About Our Church | Shekinah Christian Church, Ann Arbor MI

OUR Story

Shekinah‘s beginning was in 1983 when Barbara J Yoder received a word from the Lord to establish the church. It was not just a momentary experience but an ongoing process beginning several years earlier. Shekinah has always been a church which has highly valued the presence of God, God’s glory, the Word of God, worship and prayer as the foundation for every ongoing decision and ministry.

Basically our heart has been to be a church that’s in perpetual revival like the book of Acts, constantly evolving into the current understanding of how that looks and what it is supposed to be, exploding with God’s tangible Presence, anointing, love and miraculous breakthrough.

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LIFE AT Shekinah

Worship at the Winds of Change gathering at Shekinah Christian Church

Leaders in worship during the Winds of Change gathering

Congregation gathered in worship during the Winds of Change gathering

Ministry time during the Winds of Change gathering at Shekinah Christian Church

Attendees worshipping at The Happening, a gathering at Shekinah Christian Church

Congregation with hands raised in worship at Shekinah Christian Church

OUR Mission

Engage
HIS PRESENCE

Engage God's Presence.The first step in relating to God is His invitation to us to open the door of our heart so that He can come in and initiate an ongoing relationship with us. That often happens when we actively invite, position ourselves to worship, listen to God’s Word, talk with God. He longs to make Himself known to us.

Encounter
HIS POWER

Once we engage His Presence, the next step is that we actively encounter God’s power. We are awed, overcome, deeply touched in our hearts, astounded. Paul the apostle said when we encounter God, the fullness of His Presence—His glory, we are transformed and become like Jesus. We are also empowered to be what God has called us to be and do.

Equip for
HIS PURPOSE

Every single person on the face of the earth was born with God’s destiny, mandate on the inside of them. They have purpose. The responsibility of the church is to equip each member to fulfill the purpose for which they were born.

Engage
HIS PRESENCE

Engage God’s Presence. The first step in relating to God is His invitation to us to open the door of our heart so that He can come in and initiate an ongoing relationship with us. That often happens when we actively invite, position ourselves to worship, listen to God’s Word, talk with God. He longs to make Himself known to us.

Apostle Barbara J. Yoder ministering at Shekinah Christian Church

Encounter
HIS POWER

Encounter God’s Power. Once we engage His Presence, the next step is that we actively encounter God’s power. We are awed, overcome, deeply touched in our hearts, astounded. Paul the apostle said when we encounter God, the fullness of His Presence. His glory, we are transformed and become like Jesus. We are also empowered to be what God has called us to be and do.

Equip for

HIS PURPOSE

Equip for Purpose. Every single person on the face of the earth was born with God’s destiny, mandate on the inside of them. They have purpose. The responsibility of the church is to equip each member to fulfill purpose for which they were born.

An open Bible during a teaching session at Shekinah Christian Church

Encounter
HIS POWER

Encounter God’s Power. Once we engage His Presence, the next step is that we actively encounter God’s power. We are awed, overcome, deeply touched in our hearts, astounded. Paul the apostle said when we encounter God, the fullness of His Presence—His glory, we are transformed and become like Jesus. We are also empowered to be what God has called us to be and do.

Engage
HIS PRESENCE

Equip for

HIS PURPOSE

WE
Believe

There is one God
There is one God, manifested in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is the Creator of all things and the Ruler of the Universe (Philippians 2:6; Matthew 3:16-17; John 10:30).
Jesus Christ is alive.
Jesus Christ is alive. He is Son of God and Lord of the Church. He existed from the beginning, came to earth through a virgin birth, and is fully God and fully man. He was crucified, was dead and buried, and rose again three days later, providing salvation for all mankind. (John 1:1; Isaiah 9:6, Acts 1:9-11).
The Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of all believers.
The Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of all believers. He gives us the power to live the Christian lifestyle, guides us into what is right, and is the revealer of all truth (John 15:26; 2 Corinthians 3:17, Ephesians 1:13).
The Church is the Body of Christ
The Church is the Body of Christ. We believe the church to be more than just a building or a gathering of people. It is a body living in relationship and harmony under the direction of the head, Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 6:15; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Romans 16:5; 1 Peter 2:4-5; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 4:11-16.)
The Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God
The Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God. It is our final authority in determining what we believe and how we live (2 Tim. 3:16; I Thess. 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).
Because of sin, all men are separated from God and in need of salvatio
Because of sin, all men are separated from God and in need of salvation. The free gift of salvation is made possible through Jesus Christ, His death on the cross, and His resurrection from the dead. Salvation is available to all and is received by grace through faith only and by no other way. (2 Cor. 7:10; 1 John 5:12; John 3:3-5)
Communion was established to represent the new covenant
Communion was established to represent the new covenant between God and His people. Jesus died, His body was broken, and His blood was shed in order that we may enter into covenant with God. The body being broken is represented by the bread at the communion table, and the blood shed is represented by the wine (juice). We regularly receive communion in order to remember Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. (Luke 22: 19-20; 1 Corinthians 11: 23-30).
It is the mission of the church to advance the Kingdom of God
It is the mission of the church to advance the Kingdom of God by making disciples of all nations. It is the responsibility of every believer to carry out the Great Commission (Matthew 28: 16-20; Acts 1:8).
Jesus commanded that His followers be baptized in water
Jesus commanded that His followers be baptized in water to symbolize their identification with His death, burial and resurrection. We believe that when a person is water baptized, it symbolizes the passing away of their old life and the beginning of their new life in Christ (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 8: 36-39; Colossians 2: 9-13).
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift from God
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift from God as promised by Jesus and is available to all believers. A spiritual prayer language, or “speaking in tongues”, is released through the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The baptism in the Holy Spirit empowers believers to be an effective witness for Jesus Christ. (Matt. 3:11; John 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38, 39; Acts 19:1-7; Acts 2:4).
We believe God desires people to be whole.
We believe God desires people to be whole. Salvation provides healing to the whole man- spirit, soul and body. We believe in the power of prayer and faith in God to bring about healing in every area of a person’s life (Mark 16:18; James 5:25; I Peter 2:24; Matt. 8:17; Isa. 53:4, 5).

WE Believe

We Believe

There is one God, manifested in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is the Creator of all things and the Ruler of the Universe (Philippians 2:6; Matthew 3:16-17; John 10:30).

We Believe

Jesus Christ is alive. He is Son of God and Lord of the Church. He existed from the beginning, came to earth through a virgin birth, and is fully God and fully man. He was crucified, was dead and buried, and rose again three days later, providing salvation for all mankind. (John 1:1; Isaiah 9:6, Acts 1:9-11).

We Believe

The Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of all believers. He gives us the power to live the Christian lifestyle, guides us into what is right, and is the revealer of all truth (John 15:26; 2 Corinthians 3:17, Ephesians 1:13).

We Believe

The Church is the Body of Christ. We believe the church to be more than just a building or a gathering of people. It is a body living in relationship and harmony under the direction of the head, Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 6:15; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Romans 16:5; 1 Peter 2:4-5; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 4:11-16.)

We Believe

The Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God. It is our final authority in determining what we believe and how we live (2 Tim. 3:16; I Thess. 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).

We Believe

That because of sin, all men are separated from God and in need of salvation. The free gift of salvation is made possible through Jesus Christ, His death on the cross, and His resurrection from the dead. Salvation is available to all and is received by grace through faith only and by no other way. (2 Cor. 7:10; 1 John 5:12; John 3:3-5)

We Believe

Communion was established to represent the new covenant between God and His people. Jesus died, His body was broken, and His blood was shed in order that we may enter into covenant with God. The body being broken is represented by the bread at the communion table, and the blood shed is represented by the wine (juice). We regularly receive communion in order to remember Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. (Luke 22: 19-20; 1 Corinthians 11: 23-30).

We Believe

It is the mission of the church to advance the Kingdom of God by making disciples of all nations. It is the responsibility of every believer to carry out the Great Commission (Matthew 28: 16-20; Acts 1:8).

We Believe

Jesus commanded that His followers be baptized in water to symbolize their identification with His death, burial and resurrection. We believe that when a person is water baptized, it symbolizes the passing away of their old life and the beginning of their new life in Christ (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 8: 36-39; Colossians 2: 9-13).

We Believe

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift from God as promised by Jesus and is available to all believers. A spiritual prayer language, or “speaking in tongues”, is released through the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The baptism in the Holy Spirit empowers believers to be an effective witness for Jesus Christ. (Matt. 3:11; John 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38, 39; Acts 19:1-7; Acts 2:4).

We Believe

God desires people to be whole. Salvation provides healing to the whole man- spirit, soul and body. We believe in the power of prayer and faith in God to bring about healing in every area of a person’s life (Mark 16:18; James 5:25; I Peter 2:24; Matt. 8:17; Isa. 53:4, 5).