From Uphill Battles in the Past

Bill Couchenour | Monday, July 25, 2011

This has been a incredibly difficult economic time in the US. There’s not one of us that, if we haven’t lost a job, doesn’t know a family member or friend that’s become un or underemployed. It has touched us all. And, the truth is, no one knows for sure when or how fast we will rebound. When it does come back no one can be sure what will have changed permanently. What we do know is that, from a business perspective, it’s going to be an uphill battle for a while. I’ve been in some uphill battles before and here’s what I learned:

A) Prayer changes our surroundings: I had one of my most difficult years, personally, in 1995. I had moved my family during some economic uncertainty leaving behind all my business contacts and connections. It was a move that I was convinced God wanted us to do but scary along the way. It was touch and go throughout the year and that kept us close to God in prayer. That December I received the best Christmas gift ever! My brother had kept track of answered prayers from throughout the year a pulled them together into a single file. It was confirmation of how God had been working in very specific ways. That file started a “God folder” of answered prayers I keep in a drawer immediately to my right. God is not a Genie that is there simply to grant our wishes but prayer changes things. (BTW – when people get three wishes from a Genie, why don’t they ask for more wishes when they get to the third wish?)

B) Prayer changes me: – I learned that security outside of God is an illusion. I learned that our circumstances tomorrow are guaranteed by no one but the promises of God for joy, peace and wisdom are true. And, when we let him, he does use all things for our good. I was different, I am different because of prayer during those days.

C) There are 2 ways to live - Fearfully & Frustrated or Purposefully & Prayerfully: Often I am tempted to live fearfully (which usually means I’m trusting in something other than God). When that happens I get frustrated with everything and everyone around me. But I can live Purposefully recognizing the great opportunity/responsibility God has given me to serve. And I can live Prayerfully asking for God’s direction and wisdom and finding his peace and joy. I know the choice is up to me and I choose Purposefully & Prayerfully. I still wake up at 4:00 am from time to time tempted with fear. But, when I do, I use that time to talk as intimately as I know how with God. It’s a choice that becomes easier to make over time.

What do you choose?

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Using Bamboo for Church Structures

Bill Couchenour | Monday, July 18, 2011

I was interested to find out that they utilize bamboo scaffolding for construction in Hong Kong. It struck me as odd that they even use it for skyscrapers. As it turns out, bamboo is incredibly strong. In Oxford studies from the 1920’s they proved bamboo to be similar in strength to steel. Add to that the fact that bamboo plentiful, cheap, renewable and lightweight and it’s no wonder it’s used throughout Asia.

A new friend, Chris Weinand, used the metaphor bamboo scaffolding recently in a way that captured my attention: We need to use bamboo scaffolding to build our church structures.

Think about the life cycle of a church. A church typically begins with a vibrant, compelling story. The atmosphere is electric. There is excitement and sacrifice. People seek God’s wisdom and guidance through prayer and the scriptures. As the church grows there’s a need for the scaffolding of procedures, practices and processes. Unfortunately, somewhere down the road it starts to become about the procedures, practices and processes and not the ministry. If the story is not redeemed and retold, the scaffolding strangles the structure. The challenge for most churches is that their scaffolding is made of steel and becomes undistinguishable once it’s intertwined with the structure. That makes it very painful for churches when they realize they need to change the scaffolding to be true to the story. More often than not they don’t change, they slowly pass away.

But what if we built our procedures, practices and processes out of bamboo? What if we saw them as temporary from the beginning? Means to an end.

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The Secret to Selecting the Right Partners

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A Project Delivery Method Primer

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Redemption (in Athens)!

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The Story of Quarry

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Grace Brings You Back

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Appreciation

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The Internet at 30,000 Feet

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If the pilot says, “Never mind, we’re good to go”, should you be worried?

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What I’ve Learned From Uphill Battles in the Past

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Using Bamboo for Church Structures

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