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Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!
Ephesians 3:20-21
Over the last 25 years, in response to God’s leading, Connections has taken some big steps to increase our outreach and impact.
We believe that God is leading us to make the next bold move. He is stirring us to imagine more: more people being reached for Christ; more lives transformed by the teachings of Jesus; more impact in our community and around the world. But before looking ahead, let’s take a quick look back.
A CHURCH ON A MISSION
Connections is a church on a mission. We exist to help fix the brokenness of our world by connecting as many people as possible to God, to others, and to their God-given purpose in life.
This mission has been our north star, guiding us onward. It has driven us to get better, take risks, and reach for more.
Our church launched in 1998 as The Prairie Chapel and began meeting in the multipurpose room of a local upper elementary school. We grew from 75 people to 200 people from 2000 to 2003. It was in 2003 that we first contemplated building a modest church building out in the countryside. But God led us to imagine more. So instead, we decided to become a church that would better relate to, support, and serve the communities we are called to reach, and that would better serve and equip the congregation that God was building. What we would do in a building was more important than the building we would do it in.
In 2004 we moved to the Performing Arts Center in Schoolcraft High School, making good use of the much larger and better facilities. We grew from 200 to 475 in average weekend attendance. But God stirred up our hearts to imagine more. So in 2008 we purchased 20 acres of land on the corner of U Avenue and Highway 131 for our future church home, and we changed our name from The Prairie Chapel to Connections Community Church.
Sounds like steady progress, doesn’t it? It wasn’t. There were setbacks, challenges, heartbreaks, and painful losses. A migration due to a soured economy and an unhappiness with our vision to move forward combined to cut our church size in half. But that north star kept calling us forward. God’s grace was sufficient. And God blessed our faithfulness.
In 2015 we paid off the land purchase. In 2016 we built Phase One of our church campus. And in 2023 we completed a much-needed addition to that initial building.
SERVE FIRST, BUILD SECOND
We have always put expanded service to people before expanding facilities to meet in. When room got tight in our rented facilities in the local high school, we began a second service. As our donations increased, we began investing in staff, in ministry, and in strategic ministry partners, both at home and overseas. When needs arose, we gave generously. We made the best use of what we had and kept our focus on doing what God has called us to do.
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Two examples:
First, during the Covid shutdown, we gave tons (literally!) of food to area food pantries. We fed an entire village of a thousand residents in Uganda for a month so people there would not starve to death. And we assisted people in our community who lost jobs. We invested in technology to bring ministry into people’s homes online. We were determined not to stop being the church.
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Second, when we outgrew two services in our current building, we started a third service. Even though this stressed us in a number of ways, our volunteers and staff stepped up to maximize the use of our facilities. When space in three services became cramped, we replaced the chairs and did a slight remodel to add an additional 50 seats in the auditorium.
BEING GOOD STEWARDS
Along the way have been committed to being good stewards of the funds that God has entrusted to us through the generosity of His people. We used money to advance God’s purposes and we saved money for future needs.
In late 2022 it became clear that we needed to expand our facility. We needed space for staff offices, for a video recording and mixing studio, for a reception area, and for our kid’s ministry on Sunday mornings and our student ministry on Sunday nights. So we built an addition and paid for it in cash. We then furnished that addition in exactly the same way.
With the addition paid for in cash, it brought our land and building assets to $2,474,000 against a debt of just $616,000. Or at least that is what it was…
Late last year, we made an additional $193,000 payment toward our mortgage principal, reducing the balance to $423,000. We’ve also implemented a pre-payment plan based on General Fund income, which, if current giving levels are maintained, will allow us to fully pay off the mortgage in approximately one year. Throughout this process, we have preserved four months’ worth of operating expenses in reserve and have not used any designated funds, such as those for Missions or the Building Fund. Our goal is to eliminate all existing debt before beginning our next building project.
This focus on doing ministry before constructing buildings, along with being good stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us, have been defining characteristics of Connections. These are some of the practices that have enabled us to endure through challenges and tough economic times.
A VISION WAS BORN
In recent years God has been stirring us up to imagine more yet again. The Spirit of God has impressed on our hearts this statement from John 15:16 - “I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit.” Lasting fruit is fruit that has an enduring presence in the world. God began to grow a vision in our heart to raise up the next generation of leaders for the Christian mission.
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We strive to be a church that envisions future generations advancing the Kingdom of God in their time. Our goal is to equip them to withstand the inevitable challenges they will face and to seize the opportunities God presents to them. We want to establish a firm foundation, enabling them to remain faithful to God and fruitful in His service, regardless of what the future may bring.
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In other words, we aim to fulfill our mission not only in our own time but also for the generations to come—bearing lasting fruit. This vision is why we’ve invested in full-time children’s and student pastors and committed significant resources to these ministries. It is also why we are dedicated to providing them with the space and support they need to grow.
SUCCESS GIVES RISE TO NEED
God has graciously blessed our pursuit of the mission and vision He has given us. Currently, we average nearly 600 people across our three Sunday worship services, which includes over 100 children each morning.
Additionally, between 50 and 60 students gather for Connections youth group meetings every Sunday evening. These numbers represent people of all ages who have come to know Christ as Savior and are experiencing healing, growth, and support in their walk with Jesus.
We also reach over 1,000 people weekly through our online ministries, including service livestreams, midweek Q&A sessions, and social media outreach.
To continue pursuing our mission and vision, we need more space. Our staff, volunteers, and facilities are being stretched to the limit with three services every Sunday. We are running out of space in both the auditorium and several of our children’s classrooms.
We’ve even had standing-room-only services and have exhausted overflow space during special services like Easter and Christmas Eve.
WHAT IS THE IMAGINE MORE CAMPAIGN?
The Imagine More Campaign is designed to raise the funds to build the space necessary
to continue advancing our mission and vision.
The world is broken, and people desperately need Jesus. God is stirring hearts, leading people to seek Him.
We want to ensure we have the room - and the heart - to welcome those seeking Him so they can hear the Good News and experience the salvation found in Jesus alone.
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Specifically, the Imagine More Campaign seeks to construct the following:
AUDITORIUM
A new auditorium that will seat over 500 people, complete with new sound, lighting, and projection systems, along with a green room.
1
LOBBY
A new main entrance into the new building, complete with a large lobby, restrooms, and cafe.
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WALKWAY
A 20 foot wide walkway between the new and current auditorium that will provide social space and two new entrances into the current building.
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NEXT GEN
A remodeling of our current auditorium to provide classrooms and large group meeting space for kids and students.
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PARKING
Expanded parking to the south of the building and a new entrance onto the church campus on the southwest corner of our property.
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WHAT IS THE IMAGINE MORE CAMPAIGN?
WHAT IT WILL DO FOR OUR
CHURCH
The Imagine More Campaign will alleviate crowding at weekend services, ensuring ample room for both regular attendees and guests, with space to grow for years to come.
The new facilities will provide much more space for socializing and small group meetings, fostering deeper connections within our community.
We will be able to comfortably accommodate the large crowds that gather for special services like Easter and Christmas Eve, which are key outreach events for us.
The improved sound and visual systems will allow us to communicate the gospel with greater clarity, creating a more impactful experience.
Additionally, the campaign will alleviate parking problems and allow for smoother transitions between services.
Additionally, it will generate the excitement that draws even more people to experience the life-changing message of Connections.
WHAT IT WILL DO FOR OUR
STAFF & VOLUNTEERS
The Imagine More Campaign will enable us to cut back to two weekend services, reducing the stress on staff and volunteers.
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​This campaign will make scheduling volunteers easier as we will only need to cover two services while still giving volunteers the opportunity to “serve one service, attend one service”.
This will allow us to have more volunteers serving each service, helping us to serve with greater excellence.
It will also eliminate the problem of childcare for volunteers who serve during all three services.
WHAT IT WILL DO FOR OUR
CHILDREN
Imagine More will transform our children’s ministry.
We will create a safe and secure environment for even more children, including a spacious, high-quality area for elementary worship and activities, five small group classrooms tailored for age-appropriate learning, and a dedicated early childhood wing with three specialized classrooms designed for babies and toddlers to develop foundational faith skills in a space created just for them.
By imagining more, we can build an engaging space where children experience the exciting intersection of faith and fun!
WHAT IT WILL DO FOR OUR
STUDENTS
The new space will offer our students a variety of benefits, enhancing their experience and engagement.
It will provide a spacious environment ideal for worship and teaching sessions, allowing for more effective and meaningful group gatherings.
Additionally, students will have more room for small group discussions, fostering deeper connections and conversations.
The increased flexibility in how they can use the building during youth group meetings will empower them to make the most of their time together.
Furthermore, by eliminating the need to share the multipurpose room with the children’s ministry, students will be able to make the space feel like their own, creating a more comfortable and welcoming environment for their activities.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
The entire project is projected to cost $2.8 million. Our goal is to raise between $2 million and $3 million dollars. We have contracted with Zion Church Builders to design and construct this new facility. They are an international company headquartered in Kalamazoo that specializes in church construction.
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With our current giving levels, we can manage a $1 million mortgage and still maintain financial flexibility.
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(Keep in mind, we will pay off our existing mortgage before beginning construction on the new auditorium.)
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The more funds we raise beyond the $2 million threshold, the smaller the mortgage we will need to secure, and the more resources we’ll have for ministry in the new facilities.
CAN WE DO THIS?
Some may understandably question whether this is possible.
With God, it certainly is!
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Moreover, it is entirely reasonable.
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Healthy churches conducting 3-year capital campaigns typically raise between two and three times their annual General Fund income.
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Our General Fund income last year totaled $905,000.
It is realistic for us to aim raising between $1.8 and $2.7 million.
HOW YOU CAN MAKE IMAGINE MORE A REALITY
Nothing will happen without you taking action.
It will take all of us doing everything we can to achieve the Imagine More goal and construct a facility that will enable us to keep pursuing the mission and vision God has given us. God will enable and lead each one of us to do our part in this endeavor. And as we obey, we will achieve amazing, God-honoring, life-changing things.
Here is what we need you to do.
*PRAY
This is where every Christian endeavor begins. Ask God for His provision for this undertaking. Ask God to continue to bless our church, helping us to reach more people and to serve those who are a part of our church family more effectively.
*SERVE
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When we all decide to step up and serve in significant ways we become a more powerful church that has a greater impact on people who attend and on the communities we serve. There are so many roles you can play in our kids or student ministries, in our small group or special event ministries, or on one of our many Sunday morning teams. There is a place for you!
God will provide for people who are committed to doing His work now.
Remember, what we do in the building is more important than the building we do it in!
*GIVE
This is the moment to give sacrificially, to invest in a future that will echo for generations to come. Your gift will not just build walls; it will build lives. It will help create a lasting legacy that empowers both the current and next generation of leaders, teachers, and change-makers.
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We are asking you to make a substantial contribution to the Imagine More Campaign in addition to your regular giving.
We are asking you to do so prayerfully, responding to whatever God puts in your heart to do.
not equal gifts, but equal sacrifice
Every person in the Connections church family has a vital role to play, and every contribution will be essential to our success. Achieving our goal will require each of us to make personal sacrifices for the campaign to succeed.
While our goal is 100% participation, it is important to note that giving is not about equal amounts, but about equal sacrifice. God has entrusted each of us with different capacities to give, and what may be a sacrifice for one person or family may not be the same for another. Our challenge is for each of us to make a sacrifice of equal quality based on the capacity God has given us.
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At Connections, we don’t pressure anyone to give. We simply ask that you make the sacrifice God places on your heart.
YOU CAN GIVE MORE THAN YOU THINK
A sacrificial gift can come not only from giving more but also from adjusting how we spend. Many people may find they can give more than they thought by temporarily altering their spending habits. The sacrifice made in one area can be redirected to support God’s vision for our church.
GIVINGBY
LIVINGBY
&
FAITH
“We live by faith, not by sight.”
2 Corinthians 5:7
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There are two approaches to life. Most people live by sight, meaning they make decisions based on what seems reasonable and logical in light of their goals and ambitions. They do what makes sense to them.
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The other approach is to live by faith. This doesn’t mean acting irresponsibly, but rather following the guidance of God, even when the path seems difficult or impossible. Living by faith relies on God’s provision and blessings as we seek to advance His purposes in the world.
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Giving by faith is an essential part of living by faith. Giving by faith means acknowledging that everything we have is entrusted to us by God and then using it according to His direction. Giving by faith means supporting God’s work in the world generously, leading to the salvation and transformation of people’s lives.
A GIVING CHART
The following chart demonstrates a giving structure that would enable us to reach our Imagine More goals.
It is based on the number of donors we currently have.
IMPORTANT GIVING DETAILS
*FIRST
Fill out an Imagine More Pledge Card.
*SECOND
Indicate the total amount you are pledging on Pledge Card.
This represents the total you plan to give over the three years of the campaign. You can also specify whether you will donate in one lump sum, annually for three years, or monthly for three years.
*THIRD
There are several ways you can make your Imagine More contributions:
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You can use the Donate tab on the website or church app and select the “Imagine More” fund.
(If making monthly contributions, we recommend setting it up as a recurring donation)
You can write a check and place it in the offering boxes located in the back of the auditorium, or mail it to the church. Be sure to write “Imagine More” in the memo line.
You can give cash, but please include a note indicating that the gift is for the Imagine More campaign.
*FOURTH
You can give more than just cash.
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If you have property, stocks, or other valuables you’d like to donate, we may be able to accept them. Please contact the church office to make arrangements for donating such items.