When Pastor Justin Driver arrived at Forward Church in Mobile, Alabama, the building was on fire. Literally. The church caught fire the very day he interviewed in April 2017. What followed was years of litigation, a ground-breaking in the middle of COVID, and a brand-new sanctuary completed in 2021. But the story didn’t end there. With next-gen ministries booming, Forward Church was ready to grow again, and this time they wanted a partner who understood that a capital campaign is about far more than capital.

This is the story of how Forward Church blew past its first goal, hit its second, and discovered that the real win was spiritual.

The Results at a Glance

• Three goal tiers set through financial analysis: $1M low, $1.2M middle, $1.5M high
• Over $1.2 million pledged, shattering the first goal and reaching the second tier
• $1.5 million projected by the end of the three-year campaign
• 8 giving units have already given more than 50 percent of their total pledge
• All within the first 6 to 7 months of a three-year campaign

A Church Born Through Fire

Pastor Justin was called into ministry at 19 and came to Forward Church at 29, “full of wisdom,” as he jokes. His testimony is one of submission and obedience, of God opening the right doors at the right time. He needed every bit of that faith from day one.

The building caught fire the day he interviewed. After several years navigating insurance litigation, the church finally broke ground on a new building in September 2020, right in the heart of the pandemic. Roughly twelve months later, in September 2021, Forward Church held its first service in the new sanctuary.

“The building caught fire April of 2017. It was actually the day I interviewed. So the day I’m interviewing, the church is burning. It’s the craziest story ever.”

Ready to Grow Again

Forward Church had always thought in phases. Phase one was the new sanctuary and nurseries. Phase two was an office wing. Phase three was a kids ministry addition. God provided enough to combine phases one and two, but with next-gen ministries thriving, leadership knew it was time for the next step.

The vision was clear: bring every next-gen ministry under one roof. Preschool through elementary, preteen, all of it, was currently housed in a separate building. Justin wanted those kids and families together with the rest of the church.

He did a little research, found INJOY online, and reached out. Before long, Ken Friar called him back, and Justin describes it as a God connection from the start.

“I just did a little research, found INJOY online and reached out. And before I know it, Ken Friar reached back out to us. I felt like that was a God connection. He put us in front of the right person at the right time.”

Why INJOY, Especially the Second Time Around

Forward Church wasn’t new to capital campaigns. They had partnered with another company for their first building, and they had even tried running one entirely on their own. What set INJOY apart wasn’t just experience. It was culture.

“It’s not just a capital campaign. It’s not just a strategy to get money and capital from people. It’s actually the culture of leading your people on a spiritual journey. The culture of INJOY fit the culture of Forward.”

For Justin, that resonated deeply. Forward Church emphasizes discipleship and spiritual growth, and hearing that same language in the first meeting with Ken confirmed the fit. As Justin puts it, you can have the best vision and the best mission, but without a healthy culture, it just doesn’t work.

He also pointed to the difference in follow-through. Working with consultant Jeff Shortridge, Justin was struck by the in-person, face-to-face attention that carried through the entire process.

“The in-person, face-to-face interactions that you get, I’m just blown away. We connect with one another on a kingdom level more than a business level.”

The Spiritual Wins

When asked about the moments that made it all worth it, Justin didn’t talk about dollars. He talked about a 21-day spiritual journey the church took together leading up to Commitment Sunday, a season that brought leaders and key families closer to each other and to God, all united around one common goal.

The moment that stands out most was the leadership commitment dinner, a night of prayer and worship with key families gathered in one room.

“I’m not an emotional person, but I’m almost tearing up right now thinking about that night. People were at the altar just seeking God on what He would have them do. It really is a spiritual commitment.”

That framing shaped everything. As Justin describes the heart behind it: it was never about what the church wanted from its people, but what it wanted for them. Not a request, but an invitation to move forward together as the body of Christ.

The Structure That Made It Work

For some pastors, the campaign process can feel daunting on the front end. Justin found the opposite to be true. The detailed structure and specific guidance gave the church a clear, step-by-step path, and the momentum showed. Forward Church hit multiple goals early, celebrating updates with the congregation one Sunday a month and keeping people engaged throughout.

“I love the process you guys have. I like a detailed structure, and the structure that you guys have given us has been very beneficial.”

The Questions Every Board Asks

Forward Church faced the same hesitations most church leaders wrestle with, particularly around cost and economic uncertainty. Having now launched a campaign in late 2025, in a season of high prices and economic unease (not to mention having broken ground on the previous building during COVID), Justin has a clear perspective.

“Won’t it cost too much?” Forward Church learned this one firsthand. Between their first professionally guided campaign and this one, they tried running a campaign entirely on their own. It simply did not work. The lesson stuck with Justin and his board: you can save a little money doing something ineffective on your own, or you can make an investment that produces a far greater return.

“We can save a little money and do something on our own that’s ineffective, or we can make an investment and do something that’s going to produce a greater return. If I can spend a little bit more upfront and produce a greater return long term, that’s a no-brainer.”

“What about economic uncertainty?” Forward Church has now launched campaigns through both COVID and the uncertain economy of late 2025. Their pastor’s council had some initial hesitation, but the consensus, especially among the business-minded leaders, came down to return on investment. The mission was worth moving forward.

The Piece Most Churches Miss: Follow-Through

When asked if there was anything else worth sharing, Justin pointed to the phase Forward Church is in right now: the follow-through. It’s exactly where he felt they had failed when they ran a campaign on their own, and where their previous partner had fallen a little short.

“The phase we’re in right now with the follow-through is where we failed personally when we did the campaign on our own. The intentionality, even now after the public launch and Commitment Sunday, is really impressing me. I think it’s going to make the success of the campaign even greater.”

He describes this season not as a sprint but a steady jog through the rest of the three-year campaign, with the same intentionality that marked the launch. For Justin, that long-term commitment is what will ultimately make the difference.