A $7 Million Bank Headquarters Becomes a Church: A Michigan Congregation Buys Instead of Building

• Family Church bought the former Huntington Bank headquarters for $7 million
• The three-storey building covers 132,000 square feet and dates from 1992
• The main floor will become an 850-seat worship centre
• The lower level may become a daycare, preschool or school

A growing Michigan church has bought a former bank headquarters rather than build a new church, The Christian Post reported in September 2022.

Family Church, a nondenominational multisite congregation in Holland Township and Zeeland, Michigan, paid $7 million in August 2022 for the former Huntington Bank headquarters. The three-storey building, built in 1992, covers 132,000 square feet.

Lead Pastor Adam Grill explained the decision. “In 2021, we saw the growth trends and knew even with a second location we would need to do something,” he said. “We were able to purchase a building that would be multiple times the size of anything we could build for much less.”

“The main floor of the bank building will be transformed into a worship center that seats around 850 people,” Grill said. The second floor will serve children’s ministry. The lower level’s use is undecided, but options include a daycare, preschool, homeschool ministry or Christian school. “A major need in our community is more daycare and preschool, so we are looking at that,” he said.

The purchase shows the value of existing buildings to growing churches. Corporate offices often come with large floor plates, parking and solid construction, and can cost far less per square foot than new building, especially when companies are consolidating.

In Jamaica, commercial buildings in towns and business districts sometimes become available as companies relocate. Congregations weighing a new build against buying should compare the total cost of each, including conversion, parking, fire safety and planning approval for a change of use. Using part of the space for a school or daycare can bring income and serve the community.

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