The Consulting & Development Division engages congregations and communities through the exploration of building and ministry endeavors. An array of services can be provided from project conception, budgeting, funding development, and management structure. Projects include rural church building expansion or renovation, along with an array of faith-based community ministries including senior and workforce housing.
The Rev. Dr. Alan Rice, Executive Director of RFD serves as RFD's primary consultant. Services include:
Consulting:
An array of services can be provided from project conception, budgeting, funding development, and management structure. Projects include building expansion or renovation, along with an array of faith-based community ministries including senior and affordable housing. Consulting includes research, planning, and strategy development. RFD can assist with goal-setting, strategic planning, conceptualization, project formulation with the selection of engineers, architects and contractors, assist with pro forma development and funding venues.
Catalyst:
As catalysts, we provide leadership in asset-based creative thinking and acquisition of resources to work towards a desired future.
Project Development:
Project development assists from concept to move-in for a variety of needs
Funding Development:
Funding development explores innovative strategies for funding for startup, operational, and capital needs.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Alan Rice – alan@rfdcdc.org
The Rev. Dr. Alan Rice is the Executive Director of RFD Community Development Corporation. As the founding director Alan has served as a planning and development consultant for congregational and community projects.
Alan is joyfully the Senior Minister at Crossfire UMC, a congregation of "working" folk and many who are rising up from distress. Chartered in 2004 the congregation is involved in many ministries to the poor including providing space for the Catherine Barber Memorial Shelter. The church website is www.bikerchurch.com
For seven years prior to this present appointment, Alan was the District Superintendent (DS) for 99 churches and 15,000 members in eight rural Appalachian counties. A community development corporation was begun that was instrumental in establishing two home for development disabilities and a 100 units of senior apartments.
Immediately prior to becoming a DS, he was the Senior Pastor at Tyro UMC. During his eight-year tenure the rural church grew to 500 in worship attendance, 1,000 members and was recognized for seven consecutive years as a WNC Conference Church of Excellence. Tyro UMC began a community development corporation that did a community survey to determine the needs. In the following years each was accomplished including sewer to the area schools, a library, a senior center, affordable senior living and more.
Alan was the founding pastor for three daycares and Christ UM Church in Weaverville. He is both a Harry Denman award recipient and a United Methodist Rural Advocates Lifetime Membership recipient. At the end of 2021, Alan completed 17 years as board member of the NC Rural Center.
Before entering ministry, Alan was an executive in a multi-million dollar general contracting firm. Concurrently he was an executive and partner in two development firms: one for residential property and the other for commercial projects. He has been a licensed NC Real Estate Broker since 1975. His undergraduate degree is from NC State in Civil Engineering with a minor in Construction. He has a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Asbury Theological Seminary along with a post-doctorate Master of Theology from Duke Divinity.
