CRCG Debt Reduction:

WE ARE DEBT FREE!!!  THANK YOU to everyone who have given generously to pay off our debt! From the donations received and funds from our operations we have been able to pay our remaining debt of just over 190,000!  To God be the glory for the faithfulness of our CRCG family and friends of the Grounds ministry.  We also thank all those who gave personal loans that made it possible for all the building and infrastructure improvements that we enjoy today and for generations to come.   As we plan for the new ministry center it’s likely we will again being seeking loans from our Grounds family to help with financing the new facility.

Ministry Center Challenge Match for the Summer of 2022!

The Conference Grounds ministry received a $22,000 challenge gift match for each month (June, July,  August) of the summer season for the new ministry center.  In June we received $8,900, in July we received $23,700, and in August $35,125 for a total of $67,675 in matching gifts!  THANK YOU!  Year to date we have raised a total of $239,000 plus $40,000 from the auction on Labor Day weekend for a total of $279,000 towards our goal of $500,000 for 2022.  

New Ministry Center – Replacing the Store, Kitchen, & Sunshine Room:

As we look to the future, we are excited to build our new Ministry Center, which will replace our current Sunshine Room, kitchen facilities, restaurant/store, and registration area. The Board of Directors has given approval to AMDG Architects to draw up the final plans, and move forward with GDK as the general contractor. We are excited about replacing our tired, worn-out facility with a new building that will be approximately 9,000 square feet! This will give us a larger and modernized kitchen, updated store/restaurant, separate registration area and larger Sunshine Room that will include a serving area with a small café, and restrooms. Along with the physical and aesthetic benefits of this larger facility is the increase in ministry capacity we will have year round. This facility will be a place for families, friends, and neighbors to gather, play games, and fellowship for generations to come! In the summer it will provide larger spaces for enjoying a good meal, ice cream treats, and pie…in air conditioned comfort! It will be a blessing for our adult Bible Study speakers and participants (imagine being able to focus on listening and engaging with the speaker rather than thinking about how hot and stuffy it is in the room). The rest of the year, our kitchen is a busy place where meals are prepared and served for the many groups on site – quilters, youth groups, ministry retreats, wedding receptions, and more!

The estimated cost for the Ministry Center currently is at 4.2 to 4.5 million dollars. This past summer season we did a soft launch of our fundraising efforts with a matching gift challenge and year to date just over $279,000 has been raised! The total amount we have for the Ministry Center is over $600,000.   The Board of Directors would like to have 1.5 million before we start construction in September 2023.  We praise God for this great start and are excited to ask you to continue to partner with us as we kick off our capital campaign; Trusting in God’s Faithfulness: Past – Present – Future. Claiming the words of Psalm 100:5 – “For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”

So many lives have been touched, blessed, and changed through the ministry of The Grounds over the past 72 years. Generation after generation has trusted God and He has been faithful! Please help us continue this legacy so that the generations to come can experience God’s presence, love, and goodness as they “Come Apart and Rest Awhile”.

Our goal is to continue to raise funds as we move forward with the initial work of finalizing the plans, hiring sub-contractors, and ordering the supplies and materials needed.  We plan to have the current building demolished right after Labor Day of 2023. Construction will take place over the fall, winter, and spring seasons. Lord willing, we will be kicking off the summer season of 2024 with a dedication and celebration of a beautiful, multi-functional facility that will serve us well for generations to come!

We ask that you join us in prayer to our great God who can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. We pray for wisdom and guidance as we move forward in faith. We pray God will make known to us all the ways this new facility can be used to further His kingdom. We pray for direction in our fund-raising efforts. We pray that throughout the year you will invite your family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances to join you in supporting the Grounds by participating in the different fund-raisers that are being planned. And, we pray that as we close out 2022, you will consider making a year-end gift to the Grounds for the Ministry Center.

We are humbled and blessed by your love and support!

Septic System Update:

Our septic operations were in compliance with EGLE state requirements for the summer of 2022!  Though we did have some capacity concerns with our flows in July.  The Grounds septic waste system was built in the mid 1980’s to accommodate the camping and cottage improvements of the 1990’s and 2000’s.  With the addition of the worship center, year around cottage usage, and the 30 plus years of operations our septic system is very close to be maximized. To continue our current operations or even consider additional improvements we will have to upgrade our septic system soon. Our system is currently permitted through the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and is tested and monitored by the engineering firm, Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr, and Huber.  The Conference Grounds does not have expansion capabilities on our current facility so it’s the engineering firm’s recommendation that we connect to the Grand Haven Township septic system. Currently the Grounds is one mile away from the closest point of connection and the tentative cost is now 2 to 2.5 million dollars.  If the septic upgrade is required for current operations or construction of the new ministry center we would have to delay the construction of the new ministry center. The change to connect to the Grand Haven system would be expensive, but a major improvement and a positive impact on future Grounds operations and facility improvements.

Facility Improvements 2023:

  1. Cottage upgrades:
    1. New dishwashers and refrigerators in some of our cottages.
    2. Continue to replace furniture and flooring in a couple of our cottages.
    3. Deck repairs
  2. Replacing some of our pool lounge chairs and sitting chairs in the pool area.
  3. Replacing some of the fencing around the pool area.
  4. Infrastructure improvements for our gas utilities.
  5. Start construction of the new ministry center!

 

 

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