"Stewardship and transparency in a church are of utmost importance. I want our people to know, and anyone who asks, that we have an outside board who helps us make financial decisions, and we have an outside accounting and bookkeeping firm that handles all of the transactions. So that Gregg and I can say, 'Here's what we do to make sure that we steward God's resources well.'"
— Leilani Sizemore, Executive Pastor
The Challenge
Leilani Sizemore came to Creekside Church with an insider's understanding of BELAY — she had previously worked there as an employee. When she joined the staff at Creekside full-time and began working behind the scenes of the young church plant, she quickly recognized that their existing bookkeeping provider was costing them more than BELAY would. The decision to switch was both practical and principled.
Beyond cost, Leilani had a deeper concern: accountability. Creekside's own staff had been handling the books, and for a church or nonprofit, that arrangement felt insufficient.
"[Our] staff [were originally] doing our books. That's not transparent enough, I don't think, especially for a church or nonprofit. So I wanted to be able to say we outsource our bookkeeping."
One persistent operational pain point was keeping up with staff receipt tracking — a task that consumed time and attention Leilani needed elsewhere. She needed a trusted partner who could handle the details while she focused on the mission of Creekside Church: glorifying God and making disciples in one of the fastest-growing counties in Northwest Atlanta.
The Solution
Leilani turned to BELAY's Accounting Services, a choice she describes as an easy one given her firsthand knowledge of the organization. BELAY matched Creekside Church with Accounting Specialist Wendy Poe, who joined just three months into the church's launch and has been a fixture of their operations ever since.
From the start, Wendy focused on removing friction from Leilani's plate.
"[Everything] runs without me having to think about it too much. That was a big relief for me."
When Leilani's receipt tracking burden became apparent, Wendy proactively researched and recommended a new platform — one that proved cost-effective, an important factor given Creekside's commitment to sound stewardship.
"Wendy is really good at always suggesting things she thinks will make my life easier and is also cost-effective for our church."
Wendy's direct and honest communication style also proved to be a strong fit for Leilani's leadership approach. Rather than waiting to be asked, Wendy flags issues and proposes solutions — a dynamic Leilani credits as key to the partnership's success.
"She can make really clear decisions. For me, that has just been a huge benefit. I've got someone who has no emotional tie to Creekside Church whatsoever looking out for our best interest."
— Leilani Sizemore, Executive PastorThe Impact
For Leilani and Creekside Church, the impact of partnering with BELAY goes beyond operational efficiency — it has given her the ability to speak openly and confidently about how the church manages its finances.
"It's given me such peace of mind and the ability to say, with honesty and transparency, here's how our church is run."
Knowing that an outside accounting firm handles all transactions allows Leilani and her husband Gregg, the lead pastor, to model responsible stewardship to their congregation. That external accountability is not just a practical benefit — it is a ministry value made tangible.
Looking ahead, Leilani sees Wendy as a long-term partner in Creekside's growth. Wendy is already helping the church transition to a fiscal year, and Leilani anticipates that her expertise will become even more valuable as the church's budget and complexity increase.
"Now Wendy's expertise is gonna get to shine because she's sharp, and I count on her wisdom and knowledge to help keep us out of deep waters that I don't know about because I don't have her level of expertise."
For a church still in its early stages, having a trusted financial partner who is both skilled and objective has proven to be a cornerstone of sustainable growth.