Children sing at the Living Water Community Church.

Photo Courtesy of Stephanie Pipe

The Rev. Clark Cothern, pastor of Living Water Community Church, sums up his church’s mission in one acronym - R.E.A.C.H.

It stands for Recognize Everyone And Communicate Hope, and the Ypsilanti-area Baptist church has been successful in achieving that mission, Cothern says.

“Everything that we try to do is communicate temporary hope for those who might need it … and then help people find the hope they can have for eternity through Jesus Christ,” he said.

But the congregation is hoping to expand on its current success with the help of a new 14,000-square-foot building in Ypsilanti Township.

Living Water wants to begin construction on Bemis Road just west of Whittaker Road by fall.

Living Water is attempting to raise $300,000 and has already received site plan approval from the Ypsilanti Township Planning Commission as well as extensions on those plans.

Living Water is approaching its 11th year, during which time it has rented space from local schools. The first eight were spent at Lincoln High School and it has rented a gym on Sundays from South Arbor Charter Academy in York Township for the last three years.

Cothern explained that the church also wants its message to reach a broad spectrum of people. He added that while Living Water is conservative theologically, it is not conservative methodologically. And that helps it reach people who may have some reservations about becoming a part of the church.

Kids at the AWANA program at Living Water Community Church.

Photo Courtesy of Stephanie Pipe

To that end, Living Water would like to expand their programming, which would be possible in a new building, Cothern says. The church plans to offer a “Financial Peace University” which provides financial management training. It also wants to offer a wide variety of youth programming, AWANA program, basketball and cheerleading to help attract kids and introduce them to the church at an appropriate age.

“There are a number of opportunities that we don’t currently have that we could have and would help get the community involved,” Cothern said.

“We feel that there are some practical things we could do to help people that would provide some temporary hope and communicate what we think is the source of eternal hope.”

The move will allow the congregation to grow beyond the approximately 130 members who worship there.

Members of the Living Water congregation.

Photo Courtesy of Stephanie Pipe

“There are some challenges space-wise. I think we’ve maxed out with the numbers of people we can have, which is a good problem,” Cothern said.

Cothern said being in the gym has worked out so well that plans for phase one of the new church call for a worship space that is similar to a gymnasium and can be used for the expanded programming during weekdays.

Cothern started Living Water after serving as a pastor in Adrian and on staff at what is now the Crossroads Community Baptist Church in Ann Arbor.

Living Water maintains strong relationships with those “sister” churches, he says, but during his tenures there he always hoped to establish a church in the Ypsilanti Township area.

Cothern said he is pleased with the progress and dedication from the congregation.

“It’s really a pleasure when you’re a pastor and your personal vision lines up with that of the congregation. You feel like you’re all in this together,” he said. “I’ve never been so happy with a congregation.”