Youth for Christ Seeking Preliminary Injunction in Federal Lawsuit

Tensions are continuing to rise in Leelanau County’s long-running Youth for Christ (YFC) debate.

The players behind the proposal to open a youth Christian clubhouse in downtown Leland are now seeking a preliminary injunction that would allow the venue to resume operations while a federal lawsuit on the matter is pending.

Since late last year, Micah and Kya Cramer, a pair of youth pastors, have been attempting to open a YFC branch called Leland LightHouse at 110 North Lake Street in Leland. The Cramers had previously been conducting youth ministry operations out of their private residence. Micah’s uncle and aunt, James and Elizabeth VanSteenhouse, own the property under the umbrella of Apollos Properties, LLC.

The Leland Township Planning Commission denied a special land use permit request from Apollos Properties in April, ruling that downtown Leland’s commercial zoning did not allow for that type of private club. Apollos Properties, the VanSteenhouses, and the Cramers then brought a federal lawsuit, filed last month, accusing the township and its board members and other stakeholders of violating their constitutional and civil rights.

Now, the plaintiffs are asking the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan to issue a preliminary injunction that would allow Leland LightHouse club meetings to resume at 110 North Lake Street “while the case proceeds.”

“The motion asks the court to prevent Leland Township and its officials from interfering with students and others who wish to gather for prayer, Bible study, fellowship, and other youth ministry activities at the privately owned North Lake Street property,” a press release states. “The meetings at the club’s home have been suspended since October 2025, when the Township determined that the YFC club could not continue meeting at the property.”

“The students have already lost nearly a year in a place that was created for them,” Jim VanSteenhouse said. “We are asking the court to allow them to return to The Lighthouse while the larger constitutional questions are decided.”

The injunction motion “argues that the Township’s prohibition causes an ongoing loss of the plaintiffs’ First Amendment freedoms and violates the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act,” the press release continues. “The plaintiffs contend that even a temporary loss of the freedoms of religion, speech and peaceful assembly constitutes irreparable harm.”

The federal lawsuit isn’t the only matter pending regarding the Leland LightHouse. Apollos Properties is also appealing the planning commission decision before Leland’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). The ZBA was initially slated to begin that appellate process with a public hearing in July, but cancelled the meeting because it lacked a proper quorum of members. A new date was scheduled earlier this month, but that September 23 meeting has also been cancelled, per a request from Apollos that the public hearing be postponed. No new date has yet been set.