Lessons Learned from a $15 Million Church Facility Project

Every church facility project comes with its own set of surprises. Budgets shift, timelines stretch, and what seems like a simple plan often becomes far more complex. Yet within those challenges, there are lessons worth sharing—insights that can help other leaders navigate their own projects with greater wisdom. Recently, we spoke with Daesha Willingham, Executive Pastor at Trace Church whose church moved from a leased facility into a remodeled Budweiser plant. What began as an $8 million plan ultimately became a $15 million reality, and along the way, their team discovered truths about vision, leadership, and faith that continue to shape their ministry today.

From Lease to Ownership

When a church decides to take on a building project, the journey is rarely simple. For one church in Colorado Springs, the process began out of necessity. Their lease was coming up for renewal, and the looming rent increase made continued leasing feel like poor stewardship. With a mortgage payment nearly equal to rent, leaders realized ownership was the better long-term investment. Their lead pastor—always looking ahead—began exploring options, and the search for a permanent home was underway.

When $8 Million Became $15 Million

From the start, leaders set a firm boundary: the project wouldn’t exceed $8 million. But as often happens, reality shifted. Construction costs in their city were higher than expected, and the true space requirements grew larger than anticipated. In the end, the final cost nearly doubled to $15 million. What could have been discouraging instead became a testimony of God’s provision, as faithful giving, a strong capital campaign, and trusted partners made the project possible.

Remodeling a Budweiser Plant

Rather than building from the ground up, the church chose to remodel an existing facility—a former Budweiser plant located just a mile from their previous site. This decision kept their community connected and allowed them to expand into a 1,000-seat worship center with parking for 750. At the time, it seemed like plenty of room.

But growth came faster than expected. The church had been running three services before the move and anticipated consolidating into two. Instead, the new facility’s opening weekend drew so many new people that a third service was added immediately. Within a year, attendance swelled to nearly 3,000, and a fourth service is now in the works.

What Worked Well

Looking back, several decisions proved especially wise:

• Children’s ministry space was prioritized, giving room for future growth.

• Phase-two projects like a café and additional bathrooms were built upfront, and quickly became essential.

• Strategic partnerships, including a lease with a local school, provided additional income and stability, with the potential to reduce debt more quickly.

The Toll on Staff

Not every outcome was positive. The workload on staff was heavy, with many working nights and weekends—sometimes outside their expertise. The strain led to turnover and served as a reminder that building projects impact people as much as finances and facilities. Leaders learned the importance of caring for their teams during high-demand seasons.

Faith and Finances

Funding the project required both strategy and faith. The church partnered with the Solomon Foundation for lending, but only after a professional six-week capital campaign with Generis raised more than $2.3 million. Instead of draining the congregation, the campaign energized it—sparking prayer, generosity, and fresh excitement for the vision.

Lessons for Other Leaders

Reflecting on the experience, the executive pastor shared two key takeaways:

1. Don’t cut corners on quality. Cheap choices often cost more in the long run.

2. Be wise with your staff. Protecting people’s health and capacity is just as important as managing budgets and timelines.

Looking Ahead

Today, the church is thriving in its new facility, even as challenges like parking continue to shape next steps. With additional services planned and the possibility of a second campus on the horizon, the journey is far from over. What remains clear is that a church facility project is never just about a building—it’s about creating space for God to move and for people to encounter Him.