Shepherd’s Gate Lutheran Church Stepping Out in Faith

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
March 2, 2022

Shelby Township, MI – After a successful 4-week Readiness Assessment period that reached almost 400 members and friends, Shepherd’s Gate Church near Detroit has moved forward with a capital campaign.

The plans for improving the campus on 23 Mile Road in Shelby Township, Michigan have been under development for over a year.  After the church was able to obtain two highly sought-after homes in front of the church with valuable frontage on 23 Mile Road, the church engaged the Groth Design Group from Milwaukee, WI in developing a master plan for the entire property.  The purchase and subsequent demolition of the homes directly in front of the church opened up the property and will allow the church to maximize this valuable frontage on a highly traveled corridor in one of the fastest growing suburbs of Detroit.

The church had many needs to consider including a worship center that is too small and inadequate space for ministry programs.  Rather than just add on another addition, or expand a wall or two, the church wanted to thoughtfully plan out expansion and improvements to the campus that would take maximum advantage of this valuable property.  The entire master plan envisions a new worship center able to seat 750 along with updated kids and youth ministry space, an adult education wing and updated offices and production space.  Parking lots and other infrastructure would also be addressed.

The master plan envisions an efficient and modern campus that would serve Shepherd’s Gate for decades to come.  It would retain about 33,000 existing square feet of building while adding about 68,000 square feet of new construction.  The entire plan, if completed in one effort, was estimated to cost approximately $18.8 million.

Positive feedback on the master plan as presented in 13 focus group meetings prompted Shepherd’s Gate to move forward with the Advance Gifts Phase of a capital campaign that will seek to raise at least $10 million toward the completion of the master plan.

A public kickoff for the campaign is scheduled for May 22, 2022, at the church with one mass service followed by food, games, and celebration.  Organization of the campaign steering committee and early visits seeking financial commitment from leaders within the church is taking place now in anticipation of the kickoff celebration in May.

While many churches were losing members or support during the Covid pandemic, Shepherd’s Gate continued to grow and was blessed to welcome 160 new members to its congregation during Covid.  Financial gifts also increased and despite the recent challenges of the pandemic, Shepherd’s Gate seems ready to step out in faith and seize this latest opportunity.  Lead Pastor Tim Bollinger admits that this will be a ‘God-sized challenge and will require everyone to pray about how they can make the greatest contribution.’

Shepherd’s Gate is a vibrant congregation that began only 42 years ago.  Pastor Bollinger said, “We know the best days for our church are still ahead and we can’t wait to see how God continues to transform lives because we are willing to live generously with everything we have – all for the glory of God!

James D. Klote & Associates, provides full-time resident service.  With offices in Falls Church, Virginia; Chicago, Illinois; Los Angeles, California; and Toronto, Ontario, James D. Klote & Associates is the largest full-time, on-site stewardship consulting firm in North America.  For additional information, please contact the firm at www.jdklote.com or 703-399-0518.

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Erin West
James D. Klote & Associates, Inc.
703-532-7633
erinwest@jdklote.com

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