Red Rocks Church (“RRC”) is just 10 years old and recently broke through the 10,000 weekly attender threshold, and in one of the most un-churched cities in America. Wow. Praise the Lord!
What have been their keys to success? According to Eric Parks, there are several reasons why RRC has succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.
Personnel Model. One of their “keys to success has been their personnel model. Most churches operate with 1 full-time equivalent (FTE) for every 80 congregants. But RRC provides 1 FTE for every 140 congregants.” This allows them to keep their personnel costs down to an average of 42%. Never has RRC operated beyond its means (in the red) since they started in 2005.
First Fruit Generosity. From the very beginning, RRC has set an example of generosity by giving away 10% off their top line revenues even during their start-up time when there was little to give away! But from the get-go, they have given sacrificially according to their provision.
Habit of Saving. Today, RRC saves an additional 10% for future growth. This is made more possible because of their personnel model described above. Saving money even during start-up, often goes against common sense, and is quite difficult. But it’s a wise decision that has been demonstrated in many biblical examples.
Getting Ready to get ready! Sometimes when people start a new businesses they are fixated on all the wrong things. They want to create the right looking logo, get business cards, create fancy brochures…all to get ready to get ready. But the most important thing is to just get out there and pitch your product or service. For RRC, they just wanted to start preaching!
Spartan Finishes are Fine! By starting as a tenant with little resources, RRC had a Spartan, low budget, “fix-up” perspective. When you rent, you typically take it the way it is, don’t invest much into it, because you probably won’t be there long. When you build new many will justify that you will be there for a long time and you need for it to be of a high quality and to last. Perhaps. But this can fiscally hamstring your church!
Debt Load. It’s extremely difficult to undertake an expansion project with all cash. Debt is a tool to be used wisely. Regarding, RRC’s debt load, it does not exceed 60% in any of its 4 facilities.
More Expansion Planned. RRC is in expansion mode and seeking more facilities in the greater Denver area. They look for between 700 seats to 1,000 seats (9-10K auditorium) in total building size of 35-40K SF. Need 2.0 parking. If you have any property alternatives for RRC to consider, you may contact Mr. Eric Parks directly.
If you’re considering a church facility project, our Church Facility Solutions (CFS) team is here to serve you. CFS works with churches to create strategic facility expansion plans. We are a full-service commercial real estate development organization committed to serving churches. This vision aligns with our principals’ personal values as followers of Jesus Christ.
CFS provides A to Z services including strategic planning, financial feasibility, site or building selection, capital campaign, financing (as owner’s representative), project team selection, project and construction management (also as owner’s representative), furniture, fixtures, equipment, audio, visual, light procurement, and relocation coordination.
For more information on Church Facility Solutions, check out us out at https://churchfacilitysolutions.com or contact us at info@churchfacilitysolitions.com.