Open Arms Leases Chapel, Laughlin, and More
Mitch King Purchases Student Apartments

 

[June 09, 2022]   Lincoln Christian University is pleased to announce that it has entered into a long-term lease with Open Arms Christian Fellowship.

This ten-year agreement will allow Open Arms to relocate to LCU’s campus and utilize the Hargrove Chapel, Laughlin Center, Field House, athletic fields, and residence halls, for its ministries. The agreement also includes an option for Open Arms to purchase the property during the first year of the lease.

“I’m really pleased to reach this point,” says LCU’s President, Dr. Silas McCormick. “When we initially made our reorganization announcement back in February, one of the most pressing matters before us was figuring out how to deal with a campus that had become too large for us. Whether as a lease or if they exercise the option to buy, this arrangement allows one of our partner churches to expand their ministry while also meeting the two goals we stated early in this process: that we wanted whatever we did with our campus to grow the Kingdom and be good for the Lincoln community.” The lease begins immediately – though it will take some time to fully implement. By the start of the fall semester, LCU will have relocated most employees and operations to the Mills Administration Building and Restoration Hall, with residential students moved to the adjacent 56-unit apartment complex.

Mitch King Purchases Student Apartments

In late February, LCU was introduced by a friend of the university to Mitch King, who expressed interest in purchasing LCU’s 56-unit student apartment complex. Mr. King had considerable experience operating apartment complexes, wanted to rent to the LCU community, and was willing to invest nearly $1 million for needed updates and renovations to the apartments. He was also willing to honor the commitments LCU has made to our returning students as best they could be approximated with a change in ownership.

As LCU’s President, Dr. Silas McCormick explains, “we were a bit skeptical of the idea at first. We would have preferred not to give up control of the apartments, but we simply did not feel we could pass on an opportunity that would not only improve our students’ quality of housing, but also reduce our debt and employee workload. It really is a great opportunity for all involved, and we’re looking forward to introducing Mitch to this wonderful community.”

[Taken from LCU website News & Events]