Guided by Faith in God, Michigan Center Reaching for Big Spaces
Starting a child care program with three children in a basement space in 2020 and only six years later looking to expand to serve 300 children involves more than hard work or good fortune.
For Laura Warrick of God’s Love Overpowers Child Care in Macomb, MI, three factors played a big part: faith, fortitude, and First Children’s Finance.
When Laura joined her Christian fellowship (God’s Love Overpowers Ministry) in 2008, she was always looking for ways to contribute more and help the church financially since it is a small ministry.
That chance came in 2020 – during the pandemic – when the ministry needed to find a way to provide care for three children in a basement space at the church.
To say that things took off from there is an understatement.
“At the beginning, the biggest challenge was inexperience. I don’t have a background in child care, and getting into the child care world and managing regulations, policies, and procedures was a whole different thing.”
By 2023, it was evident that the growing program located about 35 miles northeast of Detroit needed more space. The congregation identified a potential commercial space but needed some financial assistance.
The program applied for and received a $40,000 loan from the First Children’s Finance Loan Fund to help pay for inventory and start moving into its current space.
“Working with First Children’s was awesome. They listened to our needs, made suggestions, and were very supportive. (Senior Business Development Specialist) Joan Berntson even came and visited to see our program!”
After the program paid off the first loan, they approached the Loan Fund again and received a $125,000 loan to help update the space and sustain staff wages while the operation and enrollment were growing.
“Laura has proven herself to be a tenacious business woman with big dreams and the ability to follow through. I appreciate her enthusiasm, care for her staff and her love of children,” says Joan. “I am excited to have an opportunity to be a part of her center’s move to a larger location and to be able to serve so many more children and families. It will be a pleasure to visit the center and see the fruition of months of learning, planning, managing, and succeeding.”
Laura said one of the congregational program’s strengths is that it serves the entire community.
“We have three separate revenue streams that really help. Along with private pay families, we are very proud to accept state subsidies, and through the Great Start to Readiness Program (GSRP), we’re able to offer free, full-day pre-K to eligible 4-year-olds!”
But Laura thinks the future holds much more for the program.
“We are looking at larger commercial spaces and envisioning caring for 300 children and expanding 4-year-old preschool to 120 children. We really want to be a very dynamic, affordable presence in the community: more space, indoor gym, a greenhouse, a rock-climbing wall. I get excited just thinking about the potential!”
As part of the planned growth, Laura is working with Joan and preparing projections and personal financial statements for a Small Business Administration loan.
While Laura knows that there will always be challenges, her faith guides her.
“I know this is what God called our program to do; He wanted to serve the families and children of this community. There may be obstacles, but at the end of the day, the love I get from the children and my obedience to Jesus Christ make it all worthwhile!”
