It was a conversation a pastor was hesitant to have.

His church was deep into a building project with roughly a $15 million price tag when they hit a surprise no one had planned for. The city wouldn’t let them move into the new building until a driveway and parking lot were paved, and that paving alone would cost about $2 million. The bank was willing to lend the additional funds, but only if the church first had another $365,000 in hand.

When the pastor asked the lender how to make that happen, the answer was simple: go ask your top givers.

Like many pastors, he felt the weight of that request. Asking someone for a significant gift was new territory, and it’s natural to wonder how it will be received. But he went to one giver and shared the need.

The giver’s response surprised him: “What are you waiting for? Why are you not doing this?”

That one giver gave the entire $365,000, plus an extra $50,000 to cover overruns they suspected might come. As Chad Aukland, our VP of Consulting, puts it: “Because he asked, they funded the need.”

That story captures something we see again and again in churches facing high construction costs. Our people are often more ready than we realize.

Hear It From Our VP of Consulting
In this 5-minute conversation, Chad Aukland walks through how he advises pastors and boards who are wondering whether to wait for building costs to come down, and why your people may be more ready than you think.
Watch the Video

The Question Behind the Question

When construction estimates come in high, it’s natural for a board to ask, “Shouldn’t we just wait until costs come down?” It’s a question rooted in good stewardship, and it deserves a thoughtful answer.

But after walking alongside hundreds of churches through building projects, we’ve found that “should we wait?” is rarely the right question. The better question is: What exactly are we waiting for, and what will waiting cost us?

Waiting Isn’t Free

Waiting feels like the neutral, safe option. In reality, it has a price.

According to Mortenson’s Construction Cost Index, nonresidential construction costs rose 1.7% nationally in the first quarter of 2026, with year-over-year gains of 6.8%. Even in a “moderating” market, costs are still climbing, just more slowly. On a $10 million project, a one-year delay at that pace could add roughly $680,000 before construction even begins.

“If we look a year ago compared to today, it’s exponentially more expensive to do a project today than it was a year ago,” Chad says. “I have absolutely zero reason to believe that a year from now it’s going to be cheaper.”

And the cost of waiting isn’t only financial. Every season a project sits on the shelf, the ministry needs that started the conversation keep growing. Kids’ spaces stay overcrowded. Guests can’t find a seat. The community you’re called to reach keeps waiting too.

Two Kinds of Waiting

Not all waiting is the same, and knowing the difference is one of the most important things a leadership team can do.

Waiting on the economy means holding off for conditions outside your control, like construction costs, interest rates, and market cycles. This kind of waiting rarely pays off, because those conditions seldom move in your favor on your timeline.

Waiting on readiness means taking time to strengthen what you can control: leadership alignment, a clear and compelling vision, a healthy internal culture, and a prepared campaign team. This kind of pause can be exactly the right decision, and an honest partner should tell you when you need it.

“At the end of the day, churches hire us to help them be realistic,” Chad says. Sometimes being realistic means extending the runway to prepare well. But it almost never means waiting for the economy to cooperate.

Your People Are Often More Ready Than You Think

That pastor’s experience isn’t unusual. One of the most consistent patterns we see is a gap between how ready leaders feel and how ready their people actually are.

Leaders worry that families are stretched thin and won’t respond. Meanwhile, many of those same families are quietly wondering why the church hasn’t moved yet. They’ve seen the crowded hallways. They’ve felt the need. They’re waiting for someone to cast the vision and invite them in.

“Your people don’t want you to wait,” Chad says. “You as a church may feel like you’re not ready. But when you take the step of faith and move, watch God align your people around the vision. Your people are ready. You just have to make the ask.”

The giver in that story wasn’t reluctant. He was waiting to be asked.

Moving Forward Wisely in a High-Cost Season

Choosing not to wait doesn’t mean ignoring reality. Project costs today often exceed what a church can realistically raise on its own, and most projects require some financing. Wise leaders move forward with a clear strategy.

Plan around your lender’s requirements. Many church building loans require around 20% down before financing is released. On a $10 million project, that’s $2 million up front. We often help churches set a dedicated first-fruits goal, the first offering given toward campaign commitments, aligned to that number. In our experience, a first offering typically brings in 8% to 15% of the total amount committed, over and above regular giving.

Trust the data on pledges. Fear that commitments won’t come in keeps many boards on the sidelines. In the campaigns we track, just over 97% of what’s pledged is actually received, well above the roughly 90% lenders typically assume.

Consider phasing or rescoping. Sometimes the right move is a first phase or a redesigned scope rather than an indefinite delay. Your architect or builder can help you see what can move forward now.

Raise to reduce debt, not just to build. Many churches exceed their goal and use the overage to ease their lending burden. It isn’t guaranteed for every church, but it happens far more often than most leaders expect.

Nothing About This Economy Surprises God

There’s a spiritual side to this decision that boards shouldn’t overlook. God didn’t wake up this morning surprised by interest rates. He knew exactly what building would cost in this season when He placed this vision in front of your church.

“God’s mission, God’s vision for your church doesn’t stop because things get too expensive,” our VP of Consulting says. “The church, through these circumstances, has always come out on the other end stronger.”

A pastor once put it even more bluntly: delayed obedience is disobedience. If your leadership believes God has called you to this project, it’s worth asking why He placed it before you now, and not two years from now.

Questions to Work Through With Your Leadership Team

• What specifically are we waiting for, and is it within our control?
• What would a one- or two-year delay realistically add to our project cost?
• What ministry is being limited while we wait?
• Are our leaders aligned on the vision, or do we need time to build unity first?
• Have we actually talked with our key givers, or are we assuming what they’ll say?

If your honest answers point to internal readiness, take the time to prepare well. If they point only to the economy, it may be time to stop waiting and start asking.

Take the Next Step

That pastor discovered something powerful when he made the ask: his people had been ready all along. Yours may be too.

Prefer to watch? Chad covers this question in a short 5-minute video. It’s a great one to share with your leadership team before your next board meeting.
Watch Now