The Mission

Ultimately it is our desire to educate and equip churches, pastors and building teams with the tools to make proper decisions to have both a God centered building project and a successful one.

In an effort to pass along this information, we have partnered with several lenders and architects who also share in this passion of assisting churches. We are hosting six seminars in various locations throughout the state. The focus of each seminar will be to give information, tools, and guidance in the lending, architecture and construction areas.

The Topics

Hear industry leaders from the Lending, Architecture and Construction fields talk about:

· How to have a God centered building project
· Knowing the right time to start the process
· How to present yourself to a lender
· Preparing for future growth before you even start your project
· How to select an architect and when to do it
· Why sustainability in design is important
· How and when to select a general contractor
· Different contract types with contractors
· How to avoid common pitfalls
· All these topics and so much more....

Flory Construction

We know churches

Back in 1970, we built our first church for Pentecostal Bible College in San Jose, California, and it was the beginning of something big for Flory Construction. Today church construction is our specialty, our greatest passion, and in many ways our own ministry. We know churches from all angles, from sitting on building committees and church boards to serving as Sunday School teachers, usher teams, and pastoral staff. We’ve helped more than a hundred churches with their building needs—here at home and as far away as Tanzania, Africa.

Whether we’re renovating, expanding an existing facility, or building a new church from the ground up, we bring a commitment to quality construction, value engineering, cost-saving ideas and perhaps most important, strong working relationships with our clients. As Stanley Long, senior pastor of South Bay Community Church puts it, “I enthusiastically recommend Flory Construction, but let me warn you—you will get more than a construction company. You will get a friend.". Visit Site

Bank of the West

As one of the largest lenders to churches in the U.S., we take a consultative approach to meet your specialized needs. Whether expanding your facilities or breaking new ground, we can shepherd you through every step of the process—from prequalifying for financing to navigating the maze of financial solutions. Committed exclusively to the religious community for nearly two decades, we offer the invaluable benefits of experience and stability—and the proof of many highly satisfied ministries.

Founded in 1874, Bank of the West is the third-largest Western-based commercial bank in the U.S. Backed by a commitment from top management to bring the resources of this $66 billion bank to the religious community, our church loan portfolio has grown steadily over 20 years. We are staffed with 30 full-time professionals, bringing you expertise in Church Financing, Equipment-leasing, and Cash Management. Visit Site

Dutra-Cerro-Graden

Dutra-Cerro-Graden is a commercial real estate and land development company with operations in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area. Founded by three industry leaders, Dominic Dutra, Alan Cerro, and Landis Graden, the firm brings decades of experience in dealing with land, asset and development opportunities. Their competitive advantage in the market is their understanding of the land development and entitlement process and their ability to use this knowledge to assist clients in achieving key organizational objectives. Visit Site

Shanks Architects

David Shanks is a recognized leader in church planning and design and has led strategic planning and design teams for many dynamic and growing churches across America. Utilizing his firm’s strategic and master planning methodologies, and drawing on his interests in contextual urban planning and societal trends David has designed suburban campus as well as urban facilities to maximize the church’s effectiveness in reaching the surrounding community.

An avid sketch artist, David uses his talent to better “see” and ingrain into his memory images of our current world as well as the world of concepts, invention and dreams. Visit Site

Debartolo Architects

The work of debartolo architects is distinguished by the compelling use of light and elegant form. Through collaboration with religious and educational institutions, the firm has garnered praise from professional peers not only for its design excellence but also for the firm’s ability to interpret the vision and mission of users and owners into timeless architectural environments.

Founded as a collaboration, the father and son studio of debartolo architects is dedicated to the careful search for unique design solutions through the potent use of material, space and light. The convictions and creativity are the products of over 40 years of combined architectural experience on distinctive projects across the United States. The studio is passionately dedicated to creating functionally-tuned built environments that respond to client needs, the climate and the context. Through all phases of the design process, we strive to find the ideal architectural relationships which harmonize the spatial and perceptual needs into creative and profound architecture. This process demands an intense dedication to distilling the project’s pragmatic and philosophical requirements in order to determine the essence of the project.

Established in 1996, debartolo architects has been engaged to address design challenges ranging in scale from master planning an 80-acre college campus, designing worship spaces, educational centers, gymnasiums, libraries, a Jesuit residence, along with several houses. Since the year 2000, the built work totaling nearly $45m has been widely recognized as technically precise, sophisticated, elegant and timeless. In addition, debartolo architects has received numerous state and regional and national awards for design excellence and been published widely in the national and international press. The studio has established a national reputation with projects such as the Mariposa Residence in Phoenix (Dwell Magazine, March 2004) as well as the Storms Research Center and Library in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. The recently completed Prayer Pavilion of Light has garnered local, regional and national awards and attention for its innovation and elegance as a place of prayer and contemplation. The central concern of the practice is ‘design excellence’, achieved through active collaboration with clients, engineers, specialists and artists. The intimate and creative working-studio of design professionals constantly balance experience with passion, precision with gesture and focus with perspective – giving high dedication to each new challenge. Visit Site

SIM Architects

SIM Architects, Inc. is a design and service oriented practice, committed to the belief that architecture is capable of enriching daily life while being pragmatically efficient and cost-effective.

To achieve this, our practice is an integrative one, embracing the values of good listening, proactive planning/thinking, and energetic collaboration with our clients and consultants. We possess enormous combined experience, yielding a tremendous diversity of expertise and knowledge. To this we add a well established familiarity with various state and local agencies that regulate planning and building. We bring wealth of experience and these values to the comprehensive range of architectural services we provide.

SIM Architects, Inc. achievements are evidence of the diversity of talents we house, and a reflection of the successes of a collaborative effort. Our projects have always been purposefully suited to our clients' needs, and result in the most vibrant working and living environments. Visit Site

Strongtower

At Strongtower Financial, we thrive on delivering solid, values-based investments, because we understand that the bottom line isn't always the bottom line.

Strongtower Financial offers a full range of investments and financing solutions for both individuals and organizations. A national leader in church financing and faith-based non-profit lending, we have helped thousands of churches expand their ministries without sacrificing their values. Now, we'd like to offer the same to you. Let us help incorporate a values-based approach into every financial solution. Visit Site

Cass Commerical Bank

At Cass Commercial Bank, we understand the unique needs of churches and ministries in securing church loans and church financing. A church is not a business and should be looked at in a different way. We have crafted a process that involves a personal and conversational style, oriented toward understanding the goals of your ministry. Whether your needs involve church real estate purchases, church construction financing, or simply restructuring your current debt, we have the experience and commitment to provide for all your church banking needs. Visit Site

WWCOT

WWCOT’s 160 architecture and design professionals are committed to empowering our clients to successfully express their visions, market their brands, and achieve their goals. We are an established, full-service design firm with roots in California since 1949 and a broad range of award-winning project experience. Our energetic principals and staff focus their creative energy and innovative solutions to meet each of our clients’ individual needs. We are collaborators with imagination. We are hands-on and on-site. We pay attention to detail, while respecting budget and schedule. We “live green” and design towards a sustainable future. Creating sacred spaces calls for extraordinary sensitivity to diverse spiritual needs, traditions, and cultures. WWCOT accommodates ceremonial requirements within fiscal parameters. We design uplifting and contemplative spaces of human scale and graciousness that nurture the soul. Visit Site

HH Architects

Since 1971, HHArchitects has been blessed to partner with many of our nations leading churches offering a full range of services including Architectural, Master Planning, Strategic Positioning and Interior Design Services. Our commitment to excellence and through understanding of strategic planning for growth provides a strong history of projects, ranging from first-unit buildings to 7,000-seat worship centers. We believe architecture is not just about buildings, but more about enabling each ministry to grow and fulfill the client’s vision. It is facilitating ministry through architecture. Visit Site

JHW

Jacoubowsky Hawkins Walker Architects Inc. (JHW Architects) was founded in 1969, located at 299 Cannery Row in 1974 in the Aeneas Storehouse (one of the original cannery buildings built in Steinbeck’s famous forties and remodeled by our firm in 1974). After 28 years, we recently moved to 2400 Garden Road, Suite C in Monterey.

Daryl Hawkins is President of the firm, with Kenneth J. Walker serving as Project Architect and Boris “Bob” Jacoubowsky Of Counsel, Together, they have collaborated on many of the major works for which the firm is responsible on the central coast. In addition, we have a full time CAD Manager in Paul Carvalho, and Sarah L. Miller handling Marketing/Business Development. We employ many consultants on a project by project basis, depending upon the size and budget involved. Our focus is always to bring our thirty+ years of professional experience and creativity to your unique needs, whether it is a commercial facility, religious or residential building. Our size means you always receive personal attention and service for your requirements. JHW’s broad and extensive experience means our continuing commitment to architectural excellence is reflected in your completed building. Visit Site