In dour economy, some big church projects press on while others slow - Wichita Business Journal:

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The $2.8 million project will add five a three-level playland area and a new back entrances and coffee kiosk to the churchn at 21st Street Nortb and K-96 highway. It also will expan d an elaborate puppet theater that church leaders say is among amenitiesw that have helpedpush NewSpring’a average attendance to about 3,300. “We want kids to come and totallhy be engaged when they walk says Children’s Pastor Dan Kubish. “Our competitiobn isn’t another church. It’s and It’s among a few majorf projects bylocal churches. has broken ground on a $5.5 millionj expansion that will revampits sanctuary. And St. has its own $1.9 millio project under way.
But those jobs come amid an downturn that could cast clouds overa church’es balance sheet. They may be a finalo wave of work beforea lull, say contractorx and architects. Ben Hutton, vice presidenyt for business developmentat , says the two church jobs his firm is workingg on now “have been percolating for a “What we haven’t seen are branf new church jobs. They don’ft seem to be considering anything new,” he says. Dan lead design architect for , says “a smart churcgh is going to be cautious in timew likethis — very cautious.” But for the need to expand may neve r be greater than in times like some leaders say.
It’s not uncommon for attendanced to get a boost duringf adown economy. “Bad economies drive a lot of peoplesinto churches. That’s when people make decisionsw to make room in their livesfor church,” says Bill Poore, executive pastor for NewSpring. No Matter What Whether the financials keep pace with the largere attendance is anopen question, At , which has a $350,000 playgrounds and landscaping project undetr way, “attendance has been on an uptick,” says business administrato Tom Kluge. He says givingg this year has been on parwith 2008.
whose firm designed the First Evangelical Free project and the project at FirstMennonite Brethren, says a large shares of church giving is supported by a small number of the a figure that holds up in touggh times. But some churchesa still are pulling Paul Cavanaugh, principal for , says church work that at one time accounterd for about half the projects in his officre now makes up no more than 15 percent. And churchee that are moving forward are doinvgso cautiously. In one case, a church that had been planning to build 10 new classrooms is now williny to make do withjust six.
“Times are just tighteninb up and the giving from the congregatioh is quite diminished from where it had been a year and a half he says. Poore, of NewSpring, says the church saw firsthansd how the economy can pinch He says it took until 2005 for churchb revenue toreach pre-9/11 levels. “I think it goes into the psychologhy — just like people don’t buy new cars or new If they feel pretty confiden about thefuture ..., things go pretty When that gets clouded, that influenceas giving.” But rapid attendance growthg can take the sting out of a recession. NewSpring’s attendance has nearluy doubled intwo years.
Giving so far this year is up by Still, Poore says, “You have to step out there and have fait hwhen you’re doing some of these things,” he says.