Just another "Christian" shoving their beliefs where they're not welcome

[ybbor]

This is happening in a beautiful, quaint, beach town upnorth Michigan. Long article, but the gist is an extremely wealthy Texan moved there a few years ago, began buying up property, and wants to put a Youth for Christ, or something, clubhouse smack in the middle of the tourist commercial area. The town doesn’t want it, and they’re fighting tooth and nail to get their way. Just like Jesus would. I have been going there my whole life, my sister has a home there, and it’s just heartbreaking.

https://www.mlive.com/news/2026/06/a-preachers-push-for-a-christian-clubhouse-has-sliced-through-a-small-michigan-tourist-town.html

[badhair77]

1. Wow. What's the old saying, "Money talks."

And the GOP and Christian Nationalists certainly like to throw it around to get what they want.

[sboatcar]

2. Just do what they do around here

keep vandalizing it til they close it down

[erronis]

7. They're already vandalizing it with their xian nazism

[ybbor]

14. I'll be there in a few weeks

Trying to think of how to do something. I’m not sure it is actually open, but it is in prime location, right near where my wife has a pop-up store for the week.

[sboatcar]

19. If I lived there and had some money, I'd try to rent out whatever is next door

And open a Satanic Temple storefront, big goat statue, pentagrams, all that stuff all over it.

[Emile]

23. I don't know, you might end up in jail. LOL

[orthoclad]

3. Complete with predatory "youth pastors"?

[Prairie_Seagull]

24. While it can be a double edged sword.

The broad brush has it's uses.

[multigraincracker]

26. Hide your young daughters.

[Initech]

4. Insane how anything fascist gets this kind of attention and real democracy doesn't.

Fuck the churches!

[Celerity]

20. The VanSteenhouses say they found Leland after years of quiet conversations with God.

[multigraincracker]

5. Should have put it in Detroit.

[COL Mustard]

8. What did Detroit ever do to you???

Why do they deserve to be punished? OK, there was the whole 1970s car lineup, but come on, man....

[multigraincracker]

27. I love Detroit and know their great new mayor

will laugh them out of town. Detroit is still pretty secular.

[King_Klonopin]

6. Jesus never encouraged grandstanding ... not that I can remember anyway.....

[COL Mustard]

9. That would be the wimpy, woke Jesus.

The MAGA Jesus would roll coal in a huge ass F350.

[King_Klonopin]

11. Yeh, the woke Jesus would never approve of that kind of self-righteousness

MAGA Jesus seems to love only a few, choice people. He scares me. (I think he may be the antichrist?)

[RetiredParatrooper]

10. This is happening in a number of places

Look into Battle Ground, WA:

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/06/11/controversial-battle-ground-business-owners-buy-communitys-only-newspaper/

https://www.opb.org/article/2026/04/30/battle-ground-purchases-ceo-spiller-maddox-christian-influence/

[flashman13]

12. One more case of a rich a--hole that thinks his money and religion makes him special.

If you want to know why Texas is so backward, I highly suggest you read James Michener's book Texas. It has been that way since the first Europeans arrived on the scene. Let me give you a hint. The only real reason Texas has a university system is so they have some place to put a state sponsored football team.

[multigraincracker]

28. Jesus said "If you wish to follow me,

sell everything you own and give the money to the poor”. Bless their hearts.

[flvegan]

13. Check their internet browser history. n/t

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

15. "The repeated concern throughout these conversations was the lack of parental consent."

It’s been terribly divisive, but the vast majority of the community is against this,” said Lee Cory, chair of the Leland Township planning commission.


The township’s legal representative declined MLive’s request for comment citing the ongoing appeal process.

A stack of opposition letters
At these packed township meetings, parents described how the Cramers began volunteering in and attending public events at school districts across the peninsula.

Some parents and educators who spoke to MLive described Youth for Christ volunteers dropping off iced coffees to students at one high school and the Cramers sitting at lunch tables to talk about God with students at another.

The repeated concern throughout these conversations was the lack of parental consent.

[muriel_volestrangler]

18. Thanks for the excerpt - it's subscription only, and I would have had no idea about that

I'd have expected a "Youth for Christ clubhouse" to be an alcohol-free place for kids to go to, if they wanted (probably with over-earnest music that has no bad words). I just didn't think it would be a base for evangelization.

[Celerity]

21. Archive link

https://archive.ph/BIShg

[dalton99a]

16. There is nothing worse than a self-righteous super rich Christian asshole from Texas.

[ybbor]

17. Who shows up to a small, well established town

And builds an enormous compound behind a huge iron gate to make sure the locals can’t “pop in”, as the real locals are prone to do.

My sister is like, “Just Leave!, we don’t want you here!” They are incapable of assimilating as they accuse others of not doing!! Pisses me and the folks up there off! It is beautiful country! Some of the greatest I’ve seen, and I’ve lived on Maui, Telluride, Co, and on the Pacific coast. But respect the local mindset, and there are a handful of church congregations in town. They are upset, as well!!

[multigraincracker]

29. That town is a riot during spring break.

[ybbor]

30. Leland?

Leland is pretty quiet until usually the 4th of July thru Labor Day.

[Emile]

22. Is this the source to Pete Buttigieg swatting call?

Pete Buttigieg and his kids were targeted by child services swatting call. Pete lives in this area of Michigan.

[ybbor]

25. Not sure

And yes it is in the region. Not sure if he’s in Traverse City proper or on the peninsula. Leland is about 25 minutes from TC.