Mike Emmert grew up in a Christian family that worshiped God in southern California and, as an adult, has held a variety of leadership positions in northern California Christian churches. Today Mike serves and leads at New Life Christian Church, Auburn, California.

In the fall of 1967 God provided Mike with a job in the McDonald's Restaurants' Real Estate Department buying and developing properties thorughout the Western United States.

In the fall of 1983 He provided him with a job in the Albertson's Supermarkets' Real Estate Department buying and developing properties in northern Califonia and northern Nevada.

While working for 30+ years in corporate America Mike found that his passion for real estate acquistion and development was missing a key ingredient.....often wondering if he could find a way to share his passion and his training in the real estate field with churches.

In the summer of 2001, God provided Mike with a job at Church Development Fund.....shepherding churches through the process of finding and purchasing property to develop as ministry tools.

In the fall of 2006, Mike launched Count The Cost with the desire to continue to share his passion and training that God provided him with churches that desired and needed his help.

Luke 14:28-30 (NIV) quotes Jesus sharing "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish'"

Mike's passion is to shepherd churches through the complex world of real estate acquisiton.....always focusing on estimating the cost to complete a project.....and helping churches save money along the way!

During the past 40 years Mike has walked on, touched, tasted and investigated several thousand pieces of land.....on which he has actively participated in the development of more than 300 McDonald's, 75 Alberston's locations.

At Church Development Fund he worked with churches and ministries in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missoui, Maryland, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin assisting them in finding and developing properties that they could afford.

Spend time with Mike and he will no doubt share with you his story and projects that he has worked on.....and why he believes that God had him training for 30 years.....to sheperhed churches through the process of land acquisiton and development.....helping them gather the knowledge they need.....to make wise decisions.....allwing them to be good stewards of the their God given resources....to develop effective ministry tools.....to reach the lost in their community.

Because we believe "a wise man has many counselors" (Proverbs 15:28), Count The Cost regularly seeks input from a variety of ministry and business leaders around the country. Mike also periodically invites new members to this team to ensure up-to-the-minute insights and a fresh perspective.

Current CTC Advisory Team:

Kim Bittner
Senior Vice President - Financing
Church Development Fund
Irvine, CA

Darrell Caldwell
Christian Financial Solutions
Belmont, NY

Mont Mitchell
Senior Pastor - Westbrook Christian Church
Bolingbrook, IL

Don Ross
Senior Pastor - Creekside Church
Mountlake Terrace, WA

Dusty Rubeck
President - Dallas Christian College
Farmers Branch, TX

Jennifer Taylor
Writer & Business Consultant
Nashville, TN

Russ Taylor
Architect - Taylor Teter Partnership
Fresno, CA

Please contact us for more information on our services or to discuss your church's real estate project with a Count The Cost representative.

We can bring insight and experience to your group and offer assistance in all areas of land purchases, building development and more.