The past few years have brought numerous challenges to churches, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic altered weekly attendance and in-person events. Those alterations affected giving levels, creating stress on some church budgets. And now, even with signs the pandemic is slowing heading into 2023, inflation has jumped, creating only more turbulence. These conditions have left many congregations reassessing their directions and priorities as they look for ways to move forward. In this episode, Erika is joined by Mike Poirier, senior vice president of ministry lending for Christian Community Credit Union (CCCU). Together, the two identify key pressures and ask key questions along with sharing ideas on the ways churches must respond in the “new normal.” Mike also shares some helpful benchmarks—such as cash flow and debt reserves—that can shed light on a church’s financial health and vitality, plus tips for working with lenders when struggles arise.  ErikaCole.com The Church Attorney's Guide to Church Mergers, by Erika E. Cole   Church Finance: The Church Leader’s Guide to Financial Operations, by Michael E. Batts “How Churches May Benefit from COVID-19 Relief’s Employee Retention Credit,” by Kaylyn Varnum, Michele Wales, and Michael E. Batts “5 Cash Flow Ratios and Measures Your Church Must Monitor,” by Vonna Laue “Six Debt Ratios and Measurements Your Church Should Monitor,” by Vonna Laue “Q&A: Should We Start Digging into Our Reserves?” by Michael E. Batts “Loan Modifications in a Crisis,” by Vonna Laue “Evangelical Giving Goes Up, Despite Economic Woes,” by Hannah McClellan “A Peek Inside How Churches Spend Their Money,” by Matthew Branaugh mycccu.com Questions? We welcome them! Please email Erika Cole at [email protected]. Erika reads each comment and may answer your question in an upcoming episode. See all episodes of Church Law. The Church Law podcast is part of Christianity Today’s ChurchLawAndTax.com, a not-for-profit publishing ministry. Erika E. Cole, Esq., known as The Church Attorney®, is one of only a handful of attorneys in the nation who practices exclusively in the area of church law. She currently serves as a senior editorial advisor for Christianity Today’s ChurchLawAndTax.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices