(*applicants seeking leaseholder status must be current Members in Good Standing)

PLEASE LIST THE NAMES AND AGES OF DEPENDENT CHILDREN:

Please initial below attesting that you have read, understand, agree and are willing to live by:

Our Mission – To provide spiritual renewal in a recreational setting emphasizing Bible teaching and worldwide missions.

Our Vision – To provide encouragement toward a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. Our programming, recreation, and year-round conference facilities aim to renew and equip our guests and resident community toward greater service for Him.

Maranatha is a conservative, evangelical conference center and resident community where guests and residents Vacation with Purpose. We seek to provide programs that clearly present the Bible as God’s Word, offer people the opportunity to receive Christ, encourage spiritual growth, and challenge them to live consistent, Godly lives of service wherever He places them.

The corporation and its members affirm the following Statement of Faith:

• We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Deut. 6:4-5; I Tim. 2:5, I Cor. 8:6)

• We believe that God is the maker and sustainer of heaven and earth and all that is in it. (Gen 1:1; Gen 1:28; Col 1: 15-20; I Cor. 8:6)

• We believe that God gives and sustains life from conception until natural death. (Psalm 139)

• We believe the Bible to be the God breathed, true, authoritative Word of God. (II Tim. 3:16)

• We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His atoning death, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of His Father and the promise of His personal and imminent return in power and glory. (Phil 2:6-11; I Cor. 15: 3-4)

• We believe that all have sinned and are therefore separated from God. (Rom. 3:23; I John 3:1)

• We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and that all who believe in Him are reconciled by His death and resurrection. (Rom 3:23; Rom 10:9-10)

• We believe that every person must be treated with compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity. (I Cor 13; I John 1:6-7; I John 3:11)

• We believe God wonderfully created each person as distinctly male or female, in His image and to reflect His nature. (Gen 1:26-27)

• We believe that marriage has only one meaning as described in Scripture. Marriage is between one man and one woman in a single exclusive union. (Matt 5:31-32)

• We believe that sexual intimacy should only be between one man and one woman who are married to each other. Sexual immorality is sinful and offensive to God. (Matt 15:18-20; I Cor. 6:9-10, 18)

• We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life in unity with believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. (I John 3:9; John 3:3-7)

• We believe in the physical resurrection of the dead for final judgment; the lost will be sent to everlasting conscious punishment and the redeemed will live forever with Christ in the joys of the renewed creation. (I Cor. 15:20-28)

• We believe that as a result of the grace provided to us in Christ, we become members of the Family of God, brothers and sisters in Him, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. As part of the Family of God, we are to invite the leading of the Spirit of truth and freedom in our hearts and lives, to do Christ’s redeeming work in a broken world; Homethus, every believer a minister. We have direct access with the Father and are given the responsibility for loving and right relationships with others, as well as for the stewardship of His creation and resources. As His children, we serve God’s purpose in and for the world, to His glory alone. (Romans 8:14-18, I Peter 2:9-11)

Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference is a conservative, evangelical conference center and resident community. Maranatha is a place where people Vacation with a Purpose. The Maranatha community consists of those who, in furtherance of our mission, are living together in intentional, voluntary fellowship, aware that we are called to live our lives before a watching world. The Maranatha Code of Conduct identifies the expectations for living in community as we seek to fulfill our mission. Galatians 5:13–14 reminds us that while we were called to be free, our freedom is best used when we serve one another in love. (Romans 14:1– 23; 1 Corinthians 8:1–13, 10:23–33). Apostle Paul admonishes us to be careful as to how we are perceived by others. Everyone is at a different stage in their Christian walk and we as Christians are given certain liberties in what we believe is appropriate behavior. Members, staff and guests are required to conduct themselves in a manner that doesn’t offend others, making every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification” (Romans 14:19).

The Maranatha community members, staff and guests voluntarily commit themselves to the following expectations of behavior. This commitment results from the conviction that these expectations serve the common good of the individual and Maranatha.

A. Illegal and Legal Substances:

1. Maranatha prohibits the possession, use, or distribution of illegal substances and the abuse or illegal use of legal substances, including prescription and over-the-counter medication.

2. Tobacco: Maranatha is a smoke-free environment. The use of any type of tobacco, vaping or e-cigarette product is prohibited on Conference grounds and in Conference buildings.

3. Alcoholic Beverages: The use of alcohol is prohibited on Conference grounds and in Conference buildings. Alcoholic beverages are not served at any Maranatha functions or programs on or off campus

B. Please observe community quiet time from 11:30 p.m. until :00 a.m.

C. Recreational facilities are closed during regular Conference services. Reservation times for tennis are available daily.

D. On Sunday, recreational facilities are open for a limited time on a first-come, first-served basis.

E. Fires are prohibited on the grounds, except with permission from Administrative Services.

F. Use of Motorcycles, mopeds, motorized scooters and all-terrain vehicles is prohibited on Conference grounds or beach, except on public roadways.

G. Conduct and dress should reflect the highest standards of Christian modesty, good taste and high moral standards.

H. Appropriate attire should be worn both to and from the pool/beach and while swimming. Because of the variety in swimsuit styles, Maranatha requests that everyone follow the Biblical principles of modesty. or women, only one-piece or two-piece bathing suits that cover the midriff are permitted. Men should wear traditional swim trunks. A Speedo style suit is not allowed.

I. Attend Conference sessions regularly when available

J. For the convenience and safety of all, the ONLY vehicles permitted beyond the Channel Road gate are condominium or Channel Road gate are condominium or Channel Road resident’s vehicles, vehicles with legally approved handicapped permits, and emergency vehicles for water safety personnel.

K. Group counselors and sponsors are responsible for the enforcement of Conference standards with members of their group.

L. Maranatha will not reserve living units to children under age 18 unless accompanied by a responsible adult.

M. All persons (guests, visitors or residents) must be registered at the Lodge office and hold appropriate identification in order to enjoy use of Conference facilities.

N. Pets of permanent residents must always be leashed and are not permitted at the pool or main beach.

O. Skateboards, scooters, roller blades, and bicycles are permitted except as noted by signs.

A. A “Member in Good Standing”:

1. Shall have a completed, dated, and approved membership application on file with Maranatha at all times.  The Board shall review every file periodically to determine whether the Member remains a Member in Good Standing.
2. Shall sign, subscribe to, and accept at all times Maranatha’s Statement of Faith as adopted by the Board of Maranatha and shall reaffirm same upon the request for any Director.
3. Shall abide at all times by the Code of Conduct as the same may be revised from time to time by the Board.
4. Shall at all times evidence a substantial interest in the purposes and objectives for which Maranatha was incorporated, as set forth in Maranatha’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, by meaningfully participating in Maranatha’s mission through the donation of time and/or money.
5. Shall abide by and cause all children under said Member’s care to abide by all provisions contained in the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Code of Conduct, Operating Policies, and Member Handbook, as each of the foregoing may be revised from time to time.
6. Shall abide by and cause all children under said Member’s care to abide by all other policies, rules or decisions that may be adopted by the Board or the membership of Maranatha from time to time.
7. Shall timely pay all fees, bills, dues, rent and other charges that said Member may owe to Maranatha under any separate contract entered into between Maranatha and said Member

B. Only a Member in Good Standing shall be entitled to enter into a mobile home lot lease, cottage ground lease, or a condominium ground lease, or own a mobile home, residential cottage, or condominium unit at Maranatha.

C. If there is more than one (1) owner of any condominium unit, residential cottage, or mobile home, all owners must be Members in Good Standing.

(Leaseholder Applicants Only) Please initial below attesting your commitment to the following:

All members are required to pay a membership fee. This fee is determined by the Board and is subject to change. The membership fee entitles you to one (1) vote at the Annual Membership meeting each July and must be received by June 1, prior to that meeting.

Please provide names and addresses of two non-related (to you or to each other) sponsors who are current Maranatha Members in Good Standing. (Note: Leaseholder applicants must include at least one sponsor that is a current leaseholder.) Please note: It is your responsibility to provide your sponsors with the sponsorship forms and request that they complete them on your behalf.

I hereby authorize the release of the information requested on the Application Sponsor Form by the above named individuals.

Please initial below attesting that you have completed the following:

Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference is the owner and steward of all leaseholder properties. Any leaseholder desiring to make property improvements to a cottage or mobile home, such as outside demolition and replacement, remodeling, outside remodeling, new additions (including decks), and landscaping projects, must contact Maranatha staff to begin the application process. Please note that construction is not permitted on Maranatha grounds between the first day of summer season and Labor Day (except for emergencies). No project may begin without the PRIOR approval of the Maranatha Board of Directors in accordance with the following process:

1.  A construction application must be acquired from the Maranatha staff.  Staff will provide applicants with the most recent Resident Construction Policy (4160) at the time a construction application is requested.  Applicants will be required to acknowledge receipt of the current policy.  A copy of the acknowledgement will be placed in the leaseholder file.  Staff will also be responsible for reviewing the leaseholder file for notes made by previous M personnel or committees that could impact approval of an application.
2. The application must be submitted to the Property Committee with complete drawing(s) showing proposed project with top, side, and any other views which make the project easier to understand. The existing site layout must be shown in comparison to any proposed structural additions or deletions, with new dimensions clearly marked in comparison to the existing dimensions.
   1. For new construction projects, or exterior additions to existing structures, the new building must be rendered in perspective and scale. In addition, the new building may also be required to have renderings in perspective to the surrounding properties. This includes landscaping plans. It may also be required that the proposed property be staked, and physical representations of elevations, widths, and heights be established for evaluation and consideration by various stakeholders. In the case of a complete teardown and rebuild, a reference point must be shown on the plans to properly locate the new structure and orient to existing buildings.
3. The Property Committee will review the project and application for its suitability, potential impact on neighbors, impact on utilities, and its adherence to Maranatha's ministry goals.
4. All surrounding neighbors in immediate proximity to the construction site who will be impacted, must be given the opportunity to review and sign-off on the plans being submitted to the Property Committee. If a neighbor(s) disagrees with the plan, they must state constructive and specific objections in writing on the plan documents or in a separate attachment. The Property Committee will take these inputs into consideration when making a final recommendation to the Board.
5. The Property Committee will make a final recommendation and forward it to the full Board of Directors. The Board makes the final decision based on all the criteria supplied, balancing all the interests in support of Maranatha's ministry goals. If the Board approves, the resident will be notified by the staff that construction may begin and notification will be sent to impacted neighbors. If not approved, the applicant will be notified as to the reasons it was denied. As a condition of approval and depending on the scope of the project, it may be required that periodic third-party inspections be completed at leaseholder expense.
6.  If necessary, EGLE approval and building permits must be acquired by the applicant.
7. Maranatha staff will take before and after pictures of the project.  All photos will be placed in the leaseholder file in case of a future dispute. Any dimensional or positional changes to a board approved building plan must be submitted to staff before any implementation. Any variances to architectural elevations should also be communicated to staff before implementation. It is expected that the lead contractor will remain in frequent contact with Maranatha staff as the project advances to ensure the plan is progressing as presented and approved.
8. Interior projects are not subject to Maranatha approval but may be subject to local building code restrictions. Please contact the City of Norton Shores for further information.

Why some projects may not be approved (this is not an exhaustive list, other reasons may arise that will be at the discretion of the Property Committee):

• Plan denied by EGLE (Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy).
• The Board determines the project is not in keeping with Maranatha's ministry goals, or its impact is deemed inequitable or poses unreasonable hardship to other leaseholders. It restricts Maranatha's ability for development in the future.
• It does not fit aesthetically with the long-term plan for Maranatha.

Things to remember:

• Any projects begun before approval may be required to be removed at the owner's expense. It is the responsibility of the applicant to remedy any approved projects that are built as non-conforming or outside the approval granted. Projects cannot be acted upon until all required documents are submitted.
• Building projects must be performed between Labor Day and the first day of Week One of the next official summer season. No construction is allowed during the summer season unless the Executive Director and/or the Property Committee approves.

The Building Committee has established the following with respect to changes that may be desired by mobile home park leaseholders relative to their mobile homes:

1. All replacement homes, electrical upgrades, lot changes, deck additions and similar improvements must first be discussed with the Operations Director who will then contact the Property Committee for necessary approvals.
2. A sketch will be required for any proposed replacement mobile home including all dimensions (old and new) clearly indicated with clearances to adjoining mobile homes.  The sketch must be signed by each of the adjoining mobile home leaseholders as an indication of their approval of the proposed new mobile home.
3. As a general rule, all mobile homes should maintain an 8 ft. clearance between homes on either side including any slide-outs.
4. All mobile homes should maintain a 7 ft. clearance (set-back) from the edge of the roadway.
5. One storage shed is allowed per site no larger than 8 ft. by 8 ft.  A minimum of 3 ft. clearance between the shed and home must be maintained to comply with Michigan State fire code.
6. All homes must be “skirted” so that leaves and other debris will not create a fire hazard under the mobile home.
7. All replacement homes must be installed on a cement pad at least 6 inches longer and 6 inches wider larger than the home.
8. If the owner requires 100-amp electric service or more, it is the responsibility of the owner to up-grade the power sources by hiring a qualified and licensed electrician.  100-amp service or higher must be direct wired to home to meet Michigan State electrical codes.
9. Owners are responsible for any damage to the roads, parking area, trees, neighbor’s property, and similar incurred during installation of the approved new home.  They are also responsible to arrange for a contractor to make any necessary repairs after the installation of approved homes, sheds and/or decks.
10. No broken appliances, unused/stored boats, stored cars or similar are to be located in the mobile home park.  The Operations Director may be contacted for assistance with the removal and associated costs of disposal.

Leaseholders are an essential part of the Maranatha Ministry. They support the ministry with their time through volunteering and treasure through donating over and above fees approved by Member in Good Standing and Code of Conduct of Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference.