“We can’t run our lives and live our lives thinking that it’s all on our timetable,” Rhonda Cox, project manager overseeing renovations of Exit Church’s new building, said. “[God’s] taken us this far, and he’ll take us the rest of the way.”
When Exit purchased their new building on Jan. 24, 2025, they expected to move into what was once an abandoned KMart by Fall 2025 to better accommodate incoming college students. They still haven’t relocated, Tyler Shirley, co-pastor of Exit, said.
The church has experienced several setbacks, the foremost of which was waiting for state approval of the building’s renovation plans, he said.
Engineers involved with the project experienced personal issues requiring them to stop work. Exit staff also await a reply from the Lilly Foundation after a recent Lilly Grant application, he said.
Waiting isn’t always bad. Often, unforeseen benefits arise, Shirley said.
“There could be a gift in the delays,” he said. “Sometimes you're able to think of things over time that you wouldn't have thought of at first.”
And that’s exactly what happened, he said.
Throughout the holdup, the church developed new ideas for the renovation: a play area where members could bring children throughout the week, offices and adult Sunday school classrooms, he said.
These expansions are why the church applied for additional funding, though they knew it would add to their wait time. If Exit receives the Lilly Grant, they can add these renovations to their plan for the building.
Factors the church waits on before moving into the building, including the grant application, are like a domino set; each piece of the process relies on the other pieces, Shirley said. Whether or not Exit receives the grant determines their plans for the building, which in turn determines when they can begin finding construction crew. Only then can they begin renovations, he said.
While waiting feels uncertain, God has clearly provided for the church throughout the process. Even the ability to purchase the building was a work of God, Shirley said.
The building Exit purchased wasn’t listed on the market. It had been discovered through a personal connection. Shirley toured the structure with friend Darren Campbell, even though he was unsure if the church could afford the purchase.
Campbell, founder of Slingshot, offered to pay the building’s monthly mortgage if Exit allowed him to store his books there, Shirley said.
On top of this, someone who had only visited the church once or twice made a seven-figure donation for the down payment of the building. This proves God is working throughout the entire process, even today as they wait for approval from the state, Shirley said. He was amazed at God’s generosity.
Shirley invited Taylor students to join him in praying over the process, even as they continue to wait.
“Ask the Lord that His will be done, whether that's in plenty or in none, and that this would be glorifying to him, because it's his church,” he said.
Shirley expressed excitement for the day the church could finally relocate. He has faith that God’s timing for this will be better than his, he said.
The additional space the new building will provide makes Autumn Kennedy, junior professional writing major at Taylor, excited. Kennedy attends the late service to help alleviate the larger rush accompanying Exit’s first service.
Taylor’s expanding study body definitely contributes to Exit’s need for more space, she said. She empathizes with the church’s pastors, who are clearly working hard and doing their best to accommodate swelling numbers of church-goers, she said.
“I think we understand, especially as Taylor students, the blessing and the curse that it is to have more people,” she said. “ It's good to see that people want to go there, but it is frustrating at times when you're so crammed in there, or you can't park.”
Cox also anticipates the transition.
“We're feeling the pain on the ground in the building, with both services being full to the max, but I think that also is a good thing,” Cox said. “It's going to make the transition all the more glorious.”
