The Blueprint: Behind the Scenes of the New Sanctuary Building Campaign

Host Michael Romans sits down with campaign co-chairs Betsy Kullman and Mike Gardner to pull back the curtain on the exciting next phase of our building campaign. Learn how your incredible generosity is shaping our planning, what we are looking for in our upcoming church site visits, and how we are prioritizing stewardship from day one. Show Notes In this premier episode of The Blueprint, host Michael Romans pulls back the curtain on the quiet phase of Christ Church’s expansion campaign in Bowling Green, Kentucky. If you've driven past the property recently and wondered why the bulldozers aren't moving yet, this episode is for you. Michael is joined by campaign co-chairs Betsy Coleman (former healthcare executive) and Mike Gardner (former BGMU local infrastructure manager) to pull back the curtain on the extensive preparation happening behind the scenes. Together, they break down the incredible multi-million dollar congregational pledge numbers, outline the strategic target budget, and discuss the upcoming steps for the design and construction phases. This episode highlights Christ Church's absolute commitment to financial stewardship, total transparency, and unified community involvement. Key Takeaways Generous Giving & Unity: The campaign has already secured over $2 million in commitments from 91 giving units (including the Mizo congregation), representing over 77% congregational participation. Fiscal Stewardship: Pledged funds are held in an isolated, interest-bearing account, with 100% of the interest funneling directly back into the project. Additionally, direct material procurement will save the church 6% in sales tax. Strategic Scaling: To align responsibly with giving realities, the team deliberately scaled the project down from an initial $8 million scope to a focused $4 million target budget dedicated to the sanctuary and music spaces. Diverse Project Methods: The committee is actively vetting different building models (Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build, and Construction Manager at Risk) to balance control, streamline timelines, and minimize risk. Field Research: On July 11th, the committee will conduct site visits to multiple regional churches (including Plum Springs Baptist, Cumberland Trace Church of Christ, Rich Pond Baptist, Eastside Church of Christ, and Florence Methodist) to study real-world design successes and structural cost-savers. Democratic Process: The congregation will remain completely informed through monthly updates, town halls, and an absolute final democratic vote before any official contracts are signed. Timestamps 0:00 – Welcome to The Blueprint & the Reality of the "Quiet Phase" 1:42 – Introducing Campaign Co-Chairs Betsy Coleman & Mike Gardner 2:50 – Campaign Milestone: Breaking Down the $2 Million in Pledges 3:55 – Defining a "Giving Unit" 4:25 – Scaling the Project: Shifting to a Responsible $4 Million Target Budget 5:52 – Financial Accountability: Tax Exemptions & Interest-Bearing Accounts 7:41 – Demystifying Procurement: Design-Bid-Build vs. Design-Build vs. CMR 10:50 – Field Trips: Researching Regional Church Architecture on July 11th 12:28 – Zoning, Codes, and Securing the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) 13:58 – The Chain of Command: Maintaining Congregational Vote & Absolute Transparency 16:21 – Closing Thoughts & Three Specific Ways to Pray for the Campaign