Lighthouse Church buying Power Centre Church on Sumpter Rd.

The Belleville Lighthouse Church, which currently is located on Willis Road near Rawsonville in Sumpter Township, is purchasing the former Power Centre
Church International on Sumpter Road in Van Buren Township.
The public is invited to a dedication and a benefit service at the Belleville Lighthouse Worship Center scheduled for Saturday, July 18, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the church, where there will be light refreshments and a tour of the facility.
Pastor Jim Lockard said the church had an athletic and awesome young man with cancer named Zac Lovelace who passed away. The benefit service is in Zac’s memory with the gym being dedicated to his memory.
“There’s a huge Belleville following of 4,000-plus Team Zac members who have helped support raising funds in his memory for other kids suffering from cancer,” Pastor Lockard said.
He said the congregation contemplated building an addition onto its old church and even had construction drawings completed.
“However, when the church on Sumpter Road came on the market, we realized what a great opportunity it presented,” Pastor Lockard said.
“Buying a much-larger existing church was a better choice than spending funds on expanding on our smaller facility. We ended up with almost twice the space with great amenities. The new building even has the benefit of handicap access, bathrooms and an elevator,” he said.
“The Belleville community has supported our church over the years,” Pastor Lockard said. “We are stepping out on faith by taking on a building that is over three times the size of our current church. Yes, it is a big step, but based upon our past community support, we feel the extra programs we can offer the neighborhood will be well received.”
The church provides school backpack and school supply giveaways for families in need. Some of the outreach for the campus will include senior gatherings, drug and rehab programs, crisis counseling, recreational programs, support groups, and special events for disabled.
The full-size basketball court with locker rooms was part of a 2006 expansion at the Power Centre, so Lighthouse is in discussions with a gym operator about bringing a basketball league to the neighborhood.
The church holds a Harvest Fest each October. The event was limited in the past, Pastor Lockard said, but now with the new facility and 206 parking spaces on more than 19 acres, the potential is only limited by the committee’s imagination.
The committee is considering hayrides, dunk tanks, petting zoo, carnival games, a craft fair and food vendors.
Pastor Lockard said Lighthouse sees the new facility as a way to reach out to the community and share the benefits.
They are considering offering the gym for rental for all uses, including basketball, volleyball, banquets, wedding receptions, showers, and other church rentals. The property has an outdoor playground that would be perfect for a daycare operator, Pastor Lockard said.
The Power Centre church with seating for 400 on 19.06 acres was listed for sale for $1,675,000 after the church filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy on Feb. 20, 2013. A bank in Georgia lent the congregation $6 million to build the complex.
Pastor Lockard said Lighthouse was able to buy The Power Centre for $850,000 with $650,000 at first and $250,000 more once the former church on Willis is sold.
Lighthouse began in a storefront in 1965. By 1972, the congregation had grown significantly, so members completed necessary renovations and moved to 51185 Willis Road. When they outgrew that building in 1986, they added on a new sanctuary with classrooms and offices while the original sanctuary was converted into the current fellowship hall. As the years went by, they fully air-conditioned the building and added a shed in the parking lot for storage. It is now 9,400 square feet.
“We were blessed to have such a nice place to worship for all of these years,” Pastor Lockard said. “With this wonderful opportunity to relocate, we can pass on our blessings to a new owner.”
The church building on Willis is now available for another church to purchase or rent. Bill Skubik at Religious Real Estate said the building could be rezoned commercial and used for small office space, a hair salon, daycare, or medical space.
For more information on the new Lighthouse facility on Sumpter Road call Pastor Lockard at (734) 461-9800. For details on the Willis Road building, call Religious Real Estate at (734) 604-6222.