In the Heart of the City, with a Heart for the Next Generation
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”
— 2 Timothy 2:2
The Christian faith is always one generation away from being forgotten.
That is why Paul tells Timothy to entrust what he has received to others. Not merely to preserve it. Not simply to admire it. Not to hold it tightly for himself. But to receive the Gospel faithfully and then hand it on intentionally to those who will come after him.
That word, entrust, is at the heart of the Next Gen Campaign.
A Multigenerational Church
We have seen God bless us with missional fruitfulness. But the need before us is growing. More than 30 percent of students are now coming to campus with no spiritual background. Seventy percent of students who were raised in the Christian faith leave college no longer practicing it. The next generation is not less in need of the Gospel. They are more in need of faithful witnesses, open doors, embodied hospitality, deep discipleship, and a church ready to receive them before they even know they are coming.
This campaign exists to secure our Gospel presence in Ann Arbor for generations to come. Our two historic buildings are aging and require significant long-term care. A comprehensive capital reserve study by Michigan Reserve Associates identified the need for approximately $100,000 annually to sustainably maintain our two buildings.
Without a long-term plan, capital expenses could consume over a third of our annual budget, placing a heavy burden on future generations and limiting our ability to fund ministry on campus and in the city.
The Legacy Fund is that long-term plan.
The Next Gen Campaign is an invitation to each person who calls New Life home to give generously and joyfully to the Legacy Fund. Our specific goal is to raise $1 million from the New Life congregation. Reaching this milestone will move the Legacy Fund significantly forward and provide the momentum needed to engage our broader New Life alumni community.
We are asking every person who calls New Life home to prayerfully consider making a three-year pledge to the Next Gen Campaign, above and beyond regular giving. Every gift matters. Every prayer matters. Every act of faith matters. This is not about equal giving. It is about equal participation. Some will be able to give more, and some less, but all of us can seek the Lord about our part in this shared work.
Together, we are asking God to help us raise $1 million as a congregation over the next three years, so we can entrust a strong Gospel presence to the generations who come after us.
Frequently Asked Questions
We celebrate the way in which God has used these physical structures and their proximity to campus to transform lives. Our buildings are not the mission themselves, but they create space for the ministry we believe God has called us to in Ann Arbor. In these spaces we continue our commitment to worship Jesus, teach Scripture, pray together, build authentic relationships, invest in the next generation, and equip people to live sent. Many alumni mark these places as the site of significant spiritual moments in their lives.
Because of their location next to the University of Michigan and in the heart of Ann Arbor, these buildings help us sustain a long-term Gospel presence in a uniquely strategic place. Investing in them is one way we support the vision of being a vibrant, reproducing, multi-generational church that lives out the Greatest Commandment and the Great Commission.
These spaces make possible weekly worship gatherings, student ministry, home groups, discipleship groups, leadership development, prayer, hospitality, and meaningful community connection.
The Frieze House, in particular, has become a hub of ministry. It is open from 8am to midnight every day for students and city members. Many students come throughout the day to study, spend time with friends, or meet with the Lord. For some, it has become a refuge, especially those navigating difficult living situations. The prayer room is regularly used for personal times with God as well as for rhythms like all-campus weeks of 24/7 prayer. One person recently left a note that read, “The church has historically been a sanctuary. This space was one for me through a very challenging time. Thank you. – a former Muslim.”
On Fridays, Frieze is set up as a coffee house where free lattes are served, creating a natural environment for students to invite friends and build relationships. The house also includes study spaces, student lounges, meeting rooms, a worship and prayer room, a media studio, a kitchen for retreats and hospitality, a theater room for gatherings, lawn space for events and outreach, and serves as a home base for Pancake Outreach.
These spaces provide consistency, accessibility, and a relational environment that would be very difficult to replicate in temporary or rented settings.
Based on the extensive work of our finance committee and staff, the short term goal is to reach a Legacy Fund balance of $1.5 million by the end of 2029, then eventually see the Legacy Fund grow to over $2 million. We plan to continue raising funds from outside donors, and we need to fund the current expenses of both buildings, so it may take some time to reach the longer term goal. A capital reserve study by Michigan Reserve Associates helped us answer that concretely, identifying a need for approximately $100,000 annually. While ambitious, this goal is grounded in a realistic assessment of our long-term facility needs.
Our specific goal of raising $1 million from our congregation was informed by your honest feedback during surveys and interviews. Reaching this milestone will move the project significantly forward and provide the momentum needed to engage our New Life Alumni.
Absolutely. Any progress made toward our $1 million goal significantly reduces our future risk and strengthens our ministry capacity. Crucially, every gift moves the mission forward and signals to outside donors that our church is deeply invested in its own future. We will always prioritize the most critical needs first, ensuring that every dollar given is used responsibly to steward the properties God has entrusted to us.
While every contribution helps protect our operating budget from emergency repairs, our ultimate aim is a fully funded Legacy Fund that ensures our facilities are secure for the next generation. To this end, we will continue to pursue fund raising activities beyond this campaign. Our Board and Council retain the authority to potentially sell the Frieze House if we cannot afford it in the long run, but we would exhaust all efforts to prevent that from happening.
We are inviting everyone who calls New Life home to prayerfully consider how they might invest in the next generation. Because our financial situations are all unique, the amount each person gives will look different. The goal is not equal giving but equal sacrifice, thoughtful and meaningful participation as each person responds to the Lord’s leading.
You can take a look at our full FAQ handout here, and if you have any questions that are not answered in the handout, feel free to reach out to rick.keith@newlifea2.org
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