MESSAGE FROM NACFM PRESIDENT GARY ROBINSON

For a few years, the NACFM website featured a short slideshow that included images of typical church property emergencies. In one frame it showed the pressure gauge on a boiler about to blow. You get the picture. We borrowed the tagline from the movie Ghostbusters, “Who ya gonna call?” as the title of the slideshow. While we don’t have to worry about fighting off aliens, we are the last line of defense against the catastrophes that our churches occasionally face. As a side note, isn’t it interesting that most of these calamities seem to happen late at night or on Sunday morning? Regardless of when the call comes, Church Facility Managers are there to answer.

The first couple of weeks in February reminded me of that phrase. We knew who they were going to call. Churches from Seattle to Boston, and from Chicago to Houston were facing frigid temperatures, ice storms followed by heavy snow. For many of our members in the north, this was just another winter storm doing what winter storms do. And then, there was Texas! The ice accumulation alone would have been enough to keep every CFM in the state busy. And then, it got COLD! In Dallas on Tuesday the 16th, the high was 7 degrees and the low was 3 above. This was Dallas Texas, not International Falls Minnesota. With the extreme cold came power outages. Church parking lots were coated in ice and travel was treacherous. Pipes were frozen, and no electricity or gas was available to help in the battle against mother nature. If you were even able to get to the grocery store, there was no food to be had. Things were bad, then they got worse. When warmer temps returned, the pipes that had been frozen were spewing water like the fountains at the MGM Grand Hotel. Still, Church Facility Managers and their teams showed up and went to work. These men and women put their safety and property at risk just to reach their churches. For many, their homes had no power yet they showed up. It’s what we do. We live Colossians 3:23 every day.

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men”

Here at Forest Hills Baptist, the church was closed for an entire week. Everyone was at home playing in the snow, except for our church maintenance team. We were here preparing our campus for worship. What some would refer to as an apocalypse is just another day in the office for your local Church Facility Manger. (Still, there are days that I think it would be easier to be fighting aliens.)

While the storms may be gone, the work is not. There are pipes to fix, rooms to be gutted, mold to be removed, sheetrock repairs to be completed, and walls to be painted.

Please join me in praying for our members in Texas and across the country that are still trying to recover. Numerous churches are still working overtime so that their members can safely return to their places of worship.

Continue to pray for our churches as they seek to minister to their members in today’s pandemic circumstances. For many churches, these storm expenses come at a time when the Covid virus has limited attendance and reduced contributions. They need our continued prayers.

Stay faithful and remember, we are stronger together.

Blessings my Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Gary Robinson 
NACFM President

Jeff Struecker will kick things off at this year's conference reception on Monday June 21st. Jeff will be sharing his compelling stories as he talks about his Black Hawk Down experience. He will also be leading the first two sessions on Tuesday morning.

We look forward to seeing you in person June 21-24, 2021 for the NACFM Conference. Save $50 by registering before March 15th.

Featured Member: Marie Welch

Most people who know her would agree that Marie Welch has a colorful personality and a rich professional history. In her youth, Marie tagged along with her contractor father to job sites as he oversaw construction. As a Southwestern native, she loves New Mexican food (of course!) and spending many hours with her children, grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She's a voracious reader and claims that her favorite movies are Dr. Zhivago and Young Frankenstein ("...thus the dichotomy of my personality!," says Marie).