This is the story of how a strategic partnership with BELAY not only brought clarity and order to the church's finances but also created the space and stability needed to pursue even bigger dreams.
Christina’s first priority was to the financial health of the church and its related entities. What she discovered was challenging—longstanding issues that, if ignored, could have held back the church's future.
The sheer scale of the cleanup was overwhelming. It became clear that an internal solution wasn't feasible.
"I realized that the task was too much," she recalls, leading her to a pivotal decision: "Maybe outsourcing a position within the finance department would probably be the best thing."
Having heard positive reviews from other churches in her network, Christina turned to BELAY.
"There were some other churches within our network that were using BELAY and just felt like it might just be a great fit for us."
This decision would prove to be the turning point for Believers Church's financial clarity.
Christina’s needs were twofold. First, the church’s accounting systems were fragmented across multiple platforms, creating inefficiency and confusion. Second, the day-to-day bookkeeping required a complete overhaul to ensure accuracy and consistency. BELAY provided a tailored, two-pronged solution.
"We also needed a migration," Christina says. "We had accounting software on multiple different platforms and we all just wanted the migration to happen on QuickBooks Online. And I didn't know where to even begin with that."
BELAY matched the church with a Hotencia, a dedicated bookkeeper to tackle their ongoing financial management. At the same time, they brought in a temporary accounting clerk whose sole focus was the complex migration. The results were immediate and astounding.
"We've really only had BELAY since July of this year and already our reporting is so accurate," Christina marvels. The new bookkeeper quickly demonstrated an incredible level of dedication and skill. "She's just been fantastic. Our books just within a month have been so turned around."
This focused, expert support made a world of difference. Christina felt the power of having a professional who was truly invested in their success.
"We know that we're not her only client... But we do feel by the amount of work that she has done, that we are her only client. And she was really dedicated when it's her time to focus just on us, that it really is on us.”
One of the key factors that drew Christina to BELAY was the flexibility of the model. She needed to be sure she was bringing in the right person for such a sensitive and crucial role.
"BELAY gave us the flexibility we needed," she notes. "We have to feel comfortable with the person. We have to feel like the person is competent to do the job. So I really did like the fact that we could cancel at any time and BELAY would work with us if something went amiss — but it's just been seamless."
This risk-free approach allowed the church to move forward with confidence. The relationship that developed with Hortencia quickly solidified this trust, making the remote professional feel like an integral part of the local team.
"We just really like that we feel like she is a part of our internal team. You know, like she might as well sit here in the office as well," Christina shares. "She's just not some random person that lives in a different state. Like she's one of us."
Partnering with BELAY didn’t just result in clean books and accurate reports — it saved significant money by eliminating the need for a full-time hire.
"It saved us in the long run. I would think it saved us about $80,000 a year," Christina estimates. "When you factor in benefits, retirement, and all the other costs, it’s such a cost savings."
This financial relief translated directly into peace of mind. During the critical budget season, Christina could focus on the big picture, knowing the details were in capable hands.
"It just felt like a huge relief and a blessing to have BELAY while we were doing our budget because it gave me one less thing that I needed to worry about," she says. "I knew with the confidence that I had in our bookkeeper that what she was preparing and doing for us was going to be so accurate that we could focus on other things."
This newfound freedom has allowed the church to turn its attention to exciting future projects that will expand its community impact.
"We are actually hoping to build and expand in the future," Christina shares. "We would love to open a special needs facility and a school on a piece of land that we have."
These are the kinds of visionary projects that require immense time and dedication from leadership. With BELAY handling the financial foundation, the team is empowered to pursue these dreams.
"BELAY gives us the ability to focus on goals that we want to do in the future. We know in the back of our head that those financial tasks are being handled, and we know they are being done well just by the product that we receive every month."
Christina Southall’s story at Believers Church is a powerful example of transformation. What started as a daunting financial challenge became an opportunity to build a stronger, more resilient foundation. By leveraging BELAY's expert, fractional support, the church not only solved its immediate problems but also unlocked significant cost savings and created the bandwidth to plan for an even greater impact.
When your financial operations are handled with expertise and dedication, you gain more than just accurate reports. You gain the confidence and margin to lead effectively and pursue your vision.