by Dr. Tony L.Lynn
PLYMOUTH, MI – Wayne Parker, Send City Missionary for Detroit, created an outstanding newsletter and I thought I would share Greater Detroit’s latest news. Half of the state’s population resides in the region. The most diverse Michigan communities exist in the area, forming an interesting mosaic where the Good News of Jesus Christ has not yet been shared among millions.
3+3 New Church Plants
We are praising God that churches are being planted in Detroit and throughout North America despite being one of the hardest hit cities in the country by the COVID-19 virus.
In the last year, we saw 3 new churches launched: Rhiza Church in Ann Arbor with Pastor Tito Diaz, People’s Fresh Start Church in Detroit with Pastor Robert Lodge, Jr., and Trails Church in Farmington Hills with Pastor Phillip Box.
We are looking forward to 3 new church launches this fall including: Heart & Soul in West Bloomfield with Pastor Cornelius Roberson, Reformation Church in Detroit with Pastor Malcolm Griswold, and Reaching Out Church in Windsor with Pastor Sameer Kabul* (*name changed for security).
Four Nearby Mission Projects for Existing Churches
With summer upon us, we want to let you know of just some ways that you and your church could partner with church planters and their new churches as they serve Christ in Send Detroit. Several of our church planting missionaries have projects that can use your support. See the different ways that you can help by sending a team to assist with work. Two to three days of service could make a big difference in one church’s impact.
Heart and Soul Community Church, West Bloomfield
Pastor Cornelius Roberson and the church recently acquired property with a building across the street from the local high school. The building needs work to prepare it for Sunday worship, Bible study, and other gatherings. They need assistance with a new roof, interior renovations, and exterior clean-up.
House Church, Detroit
Pastor Roland Caldwell Jr. just celebrated 4 years of public ministry. The church is passionate about serving the disadvantaged families surrounding the church. The congregation would appreciate any help in replacing exterior windows, painting interior rooms, and securing ceiling tiles in the worship center.
Church at Clawson, Clawson
Pastor Bob Morrissey has led this church for the past 5 years. The members of the church continue to renovate this former VFW hall location into an efficient church building every chance they can. They would welcome help replacing windows and refacing the outside wall surface. They want to relocate some interior walls to create an area for teens. An existing bathroom needs renovation and updating.
One Mission Church, Inkster
Pastor Antonio Wimberly has planned multiple ways to engage the local community all summer long. The congregation could use help with service projects and outreach efforts among those living in a local community with park clean-up, painting, and Gospel presentations. They will have an August Block Party where mission teams could jump into help.
Doxa Church, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Pastor David Livingston, during 2021, is inviting people to vision tours in preparation for a new church launch in 2022 that will reach university students on the campus of the University of Michigan and others throughout the surrounding area. University graduates are challenged to dedicate their first two years after collegiate graduation to the creation of a new church. It is very likely a hundred such students will participate in the vision tour then move themselves to Ann Arbor and find jobs so they can start the new Doxa Church in 2022.
Reach out to Wayne Parker
If you want to ask questions about how you can get involved in or contribute to the ever-growing ministries in the Greater Detroit area, write to wparker@namb.net.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Tony L. Lynn is the State Director of Missions for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Before coming on staff at the BSCM, Tony served as lead pastor for more than six years at Crosspoint Church in Monroe, Michigan. He and his wife, Jamie, also served with the International Mission Board in Africa and in Europe.