A Christ-Centered Church on West Maple Road
Covenant Baptist Church sits at 5800 West Maple Road in West Bloomfield, Michigan, where it has long served as a Christ-centered gathering place for the surrounding neighborhoods. The congregation describes itself as a church that is unified in creating and empowering disciples through teaching and preaching the Word of God, and that mission shapes everything from its Sunday worship to its preschool classrooms to its missions work across five continents.
Affiliated with American Baptist Churches USA, Covenant carries the conviction that Christian faith is best lived out in community. A simple statement guides the welcome at the door: Come As You Are. Whether someone is curious about Christianity, returning to church after time away, or looking for a new spiritual home, the church invites them to walk in and find a place to grow.
Come As You Are
The Come As You Are philosophy is more than a slogan; it is an explicit commitment. The congregation strives to provide an atmosphere that welcomes members and regular attendees from all ethnicities, generations, and culturally diverse backgrounds. Newcomers are encouraged to join on any Sunday morning for worship and Sunday classes, or during the week for Bible study, with the hope that one day Covenant will become their home church.
First-time guests can fill out an in-person guest card, a visitor form online, or a prayer request card if they would like the Prayer Team to intercede on their behalf. The church also livestreams every Worship Experience on its YouTube channel, WB-CovenantBaptist, so anyone unable to attend in person can still participate.
Sunday Mornings, from Rehearsal to Benediction
Sunday at Covenant follows a familiar rhythm that begins well before the sermon. The Praise Team gathers for rehearsal from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., preparing the music that will carry the service. At 9:30 a.m., a full slate of adult Bible studies and Sunday school classes begins throughout the building.
The Worship Experience itself starts at 10:45 a.m. and runs through a complete order that blends Scripture, song, prayer, and proclamation. A typical Sunday opens with a Call to Worship, moves into a responsive reading (often from the Psalms), and lifts up congregational praise through hymns and contemporary songs such as All Hail the Power of Jesus Name, Indescribable, and I'm Available to You. After an Opening Prayer and a time of welcoming guests and announcements, the pastor leads a Pastoral Prayer, followed by a Children's Message for the younger worshipers in the room. After tithes and offerings are received, often accompanied by special music, the Scripture reading and Ministry of God's Word bring the focus to the sermon. The service closes with a Call to Discipleship, a closing song (frequently You Are My All in All), and a Benediction. Those who wish to make a profession of faith or speak with the pastor are invited to come forward during the closing song.
Senior Pastor Jabulani McCalister, who holds an LMSW and a Master of Divinity, preaches and leads worship alongside Church Musician Andrew Erickson and the rest of the Praise Team. The nursery opens at 10:45 a.m. so parents of infants and toddlers can worship without worry.
Classes for Every Age Before Worship
Sunday school at Covenant is not an afterthought. Three adult Bible studies meet at 9:30 a.m. in different rooms around the building:
- Bible Heirs meets in the Parlor and is also available on Zoom.
- Bereans gathers in the Bereans Conference Room.
- Pathfinders meets in the Pathfinders Room.
At the same hour, youth and children gather for their own classes. Children's Sunday School is open to ages 3 through 10, with the children's portion of the lesson taking place after the Children's Moment during the main Worship Experience. Youth Sunday School gives older students their own space to study and connect. Discipleship is described as the core of building a healthy relationship with Christ, and these classes are a primary expression of that conviction.
Raising Up the Next Generation
Children and youth ministry at Covenant is directed by Minister James Vinson, who oversees programming for both age groups. The church runs a youth ministry that includes summer mission experiences (the most recent summer focused on Oikos, a Greek term meaning Household) and Sunday morning classes. Covenant has also hosted community events such as Pasta Power-up Dinners for local Christian school athletic groups, using the chance to build relationships and fellowship with neighboring schools.
The nursery is staffed by volunteers and is open during the Worship Experience, and the Children's Moment in the service makes sure that even the youngest members of the congregation have a moment designed for them. Parents who want to learn more about the youth program can email Minister Vinson directly through the church office.
Covenant Preschool
Covenant Preschool shares the same West Maple Road building as the church, with its own entrance, phone line (248.855.1662), and email (covenantpreschool5800@gmail.com). The preschool describes itself as a Christian preschool meeting the needs of the whole child, advancing the emotional, social, cognitive, creative, physical, and spiritual development of every student in an atmosphere of love.
The teaching philosophy is hands-on. The staff believes that children learn by doing, and the curriculum is developmentally appropriate so that success encourages personal growth across all areas of development. The building is locked at all times, and parents and guests are admitted only with the approval of a preschool or church staff member. For families dealing with food allergies, the director works with parents to build a safe plan tailored to each child.
Director Lisa Uhrich leads a staff of lead teachers, assistants, substitutes, and an office assistant who together serve the program throughout the school year. The preschool posts a parent handbook, child information record, health appraisal, photo release, and other written information on its forms page for prospective and current families.
Local Mission: Feeding, Walking Alongside, and Sending Supplies
Covenant takes seriously the call to serve its neighbors. The church runs a monthly Emergency Food Pantry that provides staples to those in need of a helping hand, supported by sponsors such as Amica, Thrivent, Atlas Wholesale Food Co., Costco, Home Depot, and other community partners. Those interested in supporting or learning more can email the church office.
Other local outreach ministries include:
- White Cross: A women's group that meets the first Thursday of every month to make baby gowns, caps, and receiving blankets for Baby Birthing Kits sent to the Congo. The same group collects Christmas gifts, food, and other items for Friendship House in Hamtramck.
- Another Way Pregnancy Center: Covenant provides hands-on support to AWPC, which offers pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, supplies, and support for future parents.
- Christian Resources International: Bibles and Christian literature are collected for worldwide distribution through CRI in Fowlerville, Michigan.
- Friendship House: A Christian social service agency in Hamtramck that provides food, clothing, and community outreach for residents, including the 49 percent of Hamtramck who live under the National Poverty Line. Covenant regularly collects food and other items for the ministry.
- World Medical Relief: Used or new medical supplies are collected for World Medical Relief in Southfield, Michigan, where they are recycled and distributed to developing countries.
International Mission Across Five Continents
Covenant's mission footprint extends well beyond southeast Michigan. Through American Baptist Churches USA International Ministries, the church supports Global Servants in Africa (Liberia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Africa), Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Europe (Italy and the Netherlands), Mexico, and the Middle East. Members of the congregation have gone into full-time Christian service through world missions, and the church's annual World Mission Offering, generally taken in October, provides direct financial support to that work.
Other cooperative offerings channel resources to wider American Baptist causes:
- America for Christ, a March offering supporting regional ministries and the American Baptist Home Mission Societies.
- One Great Hour of Sharing, an annual collection for disaster relief, with additional contributions accepted when special circumstances arise.
- Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering (RMMO), collected at Christmas Eve to support retired ministers and missionaries who have given years of service to congregations and communities across the United States.
A Heritage Rooted in Lay Ministry
Covenant's identity is shaped by a clearly stated set of principles. The church points to a pattern of progressive ideas, a commitment to lay ministry, an international goal-directed ministry, a willingness to pay the expensive price for growth, a belief in the power of prayer and faith, a clearly focused vision, and a desire for a ministry beyond itself. The congregation began as a mission outreach and continues to focus on being a church that welcomes all and serves in its community and throughout the world.
Giving as Worship
The congregation teaches that the greatest act of worship is giving oneself to Jesus, and that the giving of financial tithes and offerings is a joyful expression of that worship. Members receive annual giving envelopes, and the Fellowship Fund, collected on the first Sunday of each month, provides special assistance to Covenant members and disadvantaged families in the wider community. A designated Food Pantry offering supports the monthly pantry.
For electronic giving, the church partners with Givelify, available through a phone app or browser. Members can also set up automatic bill pay through their own bank, directing funds to the church with their envelope number or a note.
The People Who Lead
Senior Pastor Jabulani McCalister (LMSW, M.Div.) provides overall spiritual leadership. Minister James Vinson directs Children and Youth Ministry. Andrew Erickson serves as Church Musician, and Melanie Brown manages the office. Lisa Uhrich leads Covenant Preschool as Director. Carla Likich and Kathleen Beltaire keep the building and the books running as Custodian and Bookkeeper, respectively.
An Executive Board of lay leaders oversees the life of the church. The 2026-2027 board includes Martha Grier (Moderator), Tabyas Owens (Vice Moderator), Sue Giesling (Recording Secretary), Bill Reid (Treasury and Financial Stewardship, and Facilities Manager), Kim Matthews (Membership), Robin McFerrin (Ministry Connections), Amy Salako (Communications), Stephanie Cook (Preschool), and James Grant (Worship). The Discipleship Ministry Chair seat is open, and members who feel called to serve can connect with the Ministry Connections Team to find their place.
Covenant Baptist Church keeps its weekly bulletin, monthly church news, and archived worship videos available so that members and friends can stay connected between Sundays. Whether someone arrives on West Maple Road for the first time or has worshipped there for decades, they will find the same invitation at the door: come as you are, and grow here.