On the southwest corner of 14 Mile Road and Drake Road in Farmington Hills, Faith Covenant Church is an Evangelical Covenant congregation known for a clear rhythm: connect with God, grow like Jesus, and serve others. Rooted in a Swedish immigrant mission begun in 1911, the church pairs two Sunday gatherings with Faith Kidz, student ministries, adult Growth Groups, care ministries, and service partnerships across Metro Detroit.
From Swedish Mission Society to Faith Covenant
Faith Covenant's story starts in 1911, when Oscar Palm asked the Swedish-American newspaper Missions Wannen for the addresses of Swedish immigrants in Detroit. The Swedish Mission Society was organized that year. It was chartered in 1914 with 16 members as the Swedish Mission Church of Detroit. Because many members worked as domestics, Sunday meetings were held in the evening.
- 1916: The church bought the 14th Street Baptist Church building at 14th and Antoinette in Detroit.
- 1943: It moved to Dexter and Davison and became The Evangelical Covenant Church of Detroit.
- 1951: Thirty-seven members left to become charter members of a new daughter church in Dearborn.
- 1958: The congregation moved to a new facility at Eight Mile and Telegraph.
- 1980: It moved to its present location and became Faith Covenant Church.
- 2002: Thirty-five members helped launch a daughter church in Novi.
The church remains at 35415 W. 14 Mile Rd. on the southwest corner of 14 Mile and Drake. Its history in Metro Detroit now stretches for more than a century.
Connect, Grow, Serve: The Purpose Shaping Faith
Faith Covenant says its purpose is to help students, senior adults, parents, children, singles, and married people connect to God through faith in Jesus Christ, grow more like Jesus, and serve Jesus in the church and the world. The vision draws from Matthew 28, where Jesus calls the church to make disciples through baptism, teaching, and going.
The church's stated beliefs center on a lasting personal relationship with Jesus as Savior and Lord, a passionate and thoughtful life as a disciple through the Holy Spirit, the Bible as God's Word, God's grace, spiritual life through faith in Christ, love and compassion for a hurting world, and unity within diversity.
- the centrality of the Word of God
- the necessity of the new birth
- a commitment to the whole mission of the church
- the church as a fellowship of believers
- conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit
- freedom in Christ
Sunday at 9:30 and 11:00
Two worship gatherings are held each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Faith Kidz serves children from birth through grade 5 at both services. At 11:00, students in grades 6 through 8 have a middle school class, students in grades 9 through 12 have a high school class, and adults have Growth Groups. Music is contemporary, and worship elements honor the congregation's diverse traditions. There is no dress code: people arrive in anything from jeans and a T-shirt to Sunday best. Bible-based teaching is intended to leave listeners challenged and encouraged. The congregation ranges from babies to retirees.
The morning message is live on Facebook and YouTube.
Faith Kidz Begins at the Welcome Desk
Children from birth through grade 5 have a place in Faith Kidz. The nursery welcomes children from birth to age 3, while Pre-K through grade 5 classes are grouped by age. The children's team uses Bible-centered, upbeat lessons with interactive games and activities, and the nursery team rotates monthly so returning families see familiar faces.
- Check in: Stop at the Faith Kidz Welcome Desk for the child's name tag and parent pickup code.
- Join the class: Children begin with community-building, hear biblical teaching through drama or video, and reinforce the lesson through games and activities.
- Pick up: Return to the age-specific classroom with the parent code that matches the child's name tag.
Children's leaders are background checked and trained. At the first nursery visit, parents can state how staff should respond if a child cries, whether they want help with a diaper change, and whether they want to stay during the transition. The church's Child and Adolescent Protection Program adds safety procedures for volunteers who work with children and youth. On Wednesday, Faith Kidz meets from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. September through May for children ages 3 through grade 5. Nursery is available to families attending Growth Groups or serving at the church.
From Rooted to Move PM: Ministry for Students
Youth ministries are built around belonging, prayer, worship, biblical teaching, small groups, service, camp, retreats, and hangout nights. Rooted serves grades 6 through 8 on Sunday mornings at 11:00 and connects Bible stories with a monthly theme. Journey, for grades 7 and 8, meets Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. and follows a two-year cycle through the larger Old Testament and New Testament narratives. Fusion welcomes grades 6 through 8 on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. with a game, large-group teaching, and small-group discussion.
High school students can join Move AM at 11:00 on Sunday or Move PM from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Sunday. Both groups study biblical topics in small groups, while Move PM usually begins with a game. For young adults, a group meets at the church at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays. It is designed to build community, grow in relationship with God, and serve both the church and the wider community.
Wednesday Nights at Faith: Dinner, Classes, and Growth Groups
From September through May, Confirmation for grades 7 and 8 and Journey for grades 7 and 8 meet at 5:30 p.m. Dinner for children, youth, worship team members, small groups, and their families runs from 5:30 to 6:00. At 6:30, Faith Kidz serves ages 3 through grade 5, Fusion serves grades 6 through 8, and adults meet in Growth Groups. Deep Discipleship, led by Pastor James, also meets from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in Room 100 and focuses on biblical teaching, Christian doctrine, and essential Christian practices, with weekly reading and assignments.
Growth Groups are designed for people who want community as much as study. A typical meeting includes introductions, current study that may combine videos with Bible reading and discussion, and prayer. Longer-term goals are to build community, grow in relationship with Christ, and deepen a desire to connect, serve, and grow. New group signups open every fall and winter, and group leaders follow up with prospective members about the fit. The church encourages members to meet with a group five or six times before deciding whether it is right for them.
A Bible Study Library for Individuals and Groups
Faith also provides congregants access to a church-curated RightNow Media library. It includes Bible book studies, deeper biblical material, sessions on everyday life, and children's videos, with a free app for major streaming devices. Families can use the material at home or bring it into a Growth Group.
Men's opportunities include a Saturday morning group and adult floor hockey. Women's ministries include the Portage Lake retreat, an annual spring getaway, Ladies Night Out, craft days, pool parties, prayer shawl ministry, the Faith Book Club, and work with local charities. The Boomers and Beyond ministry for seniors organizes field trips, euchre nights, line dancing, and a Christian book collection for prison ministry.
Care for Each Other Through Hard Seasons
The Congregational Care Commission organizes ministries that help people share both the highs and lows of life.
- Hope and Healing offers a health challenge support group.
- Visitation supports people who are hospitalized, in transitional rehabilitation, or home-bound.
- Faith Community Nurse consultations provide health support and advocacy.
- A meal train offers short-term help with meals.
- SHOUT and Choose to Heal provide support groups for women who have experienced abuse.
- Grief support is offered in partnership with New Hope Center for Grief.
Faith Community Nurse MaryEllen Hopfe has served at Faith since 2013. She is a registered nurse with additional degrees in psychology and nursing, and her work includes connecting people with care and advocating for them during challenging seasons. The wider care ministry also includes prayer shawls, flowers, and cards.
Partners in Detroit and the Brightmoor Area
During the school year, Faith Covenant partners with City Covenant Church for tutoring in Detroit's Brightmoor area. Volunteers meet at Faith at 4:30 p.m. for a carpool, return by 7:00 p.m., and can help elementary and middle school students with homework. Helpers may be students in grade 7 through adults, and no experience is required. City Covenant also serves 800 hot meals each week with support from Forgotten Harvest; Faith Covenant gathers supplemental food and hygiene donations for that effort.
- AWPC, A Woman's Pregnancy Choice, offers faith-based support for women and men facing a crisis pregnancy. Faith Covenant supports bottle drives and fundraising dinners.
- Covenant Community Care is a federally qualified health center serving Metro Detroit through medical, dental, obstetric, behavioral health, and vision care, regardless of ability to pay.
- Life Challenge is a one-year residential recovery program for men and women dealing with drug, alcohol, and other life-controlling addictions, with faith at the center of its recovery ministry.
Mission Support Reaches Thailand and Beyond
Faith Covenant supports missionaries and ministry partners across the world:
- Thailand: Peter and Ruthie Dutton work with six Covenant churches, Thai schools, and camping ministries.
- Dominican Republic: Tammi and Jochy Hernandez are developing a Covenant church and mission trips in the Caribbean.
- Alaska: KICY Radio broadcasts from Nome into Western Alaska and the Russian Far East.
- France: Fabio and Johnna share the gospel through language, music, outreach, and support for refugees and immigrants.
- Japan: Andrew Phillips is learning Japanese and building community relationships in Sendai.
- Mexico: Greg and MaryEllen Schrock serve with Wycliffe Bible Translators in finance and education.
- Sweden: Steve and Barb Swanson partner with local churches to reach immigrants and refugees.
- Detroit: Dan and Krista Trepod lead student ministry through CRU.
- Cameroon: Ron and Janet Ziegelbaur serve at Rain Forest International School.
Serving That Starts with One Afternoon
Faith's 1st Serve gives people a chance to try a ministry for one time while working alongside an experienced volunteer. Opportunities include greeting visitors and helping with Faith Kidz check-in, serving coffee and treats at the cafe, handing out bulletins and collecting offerings, helping in Faith Kidz or Faith Students, joining the worship team, operating sound and presentation equipment, tutoring in Brightmoor, and contributing photography, design, or social media. A background check is required before joining a regular child or youth volunteer rotation.
More Ways to Gather, Give, and Grow
Family Fun at Faith takes place at 12:30 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month after the second service. The gym opens for a bounce house, balls, and art supplies, and lunch is provided while parents connect. Parents remain responsible for their children. Older students can join a youth hangout in the basement. The Fiber Arts Group meets on the first and third Thursdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in Room 100, making baby hats, blankets, and prayer shawls alongside fellowship. Senior fitness meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Giving can be made in the offering plate on the back pew, online, by texting GIVE and an amount to 866-579-3916, or by mail. Online gifts can be one-time or recurring, with bank transfer, credit card, or debit card options. Text gifts can be directed to general, missions, or compassion funds.
Faith's digital resources include an archive of messages and a weekly message podcast available through Spotify and iTunes. The RightNow Media library provides biblical, topical, marriage, parenting, personal finance, and mental health material, along with a substantial collection of videos for children.
Pastors and Ministry Leaders
Lead Pastor Mike Rice has led Faith since 2018 after more than a decade in vocational ministry. Associate Pastor James Bryde, on staff since 2020, emphasizes helping people connect and grow in their walk with Jesus. Youth Pastor Devon Perry focuses on relational ministry that helps students become disciples, evangelists, and leaders. Children's Pastor Laura Jackson, who joined the staff in 2015, partners with families as children grow in faith. Worship Director Cat Davis, on staff since 2019, leads the church's worship ministry and contributes as a worship and song writer.
Faith Covenant Church's long history, broad family ministries, and emphasis on discipleship come together in the same purpose: connect with God, grow like Jesus, and serve others. At 35415 W. 14 Mile Rd. in Farmington Hills, the congregation continues that work through worship, teaching, care, mission, and service.