CDF Capital

We all need to be regularly reminded of how loved we are, especially when the busyness of the calendar tends to take all of our attention. When we feel like we are constantly putting out fires or running from one challenge to the next, we can forget that we are children of God and deeply cherished.

Pastors, ministers, and church leaders are as susceptible to this as everyone else.

Join us in praying for ministers, church leaders, and pastors as they head into the weekend.

Pray this: Lord, we pray for Your strength to be upon our pastors and leaders of Your church. May they develop a healthy rhythm of seeking Your provision and praising You for blessings. We speak against the enemy's lies that busyness is the only road to success. We pray for our leaders that they may rest in Your presence and the reminder of Your love for them.

Ministry was never meant to be done alone. At CDF Capital, we are praying with you.

Tag a pastor or church leader who could use this prayer today.

Discovering that one of your accounts has been hacked is unsettling. It is also increasingly common, even for people who practice good security habits.

At CDF Capital, we believe wise digital stewardship is part of protecting what God has entrusted to you. That includes knowing exactly what to do when something goes wrong. If you think one of your accounts has been hacked, here are seven steps to take.

1. Change your passwords, starting with your email account, since it controls password resets for many of your other accounts. Set up multi-factor authentication wherever you can.

2. Review your account settings for changes you did not make, then sign out of any active sessions you do not recognize.

3. Contact your financial institution directly if a financial account was affected. Their fraud and security teams handle this every day.

4. Warn your contacts. A hacked email or social account is often used to target the people who trust you.

5. Report what happened at IdentityTheft.gov, or to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center for cyber-enabled fraud.

6. Start monitoring your accounts. Review recent transactions and dispute anything unfamiliar.

7. Set up a fraud alert or credit freeze with the credit bureaus if your personal information was exposed.

Responding well to a breach is part of paying attention to what God has placed in your care. If you ever have questions about the security of your CDF Capital account, reach out to us directly. We are here to walk with you every step of the way.

Stay alert. Stay wise. Stay CyberSmart.

A resume from a well-known church tells you what someone has done. It does not tell you whether they belong on your team.

Hiring the wrong person is costly and time-consuming, and letting someone go is always harder than passing on them in the first place. Here are five mistakes to avoid when hiring your next staff member.

1. Focusing on experience over cultural fit.

A resume from a respected church or seminary is exciting to see, but do not let it cloud your judgment. You want to hire someone who resonates with your mission and gels with staff and volunteers.

2. Skipping the background check.

Many churches fail to do their due diligence. Check references. Call previous churches and speak to more than one person there. Negligence creates opportunities for your staff and members of the congregation to be harmed by those who would prey on the vulnerable.

3. Elevating someone for their gifts alone.

Every church should have a plan for recognizing potential and discipling individuals toward maturity. But someone’s talents are not an automatic license for leadership. Leaders must be developed and refined.

4. Building too large a hiring committee.

Keep the team small and agile, or finding agreement on a candidate becomes its own painful process.

5. Forgetting to check their virtual footprint.

These public accounts can give you insight into potential hires—insight that their resumes or the interview process may not reveal.

The right hire can improve morale, enhance processes, and help grow your church. The wrong hire can do the exact opposite.

Your Backstage Pass for a conversation with Derwin L. Gray, Hosanna Wong, Carey Nieuwhof, Dharius Morshun Daniels , and Steve Carter.

Gain a practical, tactical roadmap for how to choose and maximize innovation, manage your energy, navigate the future, and communicate effectively across new media.

This is a casual, highly interactive discussion with some of today's leading communicators, built for church leaders who want real tools, not just inspiration.

Enroll for free here: https://cdfcapital.teachable.com/p/backstage-pass-craft-character

At CDF Capital, we believe strong church leaders build strong churches. This conversation is one way we invest in that mission.

If your church is considering pursuing a church loan, now is the right time to start preparing your documentation.

While every lender will approach things differently, here is a list of documentation and information to have available when you sit down with a potential lender.

1. Your Attendance and Trends for Membership and Baptism

Membership information helps demonstrate the number of people who are all in on the ministry. Having a couple of years’ worth of member information is preferred. Baptisms give lenders a different view of your growth.

2. Your Business Plan

This includes your church's vision and mission, how you intend to grow, how the building will be used, and any staffing plans tied to that growth.

3. Your Property Value

What you own, what you owe, and the equity behind it.

4. Your Debts

A complete accounting of your debts and the rates attached to them.

5. Your Income

From tithes and offerings, along with a track record of stability and growth.

As the process develops, most lenders will also ask for CPA-prepared financial statements going back three years, a current market appraisal, your church's constitution and bylaws, and a title search if you already own the property.

Even if a loan is still years away, gathering this now is a smart move. The better prepared your church is, the more confident a lender will feel, and the faster the conversation can move when the timing is right.

Have questions about a church loan? Send us a DM. Our team understands ministry, not just finance.

Welcome to CDF Capital, Chad.

CDF Capital is excited to announce the hiring of Chad Vanderipe as Vice President of Ministry Development. He will oversee field operations in the central United States, including the states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana.

Chad grew up in eastern Washington state, but he has called Oklahoma home since 1992. Outside of work, Chad enjoys spending time with his wife and two grandsons on outdoor adventures and anything fast-paced.

He has a background rooted in ministry and more than fourteen years of experience supporting churches nationwide through campus expansion projects, serving as a liaison between architects and church staff to help move projects forward with clarity and purpose.

When asked about Chad’s fit for the role, Executive Vice President of Lending Mark Briggs said, “In his past ministry work, Chad came alongside churches with great care and attention. We are thrilled to see him continue to build into churches this same way at CDF Capital.”

Chad brings a strong passion for service and a deep understanding of partnering with church leaders. Drawn to CDF Capital’s commitment to serving churches, Chad is excited to contribute and grow as part of our team.

He shared, “I’m honored to be part of the CDF Capital team, driven by a mission to help churches grow and a vision to be a trusted financial partner. Partnering with pastors and church leaders to advance their mission and vision energizes me and makes this work both meaningful and rewarding.”

One of Chad’s favorite verses is Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (NIV).

If you know Chad, welcome him in the comments.