Should your church choose Christian Financial Resources?
We score every church lender on the same seven underwriting factors lenders themselves use. Here's the short answer first.
Since 1980
Lending to ministries
$850M+
Total assets
$1.5B+
Cumulative loans funded
1,100+
Ministry loans funded
The take
For independent Christian Churches, CFR is the third real option in the Restoration Movement and pairs lending with stewardship services few other funds offer.
Christian Financial Resources, known as CFR, is an extension fund incorporated in Florida on July 3, 1980. The institution serves independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ in the Restoration Movement (Stone-Campbell tradition), which puts it in direct alignment with Solomon Foundation and CDF Capital. Forty-five years in, CFR holds about $850 million in total assets, has more than 7,800 active investors, and has funded more than 1,100 ministry loans totaling north of $1.5 billion cumulatively. That is the third real lender option for a Restoration Movement church, alongside CDF (founded 1953) and Solomon (founded 2010).
The capital model follows the standard extension fund pattern. CFR raises capital from individual investors and ministries through fixed-yield investment products, including a Giving Fund at 4.60 percent APY, Ready Access Certificates around 3.50 to 3.60 percent APY, and Time Certificates ranging 15 months to 7 years at 3.70 to 4.00 percent APY. That capital flows back out as construction, purchase, and refinance loans to ministries inside the Restoration Movement. The closed loop produces patient capital. Investment products are not FDIC insured.
What makes CFR distinct from its two main Restoration Movement peers is the breadth of stewardship services attached to the lending operation. CFR offers capital campaign support, legacy and estate planning through a partnership with the Free Will platform, and a combined lender plus investment fund relationship. For Restoration Movement churches that want to consolidate borrowing, deposits, and stewardship under one roof, CFR is one of the few funds in the niche structured to deliver all three. The amortization range on church loans is 15 to 20 years, on the shorter end for the niche.
The trade-offs are scale and transparency. CFR is meaningfully smaller than the largest extension funds (AGFinancial, LCEF, and similar). Underwriting specifics including maximum LTV, minimum DSCR, time to close, minimum and maximum loan size, and rate ranges are by inquiry. We could not locate a current BBB profile or ECFA member record for CFR, which means one less third-party governance signal compared to peers like Solomon Foundation, which is ECFA accredited. The denominational focus on independent Christian Churches in the Restoration Movement also means non-Restoration churches will not see structural advantages here.
Our recommendation, in one sentence: shortlist CFR alongside Solomon Foundation and CDF Capital if your church is part of the Restoration Movement and you want stewardship services bundled with the lending relationship. Run the ChurchLend readiness assessment first so you walk into the inquiry already understanding the seven factors any extension fund will weigh.
The detail
Where Christian Financial Resourceswins, and where it doesn't
What works
Third major Restoration Movement option
CFR sits alongside Solomon Foundation and CDF Capital as one of three established extension funds serving independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. Three real choices in the same tradition is unusual and gives Restoration Movement borrowers leverage in comparison shopping.
Combined lender and investment fund
CFR raises capital from more than 7,800 investors through certificate products and lends those funds back out to ministries. The closed loop produces patient capital and lets the fund be more flexible on covenants than a commercial bank would.
Multiple investment certificate options
On the investor side, CFR offers Giving Fund (4.60 percent APY), Ready Access Certificates (3.50 to 3.60 percent APY), and Time Certificates from 15 months to 7 years (3.70 to 4.00 percent APY). Useful for churches that want to hold operating reserves with the same institution they borrow from.
Stewardship services beyond lending
CFR offers capital campaign support and legacy and estate planning through a partnership with Free Will. For Restoration Movement churches that want a single relationship covering loans, deposits, and stewardship, CFR is one of the few funds in the niche structured to deliver all three.
What to weigh
Best fit only inside the Restoration Movement
CFR specifically serves independent Christian Churches in the Stone-Campbell tradition. Other denominations should compare denomination-aligned alternatives first. The structural advantages here accrue to churches inside the movement.
Smaller scale than the largest extension funds
CFR's $850 million in total assets is smaller than AGFinancial ($1.6B+) or LCEF ($1.99B). For very large projects, capacity could be a constraint.
Underwriting specifics are not published
Maximum LTV, minimum DSCR, time to close, minimum and maximum loan size, and rate ranges are not publicly disclosed. The site directs prospects to a loan inquiry form. You apply to learn the specifics for your project.
BBB and ECFA records could not be verified
We were unable to locate a BBB profile or ECFA member record for CFR. That does not mean the institution is in trouble (smaller funds often do not pursue these), but it is one less third-party governance signal compared to peers like Solomon Foundation, which is ECFA accredited.
Eligibility
Is your church the right shape for Christian Financial Resources?
Best for
- Independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
- Restoration Movement congregations comparing Solomon, CDF, and CFR
- Churches that want to combine lending, deposits, and stewardship
- Loans up to roughly $15 million in size
Look elsewhere if
- Churches outside the Restoration Movement
- Very large projects pushing CFR's capacity
- Borrowers needing published rate transparency
- Borrowers seeking BBB or ECFA accreditation as a hard requirement
vs. The market
How Christian Financial Resources stacks up
Compared against typical commercial-bank terms for church loans of similar size.
Years lending
CFRSince 1980
Typical20 to 50 yrs
Better
Total assets
CFR$850M+
Typical$200M to $2B
Even
Investor base
CFR7,800+ investors
TypicalVaries
Better
Stewardship services
CFRYes, in-house
TypicalLoans only
Better
Term amortization
CFR15 to 20 yrs
Typical20 to 25 yrs
Slower
Held in-house
CFRYes, portfolio
TypicalOften sold off
Better
Loan products
What Christian Financial Resources actually lends on
Construction loans
Construction financing for new builds, additions, and major renovations. Useful for ministry facilities, parsonages, and schools.
Purchase loans
First-mortgage loans for acquiring an existing church property or land. Standard terms apply.
Refinance loans
Refinance an existing church mortgage into a CFR loan. Most economical fit for Restoration Movement churches currently above market rates.
Investment certificates
Giving Fund (4.60 percent APY), Ready Access Certificates (3.50 to 3.60 percent), and Time Certificates from 15 months to 7 years (3.70 to 4.00 percent). Capital from these funds the loan portfolio. Not FDIC insured.
What to expect
The Christian Financial Resources application timeline
- 1Step 1
Inquiry
Initial conversation about the project, congregation, denominational alignment, and rough financials.
- 2Step 2
Application
Full submission of financials, governance docs, project details, and ministry affiliation confirmation.
- 3Step 3
Underwriting
Credit review, appraisal for real estate, and ministry-fit assessment. Specifics not publicly disclosed.
- 4Step 4
Term sheet
Term sheet issued, structure negotiated, legal review and title work.
- 5Step 5
Close & fund
Final approvals, closing, and funding. Construction loans fund per draw schedule.
FAQs
What pastors ask us about Christian Financial Resources
How is CFR different from Solomon Foundation and CDF Capital?
All three serve independent Christian Churches in the Restoration Movement. CDF (founded 1953) has the longest history. Solomon (founded 2010) is the fastest growing and ECFA accredited. CFR (founded 1980) sits in between in age and offers the broadest stewardship-services suite of the three. Most Restoration Movement churches should compare all three before choosing.
Does my church have to be in the Restoration Movement to apply?
CFR specifically serves independent Christian Churches and their associated ministries. Other denominations should look at denomination-aligned extension funds first.
Is CFR ECFA accredited?
We could not locate a current ECFA member record for CFR at the time of this review. Solomon Foundation, the main competitor in the Restoration Movement, is ECFA accredited. This is worth noting if third-party financial governance accreditation matters to your church.
What investment options does CFR offer?
CFR offers Giving Fund accounts at 4.60 percent APY, Ready Access Certificates at 3.50 to 3.60 percent APY, and Time Certificates ranging 15 months to 7 years at 3.70 to 4.00 percent APY. Investments are not FDIC insured but provide a way for individual investors and churches to fund Restoration Movement ministry capital.
Where is CFR headquartered?
Lake Mary, Florida (Orlando metro area). Operations are run from a single national office; lending is national in scope.
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