Church campus to become place
of hope for children with autism

Church campus to become place
of hope for children with autism

For Immediate Release
October 12, 2022
Contact: Mack King, Senior Director of Real Estate Services, 980-441-5123 Ext. 5,
[email protected]

BURLINGTON – Faced with dwindling membership, rising property costs and an uncertain
future, one local church has found a way to carry forward its mission to love God and serve
neighbor, even though it means saying goodbye to its home of 120+ years.

Davis Street United Methodist Church will sell its campus near downtown to a group that provides
therapeutic rehabilitation for children with autism. Church leaders say the life-changing work done
by Kare Partners fits well with the congregation’s history of community outreach.

Though the singing and praying will come to an end, the Davis Street campus will remain Wesleyan
in DNA, says Rev. Edgar DeJesus, the church’s pastor.

“The story of Davis Street Church is embedded in the building,” he said. “My prayer is that as God
entrusts this sacred space to Kare Partners, that story can be told and shared for generations.”

The two parties connected through Wesley Community Development, a United Methodist-affiliated,
non-profit organization that helps churches re-purpose and/or sell property with an eye toward
sustainable ministry.

As aging congregations contend with building and maintenance costs, Wesley has fielded greater
interest in finding innovative re-uses of church property. The Wesley team helps clergy and lay
leaders consider ways to turn facilities into assets rather than burdens.

“Davis Street took this walk faithfully and prayerfully,” said Wesley President Joel Gilland. “This is
the core work of Wesley, creating a positive outcome for ministry within the context of realities. The
church was never the campus, and the campus was never the church. We assist in navigating that
conversation.”

With its white steeple and 50-foot Tuscan columns, Davis Street served for generations as a stately
presence overlooking a residential neighborhood. But the congregation hasn’t attracted younger
churchgoers. About 30 people attend worship on a typical Sunday. Offices and classrooms sit mostly
unused. All the while, upkeep on the 27,000-square-foot building gets more expensive.

A ‘better use of this building’

A sustainability task force comprised of church leaders spent two years in consultation with the
Wesley team to chart a way forward.

“While we do have funds for repairs and modifications, we started looking at who’s going to be here
to utilize the building?” said Vicki Ambrose, vice chair of the Church Council. “The better use of
this building is for us to vacate.”

Founded in 2005, Gastonia-based Kare Partners provides services in cardiac, neuro and orthopedic
rehabilitation. Its fastest-growing arm, Compleat KiDZ, offers a form of care known as Applied
Behavior Analysis, the only evidence-based approach to autism treatment. Therapists teach skills like
speech and communication, focus and attention, social skills and self-help skills.

The fellowship hall, classrooms and playground at Davis Street are well-suited for these activities.
Kare Partners envisions the sanctuary as a community-oriented bakery and coffee shop that would
employ young people with special needs.

“We want to be good caretakers,” said CEO Adi Khindaria. “Hopefully, we’ll take all the goodwill
that’s been built up over the last 100 years and pass it on to kiddos who come to us.”

The Burlington City Council unanimously approved a rezoning at its Sept. 20 meeting, clearing the
way for the project to move forward.

Kare Partners offered to let Davis Street congregation continue worshipping in the sanctuary
through Christmas, a reflection of the collegial relationship that has taken root. After that point,
church leaders hope to share space with an existing church.

While saying goodbye will be difficult, the people of Davis Street can give thanks for the next
chapter of their spiritual home. “It’s going to be used,” Vicki Ambrose said, “for something in
keeping with the mission of the church.”