PAVE THE WAY

PARKING LOT CAPITAL CAMPAING

Throughout scripture, God’s people were always intentional about preparing places where people could encounter Him.

In the Old Testament, God challenged His people through the prophet Haggai when His house had fallen into neglect.

“Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”
— Haggai 1:4

God wasn’t rebuking them because He needed a building.
He was confronting what their priorities communicated.

Later He says:

“Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored.”
— Haggai 1:8

The condition of God’s house was meant to reflect the value they placed on His presence.

Now we know something important.

A beautiful building does not guarantee a healthy church.
But the way we care for the house of God does communicate something.

Sometimes the very first message a person hears from a church happens before they ever walk inside the sanctuary.

It happens when they pull into the parking lot.

It happens when they walk toward the entrance.

It happens when they ask themselves:

“Does this place feel ready for me?”

In scripture, when King Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, it was built with excellence. The craftsmanship, the order, the beauty—it all communicated something about the God they served.

In fact, when the Queen of Sheba visited, scripture says that when she saw the temple and everything surrounding it,

“there was no more spirit left in her.”
— 1 Kings 10:5

She was overwhelmed by what she saw, and it ultimately led her to praise the God of Israel.

The temple made a statement.

It said: God is worthy.
It said: This place matters.
It said: Something sacred happens here.

Today, we don’t build temples of gold.
But we still prepare spaces where people can meet Jesus.

And sometimes that preparation looks very practical.

Sometimes it looks like classrooms.

Sometimes it looks like lighting and sound.

And sometimes it looks like something as simple as a parking lot.

But I want you to think about this for a moment.

Every week people come onto this property carrying heavy things:

• marriages that are struggling
• teenagers who feel lost
• people battling addiction
• families looking for hope
• people who have never experienced the love of Jesus

And when they arrive, we want every single part of this place to say:

“We prepared for you.”

We prepared a seat for you.
We prepared a place for your kids.
We prepared a place where you can encounter the presence of God.

Even in scripture, the role of those who prepared the way mattered.

Psalm 84 says:

“I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God…”

Even the entry point to God’s house mattered.

In many ways today, our parking lot is the modern version of that moment.

It is the first step someone takes toward encountering Jesus.

So as we look toward the future God is leading Central Assembly into, we believe it’s time to invest in preparing the way for the next wave of people God is going to bring.

Not because asphalt is spiritual.

But because people are.

Every space we create, every improvement we make, every place we prepare becomes an opportunity for someone to walk into a moment where their life can change forever.

Church, we’re not just paving a parking lot.

We’re preparing the way for people to find Jesus.

And I believe with all my heart that the lives changed in the years ahead will far outweigh the cost of the ground we stand on today.

So today we’re inviting you to pray about how you can help us prepare the way for the next generation of people God is sending to Central Assembly.

Because Muskegon still needs Jesus.

And we’re going to keep making room for them.

Sincerely,

Pastor Jeff

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$0 raised of $500,000
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  • North Lot - Approximately 100 parking spots, new gravel base, weed and debris removal, drain repairs, new identifiable painted lines and sidewalk edges - $200,000

    South Lot - Approximately 172 Parking Spots, new gravel base, weed & debris removal, drain repairs, new identifiable painted lines and sidewalk edges. - $300,000

    • Increase Capacity – Providing safe, sufficient space for current attenders and future growth.

    • Improve Accessibility – Making it easier for seniors, families with young children, and individuals with mobility challenges to attend and participate fully.

    • Enhance Safety – Ensuring smooth traffic flow and reducing hazards for pedestrians.

    • Strengthen Outreach – A well-kept, expanded lot sends a powerful message of hospitality and preparedness to first-time guests.

  • This campaign is more than an infrastructure project — it is a step of faith in preparing for the future. Just as Nehemiah rallied God’s people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, we too are called to build what is necessary to support God’s work in our community. Every parking space represents a person whose life can be touched by the gospel.

    Reaching this $500,000 goal in a single year will require sacrifice, unity, and generosity from every household. While some families may be able to contribute larger gifts, others may give smaller amounts — yet each offering is equally vital. Together, every gift will help us “pave the way” for continued ministry impact.

    This is a defining moment for our church family. By investing in this project now, we are making room for God’s work in the next generation, ensuring that our campus is safe for our older generation, welcoming, and ready to receive all whom He brings through our doors.

  • The truth is every gift of generosity helps. This means we aren’t substituing our tithe for this campaign.

    We are stretching ourselves, operating in faith and giving above and beyond our tithe.

    You may not feel like your gift will matter, but it will. Some can give a lot, others a little less, and others maybe less than that, but together we can achieve our goal and pave the way for future generations.