LEGACY FUND CASE FOR SUPPORT

Establishing a Gospel Presence for Generations in Ann Arbor

Looking Back: God’s Faithfulness to New Life Church

Throughout Scripture, the people of God are called to remember—to look back on the mighty deeds of the Lord. As Israel remembered God rescuing them from Egypt and bringing them into a promised land, we also pause to reflect on the extraordinary provision God has shown to New Life Church.

Our story in Ann Arbor has been shaped by God’s unmistakable guidance. For years, as a church primarily composed of college students, we were repeatedly asked to leave university buildings we used for worship. Each time, God provided. Through the sacrificial generosity of His people, New Life Church purchased and renovated an old sorority house at 1541 Washtenaw Avenue for $4 million. This became our current sanctuary, and it is entirely paid off. Years later, He provided 1547 Washtenaw, the Frieze House, which was purchased for approximately $1.5 million through the generosity of God’s people; it is entirely paid off.

Both buildings are fully tax-exempt. They sit side-by-side with a shared driveway—an almost impossible arrangement to secure next to a major research university. They both now serve as critical spaces for worship, discipleship, hospitality, and mission to University of Michigan students and the broader Ann Arbor community.

For a church with such a strong focus on reaching college students, owning these buildings is nothing short of miraculous.

The Challenge: Stewarding Two Historic Buildings in the Heart of Ann Arbor

While God has provided our facilities, these gifts come with significant responsibility. Both buildings are aging, historically designated structures with unique maintenance needs. Recent capital reserve studies indicated that we must set aside an average of $83,000 per year—above and beyond normal operating expenses—just to maintain and repair our two properties. Without a long-term plan to fund these costs, our facilities could easily consume one-third of our annual budget, hindering our ability to fund ministry on campus and in the city.

New Life has also faithfully sent out multiple church-planting teams—including new churches at Eastern Michigan University and Western Michigan University. These teams made a beautiful sacrifice for the Kingdom, but this also reduced our local tithe base.

Given both factors, financial advisors strongly recommended we sell Frieze House. This seemed like the only responsible option.

The Turning Point: Discernment, Prayer, and Community Wisdom

We brought the issue before the Lord. We sought input from our deacons and deaconesses and  we initiated conversations with the major donors who had helped purchase and pay off the Frieze House years earlier. The response was clear and unified: We should keep the Frieze House. 

The Opportunity: A Foothold for the Gospel in the Next Generation

As we prayed about preserving the Frieze House, God was illuminating something else—our impact on the next generation.

A comprehensive churchwide survey revealed that 25% of our congregation came to faith through New Life Church, compared with a national average of only 5%. That means our missional fruitfulness is five times higher than the average American church.

And the need is increasing. More students than ever arrive on campus with no religious affiliation. Among those raised Christian, 75% leave college no longer practicing their faith.

The Frieze House has become a strategic beachfront on this mission field. In the past few years, we have transformed it into a hub of ministry:

  • Study spaces and student lounges
  • Home Group and discipleship group meeting rooms
  • A worship and prayer room available 24/7
  • A media studio for creative ministry
  • A kitchen for retreats, hospitality, and holiday meals
  • A theater room for community gatherings
  • Outdoor lawn space for bonfires, Fall Launch, and outreach events
  • A home base for the Pancake Outreach, where students flood our intersection for late-night hospitality and Gospel conversations

Now and increasingly in the future, students who would never walk into a traditional church building will walk into a house where they feel welcomed, known, and safe. The Frieze House has become that home. To lose it would be to lose one of our most effective touchpoints for reaching and discipling the next generation.

The Legacy Fund: Securing Our Future Mission

The Legacy Fund is our long-term plan to steward the buildings God has entrusted to us. Structured as a Single Charity Fund—similar to an endowment—when fully funded will:

  • Generate the annual income needed to cover our ongoing capital expenditures (approximately $83,000 per year)
  • Remove the financial burden of major repairs from future generations
  • Sustain a permanent Gospel presence next to the University of Michigan
  • Ensure that both the Frieze House and our sanctuary continue to serve as places of worship, discipleship, hospitality, and outreach for decades to come

This fund exists so that our ministry footprint today becomes a legacy for tomorrow.

How We Began

We launched the Legacy Fund campaign by first engaging outside donors. Because the donor base for capital needs overlaps significantly with those who support our New Life Missionary Fund, we strategically combined our efforts:

  • 80% of all gifts go to the Legacy Fund
  • 20% go to the New Life Missionary Fund

This ensures that as we secure our buildings for the future, we also invest in the people who carry out the ministry. A church needs both a place and a people—and we are committed to both.

Through God’s provision and the generosity of early supporters, over $950,000 has been given toward the campaign. However, with the capital expenses incurred during this period, fundraising costs, and the disbursement of the missionary fund portion, our current Legacy Fund balance is $500,000.

Where We Are Headed

Our target for the Legacy Fund is $2.125 million, which will generate the $85,000/year required to sustainably cover capital repairs and major maintenance for our properties.

With this foundation in place, we are now moving to the next phase of the initiative: a congregational campaign that invites every New Lifer to participate in building a long-term legacy for the Gospel in Ann Arbor.

What We Are Asking of You Right Now

Pray

Pray that God would grant wisdom, unity, and clarity as we make decisions aligned with His will and His ongoing mission to reach the next generation.

Respond to Our Survey

Your honest feedback will be invaluable as we shape the next steps of this campaign and discern the collective heart of our church family.  Please click the "Take Survey" button below to complete the survey.