The Mortgage-Neutral Church: How congregations can leverage physical land for spiritual impact

Other than their people, for most churches, their greatest asset—and biggest headache—is their building. All too often, it consumes time and money that might be better invested elsewhere. Now, I’m not advocating we all sell our properties and just lease meeting space somewhere—I believe there is something important about literally taking ground for God with a place of our own—but we do need to reconsider the way we are currently doing things.

Think about how many churches are empty Monday through Saturday, other than for maybe one or two office staff. That is a terrible return on investment by any standard. It’s like the servant in the parable of the talents who buried the money his master entrusted to him. And then there is the subtle message that empty churches send to people who drive past them during the week, when they are shuttered: “We are not relevant to your everyday life.”

The problems are compounded by the fact that, with only 30% or so of a typical congregation tithing, much of the money that could or should be given to ministries or missions is tied up in paying the mortgage. I don't think endless bake sales are the best way of making up for what we lack. There has got to be a better solution.

What might things look like if our buildings became more of an asset than a liability, more of a fresh well than a drain? What if we used our buildings in a more strategic way so that they not only generate money rather than swallowing it up but also speak a positive message to our communities?

If a church only offers Sunday services, it will never become the center of town. But if people are already coming there during the week for other reasons—for childcare, for health services, for business, for entertainment and so on—they might be more likely to come back at the weekend.

And what if those visitors paid for it all through their fees and purchases, so that the property became a net gain, rather than a drain? That may sound unlikely, but

it's actually how things work at the fourth Influencers Church campus we recently launched in the Atlanta area.

A TOOL OF SPEED

I knew the concept worked because we had tried it at one of our Influencers  Church campuses in Australia, where we operated a successful childcare center for several years, prior to my relocating to the United States to lead Influencers’ global expansion (we currently have 11 campuses in Australia, the US, and Indonesia).

So, not far from the popular Avalon Mall in Alpharetta, we have bought a 62,000-square-foot, mixed-use building on around 11 acres. There is a childcare center, shared workspace, offices, and a church facility that can also be used for paid professional events.

Providing other services on church property isn't entirely new, of course.

Many churches have schools, gyms, and other facilities that are open to the community. But they are typically “add-ons” to existing church functions. What is different about the approach we are following is its intentionality from the get-go. It means that for every dollar we pay on our mortgage, we are already earning $1.10 from the services that are provided.

This kind of approach can really change the dynamics. We are currently closing on a similar project in Gwinnett County, and I have a goal of establishing 200 similar campuses around the world. Think about the impact, not only in their local communities but through the money that can be given to funding church planting and missions in other parts of the world, rather than going to Wells Fargo or any other financial institution. 

The point is not to make money for its own sake, but to generate it so that we can accelerate the gospel. At the end of the day, money is a tool of speed—it will slow you down if you don't have it and it will help you move more quickly if you do.

Let's say a typical church campus is paying $200,000 a year in mortgage, principal, and interest. If a large church has nine other campuses in a similar situation, that’s $2 million a year going straight to the bank. If those 10 campuses were all mortgage-neutral, there is an extra $2 million a year for ministry and for things like planting churches and helping the poor. 

A STAKE IN THE GROUND

There is another reason for considering this approach. The way the culture is changing, I can see a day coming when churches are going to be told they cannot speak biblically to issues like marriage if they want to retain their tax-exempt status.

But with a positive income flow, we can be in a position where we are no longer under the pressure of having to conform to what is politically and culturally acceptable.

One thing I have learned through the years of dealing with church property is that there is something important about owning and not just leasing. Remember, when God led the people of Israel out of Egypt, He told them to possess the land He was taking them to—not just be tenants.

The enemy doesn't like it when we purchase land and put down roots.

There is something about owning your own dirt that changes the dynamics for the rest of life, that makes it possible to flourish in a unique way. Why do people yearn to buy a home? It’s the American dream, the British dream, the Australian dream ... you name it. People want a place of their own. When you take possession, you are making a statement: “We are here permanently.” It’s like a country invading another and planting its flag, only in this case it’s for the kingdom of God, not an earthly nation. 

I believe that there are people who will join our new Alpharetta church because we own the property who wouldn’t if we were merely leasing somewhere.

There is a message of permanence in ownership—that we are here, and we are not going away. A stake in the ground. That’s part of the reason church projects can so often get caught up in zoning disputes and other issues: there are forces out there that don’t want a church in that community. 

The mortgage-neutral church model is not just about doing good business. It also involves faith because you have to build something bigger than you need. You have to find symbiotic businesses that are in sync with our mission to help people—medically, educationally, socially, and so on—and which pay for a building that becomes the center of the town.

All of this will require more wisdom and expertise of pastors than most of us have. I know that has been true for me; I have learned a lot from Christian businessmen who have helped teach me. I have even started an EMBA focused on real estate development because I believe the mortgage-neutral church can be a great multiplier for the kingdom of God. I want to be able to leave millions of dollars in assets to the next generation to plant churches in these end days; then I will have done my job. 

Note:   If you want to know more about the “mortgage neutral church” or need someone to consult you on your journey to give your church the great advantage you need to fulfill your vision please contact Ashley Evans at [email protected].

This article was extracted from Issue 7 (Fall 2021) of the AVAIL Journal. Claim your free annual subscription here.