Tag Archive for: Michigan District

The fruits of the Spirit on full display

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More than a decade ago, a program was established to offer a profoundly transformative experience: a high-quality Christian education at an accessible cost. This initiative, known as the Crossing Bridges program, has since enabled numerous families to access Christ-centered education that would have otherwise been logistically unattainable. Its impact has extended far beyond the classroom—equipping young people not only to serve as Christian leaders but also to share the gospel and connect with people in their communities. Recently, God has blessed this program beyond what was initially imaginable.

This year, four students from Palabra de Vida, a home mission church in Detroit, Mich., successfully completed the Crossing Bridges program, graduating from Hope Christian Academy (HCA). All four of these students are pursuing a bachelor’s degree, a pursuit undertaken by only 7 percent of individuals from Southwest Detroit, with one of them aspiring to enter the full-time gospel ministry.

Jorge Mitchell (pictured above, right) was born in Honduras, a small country in Central America, but has lived in Southwest Detroit almost his entire life. With support from his pastors, teachers, and family, he has decided to embark on a totally different journey—life in cold, rural New Ulm, Minn., at Martin Luther College (MLC). His reason? “To be a Spanish teacher and help spread God’s Word in two languages.” Jorge will be the first MLC attendee from Palabra de Vida in Detroit since its inception in 2008.

During the winter of his junior year at HCA, Jorge had the opportunity to visit Martin Luther College with one of his classmates. After touring MLC and New Ulm on a 60-degree day in February (maybe not the most realistic experience), Jorge noticed one thing right away—there weren’t a lot of people that looked like him. He made it his mission to change that and said the following about his goals for MLC: “My heritage can impact God’s kingdom. By knowing both English and Spanish, I can connect and communicate with Hispanic people all across the country.” Praise be to God that he has moved Jorge to pursue being a teacher at MLC. We pray Jorge’s future role as a teacher won’t just shape classrooms—it will open doors for the gospel among people who might otherwise never hear it.

Jorge’s story is a testament to the ripple effect of support—how pastors, teachers, congregations, and countless individuals behind the scenes use their time, prayers, and donations to help raise up leaders who in turn reach others for Christ. Please continue to pray for Jorge as he begins his journey at MLC this fall, and pray for Christian education programs across the country, which not only provide a transformative, high-quality education but also multiply opportunities for outreach and gospel connection in communities near and far.

Written by Lucas Martin, staff minister at Palabra de Vida in Detroit, Mich.




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Navigating new chapters

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The book of Joshua opens with Israel on the banks of the Jordan River, a moment Joshua and the people had waited on for years. But Joshua’s journey didn’t start there. It began long before—training under Moses, climbing Sinai, wandering the wilderness. After crossing into the promised land, how quickly do you think time passed for Joshua?

In the days following Assignment Day at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, I found myself reading through Joshua during personal devotions. During the transition—new people, a new place, new work—I found comfort in how God used Joshua. But like Joshua, the story didn’t start in the new land. Here’s what life has looked like as my wife Grace and I walked toward our new journey:

April was full of studies with classmates. Studying Romans deepened our love for the message of forgiveness. The prophets reminded us of God’s faithful messengers. Projects and social events filled the calendar. We were all counting down the days until Assignment Day while making the most of the time we had left.

Rev. Jacob and Grace Ungemach at Ault Park in Cincinnati, Ohio.

May was busy. Classes wrapped up, countdowns began, and celebrations filled the days—a baby shower for friends and graduation at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minn. Meanwhile, excitement for the Call Day kept building.

Call Day was a blur. We started early with a devotion by Lake Michigan along with some classmates. At the Call Service, we sat nervously with family, waiting to learn where we’d go. We listened as friends were assigned to their new places. Then it was our turn: Beautiful Savior – New Mission Start; Oakley, Ohio. Neither Grace nor I knew where Oakley was, but we knew this: God would be with us there.

June began with a quick trip to Cincinnati to see where we’d be living. I’ll never forget driving into the city for the first time—rolling green hills and beautiful buildings rising into the skyline. We met a few members of our Oakley group during that short trip. Driving back to pack up, Cincinnati was already beginning to feel like home.

Moving day for the Ungemach’s!

July 1 was moving day! As we pulled into our apartment, we were greeted by members from Beautiful Savior ready to help unload. The congregation was excited to start work on the second site in Oakley, and so were we. Afternoons and evenings quickly filled with opportunities to meet new people in our core group and the community.

Today . . . things still haven’t slowed down. We’re just beginning to meet together, grow in the Word, and find ways to show this community the love of Jesus. There are still so many unknowns.

The greatest comfort I’ve found in Joshua isn’t in the change he experiences, but in the changelessness of God. Just as God was with his people in a new place and age, he will be with us in this new mission. And like his promises were fulfilled to his people before, the promise that his Word will not return empty stands with us today.

Please keep Beautiful Savior in your prayers as we begin planting a second site in Oakley, Ohio.

Written by Rev. Jacob Ungemach, home missionary at a new mission start in Oakley, Ohio.

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Life changing Christian education

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To some, an affordable Christ-centered education is a given. To others, it is an incredible blessing miraculously provided by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Palabra de Vida Lutheran Church in Detroit, Mich., has been serving the community of Springwells in Detroit for over 15 years. And while amazing outreach events like soccer camps, Vacation Bible schools, Easter for Kids programs, and many more help to spread the gospel with new families, the Crossing Bridges program impacts the lives of existing members.

The Crossing Bridges program was established around the promise given to us in Proverbs Chapter 22: “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old, he will not depart from it.” The program aims to do just that, by creating a partnership between Palabra de Vida and two local area schools, Hope Christian Academy (6-12th grade), and Peace Lutheran School, Livonia, Mich. (Pre-K-5th grade). Through this partnership, each year the Crossing Bridges program is able to help provide a Christian education to 10-12 children from Palabra de Vida.

Unlike some public schools, these two schools provide a positive, and most importantly, Christ-centered learning environment, where they can come and learn about Christ’s love every single day. A place where they can not only grow in their faith, but also make life-long Christian friends. Hearing the gospel message everyday doesn’t just impact the kids, but it strengthens the faith of the whole family as well. Children come home from school and share with their parents and siblings the truths of God’s Word that they learned in school that day.

It is truly by the grace of God that a program like this can even be offered in the first place. In a state where there is no school choice program and very little financial aid, private Christian schools just aren’t feasible to most people. That’s why the Crossing Bridges program covers approximately 95% of the students’ tuition. How is the program able to do that? By the Grace of God moving the hearts of his people to generously give money to his kingdom. Every year, the Holy Spirit moves the hearts of people around the country to give towards this mission, which is able to keep a program like this running.

Please keep Palabra de Vida and the Crossing Bridges program in your prayers, as we aim to continue to share the Word of God through Christ-centered education in the Detroit area and train children in the truth.

Written by Mr. Lucas Martin, staff minister at Palabra de Vida and teacher at Hope Christian Academy in Westland, Mich.

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Faces of Faith – Alicia

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Alicia first came to church with her family for a special worship service in the fall of 2019. Although her family came to church as a courtesy to someone who invited them, they agreed to a follow-up visit with me. The next week, I arrived at their apartment around 10 p.m. for a visit.

At first, they were skeptical of this pastor they didn’t know. However, they kindly shared they were new to the country—having emigrated from Honduras—and didn’t have a church home. Alicia convinced her family to give our church a shot. Over time, they attended worship, baptized their son, and took Bible information classes. By summer 2020, Alicia and her parents were confirmed in the faith they now professed.

When her parents can’t come to church due to work, Alicia drives on her own. She often brings her younger brother and has brought various friends. She participates in our online adult Bible studies. She even helped start our small choir. Then, she asked if she could start a youth group. We gathered a few other teens from church and launched “Palabra Youth.” Now she’s a part of a thriving small group of teens centered on Christ.

Alicia is an amazing example to follow. She’s an immigrant teenager who is making friends at school, learning English, and keeping up with her studies. In all things she looks to glorify God and to contribute to her church’s mission!

From Ryan Kolander, home missionary at Palabra De Vida in Detroit, Mich.

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