When Pastor Christina Ennen arrived at First Presbyterian Church in Gulf Shores, Alabama four years ago, she walked into a situation many church leaders dread: financial uncertainty and underutilized space. But what could have been a story of decline turned into an inspiring tale of innovation, community engagement, and renewed purpose.
“We were in big trouble,” Christina recalls. “I literally sat down with a core group of people and said, what are we going to do here?”
What they did was nothing short of transformative. In a recent episode of the Pivot Podcast, Christina and Grace Pomroy, author of “Funding Forward: A Pathway to More Sustainable Models for Ministry,” shared insights on how churches can reimagine their funding models and deepen their community connections.
Here are the key takeaways for church leaders looking to pivot towards a more sustainable and mission-aligned future:
- Listen to Your Community’s Needs
When First Presbyterian began exploring new ways to use their space, they didn’t start with their own ideas. Instead, they asked questions and listened carefully to their community.
“We asked a lot of questions,” Christina explains. “We used Rooted Good’s Oikos Accelerator to help us kind of think through some things as we were going through this process. And so some of our people were out walking, talking to people. I was engaging with people in different avenues on social media and in person, asking questions. What do you see as the needs in our area?”
What emerged were two clear needs: affordable office space for small businesses and childcare. This community-focused approach ensured that their efforts would truly serve their neighbors, not just their budget.
- Align Your Assets with Your Mission
Grace Pomroy emphasizes that successful funding models aren’t just about generating income – they’re about aligning your resources with your mission.
“What I often find is that when congregations come to me, the presenting issue is financial or the presenting issue may be we really feel called to serve this part of our community,” Grace notes. “However, as we take a step back, there’s usually more to it in terms of what their connection is with their mission.”
For First Presbyterian, this meant revisiting their mission statement and finding ways to live it out through their new initiatives. Christina shares, “Our mission is to perpetuate hope for our community and our world by being consistently mindful of the indescribable gifts God has bestowed upon us and to express gratitude for such. The gift that we have that we can give to our community is our building, our property. So how can we use that to show gratitude, help, and perpetuate hope in our community?”
- Be Prepared for Challenges
While the story of First Presbyterian’s transformation is inspiring, it wasn’t without its hurdles. Christina candidly shares some of the challenges they faced, from clearing out years of accumulated “stuff” to managing noise conflicts between different businesses using their space.
“You know, we’ve had to find some money to put cameras up. Just those little things that you have to figure out and you don’t know until you get there how that’s going to work,” Christina explains.
These challenges underscore the importance of flexibility, creativity, and a willingness to problem-solve as you implement new funding models.
- Foster Relationships, Not Just Transactions
Both Grace and Christina emphasize that the real value of these new funding models goes far beyond the financial benefits. They create opportunities for deeper community engagement and relationship-building.
“We found that partnerships were the foundation of all of the work that happened here,” Grace notes. Christina shares heartwarming stories of how their business center tenants have become part of the church community, even volunteering to help with property maintenance.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
For church leaders who might feel overwhelmed by the prospect of reimagining their funding models, both Grace and Christina offer reassurance and practical advice.
“Ask for help,” Grace advises. “I guarantee you that the folks on your church finance team, your church treasurer, anyone who’s looking over your church’s financial life has probably been really eager to have this conversation with someone and has some skills that they can bring to the table.”
Christina adds, “We don’t have to do it alone. Isn’t that the point of community that we talk to one another, we ask, we lean into someone else’s strengths in our weak areas?”
As churches across the country grapple with changing attendance patterns and financial challenges, the story of First Presbyterian Church in Gulf Shores offers hope and practical guidance. By listening to their community, aligning their assets with their mission, and being willing to innovate, they’ve not only stabilized their finances but deepened their community impact.
“I’m hopeful that more and more churches will say, you know what, we’ve got this asset, whatever that is,” Christina reflects. “How could we maybe utilize that in a new way to engage the community?”
It’s a question that could lead to transformation for churches willing to pivot towards new possibilities.
