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Protect. Structure.

GROW.

 

About Church Law & Strategy

 

For more than 20 years, our founder, Regan VanSteenis, has been helping ministries across America operate with confidence and compliance. Whether you're starting a church, need 501(c)(3) formation, or require pastor financial protection, Church Law & Strategy provides done-for-you legal solutions tailored specifically for churches and ministries.

Church Law & Strategy empowers churches with expert legal counsel and operational strategy - covering governance, compliance, HR, risk and growth - so leaders can grow resilient, thriving ministries with confidence and clarity.

We know that pastors are called to lead, not get entangled in legal issues. But without proper protection, churches face risks like lawsuits, board conflicts, IRS audits, and even ministry shutdowns. That’s why we created The STRONGChurch Method—a comprehensive, done-for-you legal protection system that ensures your church is legally secure.

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." – Hosea 4:6


We believe that many churches struggle legally not because they are doing something wrong, but because they don’t have the right knowledge or legal guidance. STRONGChurches is here to change that.

Our Mission

At STRONGChurches, our mission is simple:
🔹 Protect pastors and churches from legal vulnerabilities
🔹 Equip ministries with the same legal protections used by America’s largest churches
🔹 Empower pastors to lead with confidence, free from legal distractions

Why Churches Need Legal Protection

Pastors and churches face more legal challenges today than ever before. Without proper legal safeguards, ministries risk IRS penalties, financial lawsuits, HR conflicts, and child safety liabilities.

Our legal services provide bulletproof protection, covering:

✅ Church Formation & 501(c)(3) Filing – Get nonprofit status the right way, ensuring long-term tax benefits.
✅ Pastor Compensation & Housing Allowance – Maximize legal benefits while staying IRS-compliant.
✅ Essential Church Legal Documents – Protect your church with liability waivers, staff agreements, and governance policies.
✅ Child Safety & Volunteer Protection – Implement policies that reduce risk and create a safe environment.
✅ Church HR & Employment Laws – Hire, manage, and transition staff with clarity and integrity.

Meet the Founder: Regan VanSteenis

For over two decades, Regan has been the leading church attorney behind some of America’s most prominent ministries. As Chief Legal Counsel for Joel Osteen Ministries and Lakewood Church, Regan has handled high-profile church legal matters, from 501(c)(3) compliance to multi-million-dollar church transactions.

She has worked on complex legal cases such as:

  • The purchase of an NBA arena for a megachurch.

  • The launch of a first-of-its-kind SiriusXM faith-based radio station.

  • The negotiation of 10 New York Times best-selling Christian books.

Now, through STRONGChurches, Regan provides legal consulting to pastors nationwide—so they can protect their ministry, their finances, and their calling.

How STRONGChurch Can Help You

Unlike generic legal services, STRONGChurches is 100% tailored for pastors and churches. We’ve developed The STRONGChurch Method, a done-for-you legal protection system that ensures your church is covered in all critical areas:

  • Church Formation & Governance

  • Financial Protection for Pastors

  • Legal Risk Reduction

  • Staff Ordination & Licensing

  • HR & Church Employment Best Practices

  • Child Safety & Volunteer Onboarding

With STRONGChurches, you don’t have to guess if your church is legally secure. We take care of the legal work so you can focus on leading your congregation.

Get Started Today

📌 Need  help filing legal paperwork?
📌 Have questions about pastor housing allowance, or church employment laws?
📌 Is your church in need of stronger protections?

We believe the church has never been more important in history than it is right now. That is why you cannot afford to get this wrong. 

Have Questions?

Schedule a call and learn how we can assist you!

About

About Church Law & Strategy

Church Law & Strategy is the church practice of attorney Regan VanSteenis. She and her team represent large and established churches and their pastors on governance, intellectual property, church-pastor agreements, transactions, HR and compliance.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” – Hosea 4:6

Many churches struggle legally not because they did something wrong, but because no one gave them the right counsel at the right time.

Regan VanSteenis

Meet the founder

Regan VanSteenis

Founder and Lead Attorney · Licensed in Texas and Virginia

Regan has served as legal counsel to churches and ministries for more than 20 years. As General Counsel for Lakewood Church and Joel Osteen Ministries, she handled matters ranging from 501(c)(3) compliance to complex church transactions.

Her work includes legal counsel on the purchase of an NBA arena for a megachurch, the launch of a first-of-its-kind SiriusXM faith-based radio channel, and the negotiation of 10 New York Times best-selling Christian books. She has advised on more than $1 billion in church transactions.

Regan is a pastor's daughter and an ordained minister.

Churches and ministries Regan has advised include Lakewood Church, Joel Osteen Ministries, Elevation Church, Change Church, 2819 Church, Jesus Image, Joseph Prince Ministries, King Jesus International Ministry and Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral.

Our team

Who you will work with

Grace Long

Grace Long

Attorney · Licensed in the District of Columbia

Grace is a trademark and nonprofit attorney. She advises on clearance searches, registration, Office Action responses and enforcement, and on tax-exempt status, governance and compliance for churches and religious organizations. She grew up as a pastor's kid.

Sandy Pineda

Sandy Pineda

Attorney · Licensed in Florida

Sandy has served as legal counsel to King Jesus International Ministry, one of the largest bilingual churches in the United States. Her background includes work for the federal government, nonprofits and law firms in civil litigation, mediation and federal immigration matters.

Lili Vilella

Lili Vilella

HR Support

Lili brings more than 22 years of human resources experience with Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits and churches across the U.S. and the Caribbean, including executive teams at some of South Florida's largest megachurches. She is Executive Director of Legacy Ministries.

Get started today

How we work

Legal Review

See where you stand: a confidential review with written findings and a roadmap.

Project engagements

Specific matters, scoped and agreed in writing.

Ongoing counsel

Outside counsel for churches that want an attorney who already knows them.

Every engagement begins with a written engagement agreement.

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