...::: WINTER 2008 BUILDING UPDATE :::...

by Loren Covarrubias

When the Lord began to motivate me to initiate the construction project we are now in the midst of, He also instructed me to begin the restructuring of our ministry for the next phase of service. He spoke to me from
2 Kings 4:3 and 4:6 (NKJV) "3 Then he said, Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors-empty vessels; do not gather just a few."  "6 Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, Bring me another vessel. And he said to her, There is not another vessel. So the oil ceased."

These scriptures inspired me to know that to the level we believed God (through preparation), we would see the corresponding level of blessing He would pour upon us. God can only pour the blessing to the level that we are prepared to receive it. God is a wise steward and He would not waste His blessing on an unprepared people.

The actual building program has increased in size as we have assessed our needs in relationship to the expectations He has placed upon us. All of the financing is in place to complete the project, but we do have a large need to be met in this final push to the finish. We need to raise an additional $1.5 million for the lights and sound in the temple sanctuary. Our final mortgage will represent about 50% of the actual cost of the addition. This will stretch us to the limits of sound stewardship; therefore, we need to accumulate this final amount to stay within our means. Please pray concerning any commitment that you can make. Also, in these troublesome economic times, we all need to exercise our faith and continue to honor the Lord with our tithes and offerings in order to prepare the habitation for His blessing in the days ahead.

AUGUST 2007

Now that the month of August has arrived, and we get closer to the completion of the Performing Arts Auditorium, as well as part of the hallway that will connect the current building with the new addition and eventually to the new auditorium. We are preparing for a celebration with the dedication of the new addition in the month of September.

FEBRUARY 2007

The month of February has been a wonderful moth for all the folk that have patiently awaited the typical signs of winter. Cold weather, frozen rain and the soft white silent snow have made their way to very unpredictable state of Michigan. With that in mind, our progress in the building of the new temple has come to a halt. Now, as we patiently wait for the first signs of spring, we hope to continue with the "Building of The Temple" as soon as the weather breaks.

JANUARY 2007

The construction of our new worship complex, multi-purpose theatre, and office center continues at a steady pace.  Currently, crews are working diligently on the office wing connection and the 400-seat theatre.  Foundation utilities are in place, and walls are going up on a daily basis.  John Haviland of the construction crew commented, "Work is going well, and thanks to the weather, we're getting a lot done."  Exterior brickwork is already underway on the new theatre, and rough estimates are that the office space and theatre addition should be ready to occupy in mid spring.  Intensive work on the 3,800-seat auditorium will begin upon completion of the new offices and theatre. 

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...::: UPDATES WINTER 2006 :::...

Now that the construction at Clintonville Rd. and Maybee Rd. has almost fully ended, our new concern is for the new traffic signs and warnings. Please be careful, and remember that planning accordingly; it is still the best time saver.

Building Update

The building program is finally making visible progress! The invisible thing may seem unimpressive, but we have already spent nearly $3million since the inception of this project. Many updates have been made to the current main church building in order to have it ready for future use. The renovations have been completed on the south wing of the building to house the Mt. Zion School of Performing Arts. The main church auditorium will continue to undergo updates in order to transform it into a performing arts auditorium. There will soon be more changes in the set and lighting.

It is hard to believe that our current building is 16 years old. This has necessitated extensive renovations that are to be expected with a building of this age. We have been replacing heating and cooling units, floor coverings, parking lot replacement, new lighting and roof replacements of the east wing. These necessary renovations have cost over $400,000.

Now we can move forward with the temple! We are anticipating being in the final stages of completion by the beginning of 2008. In January, I will give you an update as to the final cost and timetable for this next move forward.

We need everyone who has made a commitment to the building of this structure to activate their faith and prepare your special offering for the completion of this building. We are in the midst of uncertain economic times, but faith says that if we put God's work first we will loose God's provision for our live. His provision is more that enough!

...::: UPDATES SUMMER 2006 :::...

Future Sanctuary Update!

You should be seeing more dramatic developments on the new church addition shortly. Administrative delays by the Department of Environment Quality (DEQ) have held us up, but we must always believe the timing of everything that we do for God, since we are indeed ordered by Him. The delays have given us valuable time to thoroughly review our design and costs. The inflation connected with the building is greater than you realize because of the increase and prosperity in the world markets (in places like China and India ). The cost of steel has more that double since we began our project. Needless to say, creative planning has been very necessary.

This is a new day! Great and mighty things are coming in the days ahead. We need to prepare ourselves for this great day of harvest, when the glory of the Lord will be revealed and all flesh will see it together. (Isaiah 40:5)