So, what do we do now? This is a prevalent question our team hears when we complete a Facility Condition Assessment. The money is a complete waste if a church receives our feedback and neglects to set a plan. Therefore, we add this to the end of every one of our reports:
“Admonition: The information and suggestions mean very little if no action is taken. We encourage the church to understand the issues you are facing and take the necessary steps to address them. Our purpose in this report is to give you actionable data to assist you in stewarding the facilities that have been entrusted to you.”
Taking Action Based On Your Facility Condition Assessment
From the paragraph above, I would like to explain a few key phrases:
Actionable Data
Actionable data is a term that Nathan Parr, one of our Facility Stewardship Specialist, has used for years to help drive the home point that non-actionable data and information that is of little value. When our team delivers a Facility Condition Assessment, we provide actionable data such as:
- Identified areas of deferred maintenance and the projected remaining useful life
- Benchmarking data to identify operational categories that need to have a deeper dive into the reasons for potential inefficiencies and over/under spending
- Money projections needed to adequately prepare for the inevitable costs of capital renewals and system replacements.
We understand that some actions must be planned and budgeted for. However, with the data we provide, there is more than enough work to move the needle.
Assist You
We are here to help and assist you and your church. In some cases, that means additional onsite consulting and training. It may include assisting with establishing best practices, preventive maintenance regimens, and even setting up your eSPACE Work Order and Asset software. In other cases, we provide virtual coaching that can be sporadic or on a regular schedule. Regardless of the level of involvement, we are here to assist you and your team.
Stewarding The Facilities That Have Been Entrusted To You
If you have read my book Entrusted, follow me on social media, or read our blogs regularly, you have heard me repeat that phase agnosia. And I make no apology for repeating it here and every chance I get.
Until church leaders fully grasp and take action, I will continue to beat that drum repeatedly. This is not a cute phrase or slogan. This is also not just about facilities. Neglecting to take action is a heart issue. And once we all can accept the fact that God entrusted our facilities to us — just as he has entrusted people, money, our families, and our homes — the better we will take our role as stewards of God’s “stuff” more seriously.
Post Facility Condition Assessment: Take Action
If your church has not had a Facility Condition Assessment performed on your facility, it’s time to take action. You will understand your operational costs, current condition, “at-risk” components, and life cycle requirements. Contact us; we will explain how we can help. Our team will be there with you to take steps to address the actional data.
