by Wayne Parker
Even through the struggles and uncertainties that have been brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to see God’s hand at work in Detroit.
New Partners
God has blessed us with new partners. Real Life Church, Stanley, NC has become a new partner for Send Detroit and is giving financial support to 6 church planters over the next 3 years. In October, we hosted a vision tour for leaders from Stonegate Church in Midolithan, TX. We are excited about their partnership with Detroit planters. Our next vision tour is planned for April 4-5, 2022.
Please contact me if you are interested in joining a vision tour of Detroit.
Send Network Assessment
November 8 & 9 we hosted a church planter assessment retreat for 8 couples in the Ohio Valley Region at Merriman Road Baptist Church in Garden City. This was our first in-person assessment in 2 years. It was a blessing to be together for this event and to see these missionaries encouraged in their calling by the best team of assessors around! We saw 3 couples from Michigan, including one couple that is serving in Send Detroit.
Family Care Events
In the last few months we have hosted 2 gatherings for church planting families for fellowship and encouragement. In October, eight families got together to hang out and enjoy Three Cedars Farm. This is an annual event hosted by the family of Pastor Travis Whittaker (Mile City Church) on their family farm including, tractor rides, pumpkin patch, corn maze, petting farm and of course cider and donuts!
In December, Send Detroit planters and wives were able to gather for a special evening of fellowship at The Whitney, an historic mansion in downtown Detroit. This Christmas diner was a great opportunity to connect with couples and allow them to relax and get to know one another.
Just Launched - Heart and Soul West Bloomfield
We also celebrated a new church launch this December. Pastor Cornelius Roberson led Heart and Soul Community Church (Detroit) to launch a second campus, this one in West Bloomfield in a great location right across the street from West Bloomfield High School. Heart and Soul had received this building as a gift from a previous church and after much work and renovation to get the building and sanctuary ready, December 5 was their first Sunday of gathering for worship service. Rejoice with us and please pray for this new gospel outpost!
Progress in the Pandemic
Reaching Out Church has been able to expand their reach by launching a new church across the border into Windsor, Ontario. Pastor Sameer* continues to lead others in the church to reach their Bangladeshi neighbors with the gospel who are from Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist backgrounds.
(*name changed for security) Several churches who were greatly affected by the pandemic because their meeting spaces were closed have recently found permanent meeting spaces of their own. Mile City Church’s South Lyon Campus has a new building just opened in 2022 and Rhiza Church, Ann Arbor moved from a rented facility to a permanent location to nearby Ypsilanti where they were able to begin by hosting Christmas services.
Please Pray
In addition to these mentioned, please pray with us as we seek to reach the Hispanic community of Send Detroit. We have over 320,000 Hispanics and Latinos in Metro Detroit and we have yet to see a new Spanish speaking church in our area. Please pray that God would raise up the leadership needed to help reach this population for Christ.
Thank you for your prayers and partnership in the gospel!
Yours in Christ,
Wayne Parker
Send Detroit Missionary