FROM THE EDITOR
Change of plans ?
As befitting of a brand-new year , this issue of Church Executive focuses a lot on reimagination . Making changes — physical , mental , procedural and otherwise — is top of mind , for the betterment of our churches , our families and ourselves .
First , in our cover story , Radical obedience , reimagined space , real impact , one of the most unlikely spaces imaginable for a new church emerged as the ideal fit : a Former Best Buy retail store .
But even before that , if you asked Pastor Travis Greene and his wife , Dr . Jackie Greene , they would tell you they never imagined moving to Columbia , SC from Charlotte in the first place .
“[ W ] e just felt that we were supposed to start a church and [ began ] to pray about location ,” Travis recalls . “ Really , prayer is what positioned us here . It ’ s just that simple .”
Fortunately , as was the case for Forward City Church , sometimes having to reimagine the plan is a blessing . The church started the project with less than $ 100,000 in the bank . That cash was earmarked to help pay for the former Best Buy . Amazingly , an additional $ 2 million-plus was raised for the project — during a pandemic .
On pages 8-10 , find out how the project morphed and changed and , with the right expertise at the church ’ s side , is materializing even better than the Greenes imagined .
In Pastors : prevention starts at home !, “ Stop Child Sexual Abuse ” Series authors and Church Executive guest editors Gregory S . Love & Kimberlee D . Norris shift the focus on all that church staff can ( and should ) be doing on their own campuses to protect the children in their care , to how they can help church parents and families minimize the risks , beginning at home . What should the church be doing ? What specific resources should church leaders offer to parents in the congregation ? What ’ s a good starting point ?
You ’ ll even find a candid , powerful Q & A with Norris and Love ’ s 22-year-old daughter , Georgia — now a second-year law student — about what it was like growing up in a home where the conversation about sexuality began early on . You ’ ll find all this compelling content on pages 14-17 .
Finally , Financial implications of job relocation — the latest installment in the “ Your Financial Wellness ” Series ( formerly “ Church Financial Wellness ”) — addresses head-on The Great Resignation that ’ s happening right now . New opportunities are very much out there , and it ’ s no exception for clergy .
While making a big change can be exciting , however , it ’ s imperative to calculate all the costs associated with relocation before you make the move . This article provides an excellent roadmap . You ’ ll find it on pages 12 & 13 .
As always , we hope this issue is informative and helpful . We welcome your feedback .
RaeAnn Slaybaugh Editor in Chief
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Gregory S . Love and Kimberlee D . Norris Guest Editors Shareholders and partners in the law firm of Love & Norris Co-founders of MinistrySafe
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EDITORIAL ADVISORY PANEL
Stephen Briggs Associate Pastor of Administration First Baptist Church | Hendersonville , NC
Denise Craig Executive Pastor Abba ’ s House | Hixson , TN
Mike Klockenbrink Chief of Staff Lakeside Church | Folsom , CA
Dan Mikes Senior Relationship Mgr ., Faith Based Banking Division Cass Commercial Bank | Des Peres , MO
John C . Mrazek III Executive Pastor Pathways Church | Denver , CO
Sam S . Rainer III Senior Pastor West Bradenton Baptist Church | Bradenton , FL
Mark Simmons Business Manager Christ Community Church | Milpitas , CA
Eric Spacek Risk Control Program Manager Church Mutual Insurance Company | Merrill , WI
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4 CHURCH EXECUTIVE | JAN / FEB 2022