A Hundred Years on Lahser Road
On the south side of Lahser Road in Southfield, Michigan, a congregation that began as a small Sunday school in Highland Park in 1910 still gathers every week to worship Jesus Christ. GraceWay Bible Church, formerly known as Highland Park Baptist Church, carries more than a century of ministry into its Southfield home, a campus at 28600 Lahser Road that has anchored the congregation for nearly sixty years. In 2025 the elders and congregation adopted the name GraceWay Bible Church, and the church now describes itself in three words: multigenerational, multicultural, and gospel centered.
That identity shows up everywhere: in the music led from the platform, in the schools that share the campus, in the prayer room off the foyer, and in mission teams scattered across multiple continents. The church's mission is to worship God with all that they are, to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, and to go and share the gospel.
From a Sunday School to a Southfield Campus
The congregation's story begins in 1910, when a small band of Christian men and women started a Sunday school in Highland Park, Michigan. A year later, twenty members organized the Baptist Society of Highland Park. By 1913, the society had renamed itself Highland Park Baptist Church. A building committee formed in 1914 and purchased a lot on Ford Avenue in Highland Park; the building was completed and dedicated in 1916. For half a century that Ford Avenue location served as the church's home.
In 1957 the church purchased twenty acres of land in Southfield, and the new campus was completed and dedicated in 1963. Three years later, in 1966, the Highland Park and Southfield congregations merged at the new location, ending a season of two-campus ministry. Southfield Christian School, a K through 12 program, opened on the property in 1970. A second Sunday morning worship service was added in 1984 to keep pace with growth, and in 2005 the congregation elected its first Elder Board to oversee ministries and operations.
In 2008 Brent Slater, then serving as a missionary in Uganda, was commissioned as the church's new senior pastor. Seventeen years later, in 2025, the congregation adopted the name GraceWay Bible Church, a change that signals the church's continuing identity while honoring its Baptist roots.
Two Sunday Mornings, One Mission
GraceWay meets for worship every Sunday morning at 9:30 and 11:00. The services are identical in format and include congregational singing, prayer, and verse-by-verse preaching from Scripture. Bibles are available near each seat for those who do not bring one. The atmosphere reflects the multi-generational and multi-cultural diversity of the body, with music, prayer, and teaching shaped to welcome every age and background.
The church has worked to make first-time visits straightforward. Visitor parking spots sit just across from the Worship Center entrance, marked by tall, glass-paneled windows, with entrance C only a short walk away. Greeters meet people at the door, the Cafe is open before services for coffee and fellowship, and a Guest Connection table is staffed for anyone who wants to learn more. A digital connect card can be filled out in advance through the Come to Church page.
Parents of infants can choose between the nursery for children birth through walkers and a Cry Room, which has TVs in the Foyer that broadcast the service for parents who would like to keep their baby with them. Programming for children ages two through fifth grade runs during both morning services. The 9:30 service is livestreamed and remains available online throughout the week.
GraceWay Kids: Nursery Through Fifth Grade
Children's ministry at GraceWay begins in the nursery, where the youngest churchgoers enjoy a secure sign-in system, pager communication with parents, and qualified volunteers. Preschool classes, for children ages two to four, combine learning activities, music, and creative Bible teaching. Elementary-aged children, kindergarten through fifth grade, gather in rooms 271 through 275 for large-group worship, grade-specific Bible teaching, and small-group discussion.
Three staff members lead GraceWay Kids. Nancy Baughman, who joined the staff in 1996 after more than twenty years running a preschool from her home, directs Early Childhood. Monique Lewis, who holds a doctorate in Physiology from Wayne State University and homeschooled her three children before joining the team, directs Elementary. Grace Devine, who grew up in the church and graduated from Grand Valley State University, serves as HPBC Kids Associate and Director of Disabilities Ministry, leading ABLE, a program that welcomes children with cognitive or physical disabilities into age-appropriate classrooms.
Safety is taken seriously. Every GraceWay Kids volunteer completes the church's We Really Care program, which includes an application and a background check. Parents are paged when an infant needs them and are contacted directly for older children who need help.
On Wednesday evenings at 6:30, the same building hosts Awana, a program for preschool through fifth grade built around Bible verse memorization and application. Children earn points, badges, and prizes through games and lessons, meeting in the Middle School Classrooms.
Students in the Loft
The Student Ministry at GraceWay gathers middle schoolers and high schoolers in two spaces on the property, the Middle School Student Center and the High School Student Center, with a shared meeting space called the Loft.
Students meet twice a week. On Sunday mornings at 9:30, middle school students gather in the Middle School Student Center and high schoolers meet in the High School Student Center. On Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00, both groups come together in the Elementary Gym/Loft for a combined program of worship, teaching, and small-group time.
The student ministry team is led by Alexandr Weaver, a graduate of Pensacola Christian College and current master's student in biblical counseling, as Student Director. Rebekah Duquesnel, who studied Biblical Studies at Moody Bible Institute and served two years with Black Forest Academy in Germany, serves as Associate Student Director. Cyndi Smyly serves as Student Associate.
Throughout the year the ministry runs a Fall Retreat at Timber Wolf Lake Camp in Lake City, Michigan, where students compete in outdoor games, hear sermons, and engage in small groups. Other seasonal events include Students Fall Frenzy in November, an Invite Night for Christmas in December, and a Students Christmas Party to close out the semester.
18 | 25: From College to Career
For college students and young adults in their twenties, the 18 | 25 ministry meets twice a week. On Sundays at 11:00 the ministry gathers in the Student Center. On Thursdays at 6:30 the meeting moves off campus to a different home each week, with the location shared by texting Drew Lindman at 248-778-5929.
The 18 | 25 community is led by Drew Lindman, the church's Pastoral and Missions Resident, a graduate of Columbia International University and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Recurring events include a Reformation Day Party in October, a 3rd Monday Book Club that meets monthly to discuss books like The Dynamic Heart by Jeremy Pierre, a Night of Thanksgiving, an outreach night titled Light of the World, and a Christmas Party.
Wednesday Nights at HPBC
Wednesday evenings at 6:30 are when the building fills with energy. The night is built around five tracks that run simultaneously, so that kids, students, and adults can all be involved at the same hour.
For children preschool through fifth grade, Awana meets at 6:30 in the Middle School Classrooms. For middle and high school students, the Loft opens at 6:30 for worship, teaching, and small groups. For young adults, the 18 | 25 group meets in the Student Center on Wednesday evenings.
For adults, three programs share the 6:30 hour. The men's Bible study gathers in the North Atrium. The women's Bible study meets in the South Atrium. And in Fellowship Hall, re|engage, a marriage enrichment ministry, gathers every Wednesday at 6:30 to walk through biblical principles for marriage. re|engage is described as discipleship for every marriage: the healthy, the struggling, and the broken.
Meanwhile, in the Prayer Room off the Foyer, Oasis hosts a group from 6:30 to 8:00 that uses Scripture to guide prayer.
Men: The Titus Ten and Discipleship
GraceWay Men describes itself as a discipleship community for men of all ages. The ministry's main Bible study, The Titus Ten, walks through ten qualities from Paul's letter to his young mentee Titus. The study meets at two times each week: Tuesday mornings at 6:30 in the Fellowship Hall, and Wednesday evenings at 6:30 in the North Atrium.
Beyond the Bible study, men can join one-on-one discipleship with a mature believer or plug into a small group that meets throughout the week. A Discipleship Interest Form lets men sign up to be matched with a mentor. The men's ministry also runs seasonal events like Rib Wars, an October evening when men bring their best ribs to Fellowship Hall, compete for the title of best smoker, and share a meal together.
Women: Bible Study, MOTS, and Crafting Corner
GraceWay Women is led by Lisa Guerra, a certified Christian Life Coach. The ministry's centerpiece is its Bible study, which moves through the book of Isaiah under the theme Behold Your God, using the LifeChange Bible Study Series. The study meets on Tuesday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 in the Fellowship Hall, and on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 in the South Atrium, running from September through May. Childcare for infants through preschoolers is available with weekly registration, and study books are sold in the Foyer at the start of the study.
Alongside the main Bible study, women can join one-on-one discipleship through a Discipleship Interest Form.
MOTS, or Moms of Tots, is for mothers with children under five. The group meets the first and third Thursday of the month from 9:30 to 11:30 in Fellowship Hall, with childcare provided for children under five. The morning includes fellowship, learning, food, and time with mentor moms.
Crafting Corner, which meets on the first Friday of the month at 7:00pm in Fellowship Hall, gathers women who knit, crochet, needlepoint, scrapbook, quilt, or work on any other creative project, with snacks and laughter as part of the evening.
A House of Prayer
GraceWay calls itself a house of prayer. The Prayer Ministry is led by Inell Slater and centers on three commitments: worshiping God, loving one another, and sharing the good news.
The Prayer Room sits just off the Foyer near the Worship Center. It is open during the day when the building is open and at scheduled prayer times, with an exterior door unlocked during the day so anyone can drop in for quiet prayer.
Weekly prayer gatherings include Oasis, a Scripture-prayer group that meets in the Prayer Room on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:00. Sunday morning intercessors pray for services from 8:45 to 9:15. A parents' prayer group meets on the second Sunday of each month at 6:30 to pray for adult children. A monthly country-focused prayer time meets the first Thursday at 7:00 via Zoom. The Friday Prayer group meets by Zoom every Friday at 7:00 to pray through Scripture for the church, the country, and the world. A monthly Evening Worship and Prayer service meets on the second Tuesday at 6:00.
The prayer ministry also oversees Exalt Prayers, a mobile app where members can listen to 30-second prayers or share their own. Prayers remain on the app for 24 hours and then are removed. The prayer line, an email-based prayer chain, lets members receive prayer requests from the congregation. Prayer requests can be submitted online or via email to prayer@gracewaybible.org.
Sunday Grow Groups
While parents worship, their kids are in age-appropriate classrooms; older adults and adults of every stage gather across the building for Sunday Grow Groups, the church's small-group ministry that runs alongside the worship services at 9:30 and 11:00.
The Grow Groups use a curriculum called Explore the Bible, a program that walks the whole church through Scripture one book at a time. The groups are organized by life stage. Young adults can join 18 | 25 at 11:00, Thrive for engaged and newlywed twenty-somethings and thirty-somethings at 9:30, Firm Foundations for married twenty-somethings to forty-somethings at 11:00, or Catalyst at 11:00. Middle adults can choose from Standing Stones, The Journey, Kingdom Builders, Shalom, or Joy. Older adults can choose Salt or Joint Heirs. Each group meets in a named room such as the North Atrium, South Atrium, Fellowship Hall, or one of the numbered classrooms.
Biblical Counseling for Real Life
GraceWay's Biblical Counseling ministry offers free, one-on-one counseling for individuals, couples, and families. The counseling is provided by trained and qualified mature believers who are not licensed as therapists, psychologists, or psychiatrists, and who apply the Bible to help counselees walk in freedom and healing from sin. The ministry is for any age and any stage of life, and there is no fee.
Common topics include fear, despair, marriage issues, anxiety, loss, parenting, stress, loneliness, anger, and depression. The counseling typically lasts eight to twelve weeks, with weekly assignments to encourage lasting change. Counselors are not licensed professional mental health care providers; instead they apply a Christian framework rooted in the authority and sufficiency of Scripture and the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit.
Those interested begin by completing an application form, after which a counselor reaches out to schedule a first appointment. The ministry also hosts a Care Givers Support Group and a Metabolic Health Cancer Support Group that meet monthly for those walking through specific challenges.
MOSAIC: Motivating Senior Adults in Christ
Adults 55 and older are invited into MOSAIC, a ministry that plans a variety of group activities throughout the year, from outings to seasonal events like the annual MOSAIC Christmas Light Show in December. Irma Henderson coordinates the contact list and can be reached through the church. The MOSAIC name stands for Motivating Our Senior Adults in Christ.
Missions Near and Far
The missions ministry at GraceWay supports 55 long-term missionaries, 4 short-term missionaries, and 27 retired missionaries, and sends short-term teams each summer. Recent trips have included a week of day camp in Kypseli, Greece, alongside the Alexander and Kendra Macris; a team to Zambia with Emma's Helping Hands, a ministry that provides food, clothing, educational supplies, and medical care; a team to Durres, Albania, serving with the Rushitis and Cuffes on a youth camp and English Language School; a team to London with Hope Church West End; and a Michigan-based Hurdling Handicaps Great Getaway serving families affected by disabilities.
The Strategic Missions Fund supports initiatives like Mozambique Christian Education, India Church Planting, Afghani Refugees, a Mozambique hospital start-up, Greece Leadership Training, the Inspired Exhibit in Metro Detroit, Albania Church Plant through Youth Outreach, Detroit After-School Education, Michigan Hurdling Handicaps, and Ukraine War Relief. The fund also covers medical emergencies, insurance needs, education needs, transportation needs, and other unexpected needs for missionaries, including a Missionary Christmas tradition each year.
For refugees arriving in Metro Detroit, Aaron Hamel directs Refugee Services, facilitating small groups of adults to welcome newcomers, coordinating English classes, and hosting community events. The 127 Initiative, listed under serve opportunities, sends volunteers into the community to serve widows and orphans.
What the Church Believes
GraceWay has published a statement of faith that anchors the church in historic, evangelical Christian doctrine.
The church believes the Old and New Testaments are the verbally inspired Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, and the supreme and final authority in faith and life. They believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They believe Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and is true God and true man.
They believe humanity was created in the image of God by direct act; that all people are descended from the historical Adam and Eve; that sin brought both physical death and spiritual death; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and become sinners in thought, word, and deed.
They believe the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins as a representative and substitutionary sacrifice and that all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood. They believe in the resurrection of His crucified body, His ascension into heaven, and His present life as our High Priest and Advocate.
They believe in the personal, premillennial, and imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ. They believe all who receive Christ by faith are born again of the Holy Spirit and become children of God; that the Holy Spirit indwells them and enables a life of personal holiness and obedience; and that the truly born again are kept by the power of God and incapable of losing their salvation.
They believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting blessedness of the saved, and the everlasting conscious punishment of the lost. They believe the local church is a body of believers organized for worship, work, and fellowship; that the two ordinances of the church are baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper; and that the local church is an independent and self-governing body responsible to Christ alone.
Southfield Christian School
Southfield Christian School is a K through 12 program that has operated on the GraceWay campus since 1970. The school is led by Will Guerra, who has served the church for more than 35 years as an elder, trustee, and youth ministry team member, and who previously coached the SCS Varsity Baseball team and chaired the SCS School Board. The school has its own admissions process and shares the same campus, leadership family, and gospel-centered vision as GraceWay.
The Pastoral Team
Brent Slater leads the pastoral team. He grew up in Africa as the son of medical missionaries and earned a Ph.D. in Edinburgh before planting churches in Uganda for 22 years. He was commissioned as GraceWay's senior pastor in 2008.
Jimmy Smith, an Executive Pastor who joined the staff in 2011 after serving a church in North Carolina and working in the motorsports industry, leads operations and develops leaders. Dayvid Damazio serves as Pastor of Worship and Music. A native of Rio de Janeiro, he earned degrees in Music, Theology, and Leadership and served more than 15 years in Brazilian Baptist churches before joining the staff in late 2023.
Jason Hanson, who holds a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Westminster Theological Seminary, directs adult discipleship and guest ministries. Gar Hoover, a GraceWay and SCS alumnus, serves as Family Ministries Pastor.
Inell Slater leads the Prayer Ministry. Lisa Guerra leads Women's Ministry. Aaron Hamel directs Refugee Services. Nancy Baughman directs Early Childhood, Monique Lewis directs Elementary, and Grace Devine serves as HPBC Kids Associate and Director of Disabilities Ministry. Alexandr Weaver is Student Director and Rebekah Duquesnel is Associate Student Director. Drew Lindman is the Pastoral and Missions Resident. Pastor John leads shepherding development, having earned a doctorate from Fuller Graduate School. The Board of Elders, elected by the congregation in 2005, provides spiritual oversight of the ministries and operations.
Giving and Getting Connected
Giving is available online, by mail, through the church's mobile app, by text-to-give, or by designating the church as a beneficiary in an estate plan or retirement account. A sermon archive and sermon notes are posted each week, and a digital connect card lets visitors share contact information with the pastoral team before or after their first visit.