We have a habit of building beautiful, sacred structures and then assuming they will take care of themselves. In our excitement to build the “new, shiny thing,” we frequently forget the quiet, unglamorous work of taking care of what God has already entrusted to us. We build sanctuaries for worship, but we leave the deferred maintenance to pile up until the structure itself begins to dictate, and limit, the ministry we can actually do.
As Winston Churchill observed, “We shape our buildings and thereafter they shape us.”
In this episode of the A Mysterious Business series, Chris Easley sits down with Tim Cool, the founder and CEO of Smart Church Solutions. Tim has spent decades assessing tens of millions of square feet of church buildings, helping local congregations transition from viewing their properties as a line-item expense to treating them as vital tools for ministry.
Tim shares how his business operates as a “structure for love” in real-time. Drawing on his long-standing involvement with C12 and the concept of Business as a Ministry (BAM), Tim explains why true organizational health necessitates caring deeply for your internal team with things like thriving wages and robust support programs, so that love can naturally overflow to the clients you serve.
Tim blends marketplace execution with a deeply pastoral heart. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur counting the cost of a new venture, or a ministry leader rethinking how an old 1950s Sunday school wing can better serve your neighbors today, this episode is a refreshing look at how the nuts and bolts of property management can become an active conduit for the presence of Christ.
CONNECT WITH TIM COOL & SMART CHURCH SOLUTIONS
- Smart Church Solutions on LinkedIn
- Connect with Tim Cool on LinkedIn
- Follow on Instagram
- Follow on Facebook
Sources
C12 Business Forums: Christian Business Leadership Coaching
Mission Central Blog Post: “Voluntary ‘Poverty’ and Freedom from Possessiveness”
Fram Oil Filter Commercial- 1972
TRANSFORM YOUR 9-TO-5
We believe your work is one of the primary places God wants to meet you and shape you. If you’re ready to move beyond the daily grind and discover how your vocation can become a vessel for God’s love and justice, we invite you to take the next step.
👉 Join the Finding God at Work Course: https://missioncentral.church/faith-at-work/
STAY CONNECTED
Spiritual formation is a journey best taken in community. Join us as we explore what it looks like to live with redemptive intentionality in every sphere of life.
🔔 Subscribe for reflections on faith, leadership, and the art of following Jesus at work.
🌐 Explore our resources: https://missioncentral.church/
📸 Follow the journey on Instagram: @teammissioncentral
#FaithAndWork #MissionCentral #BusinessAsMinistry #SmartChurchSolutions #FacilityStewardship #MarketplaceMinistry #ChristianLeadership #SpiritualFormation #Vocation #RedemptiveBusiness #KingdomEconomics