Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church sits on Van Buren Street West in Battle Creek, Michigan, at the corner of Van Buren and Jordan. The congregation has gathered under that name since 1959, when six members of the local Baptist community came together to organize a new church. Today, Macedonia is pastored by Rev. Timothy P. Troxler and describes its work with two phrases that appear on nearly every page of its ministry: Saving Souls and Changing Lives.
A Church Organized by Six Members in 1959
On October 2, 1959, a meeting was called to organize a Baptist church in Battle Creek. Six people took part in that founding conversation. From Kalamazoo came Reverend E.F. Tinsley, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church; Reverend Bernis Warfield Sr., pastor of Second Baptist Church; and Reverend Bernis Warfield Jr., associate minister of Second Baptist Church. From Battle Creek came Reverend L.L. of First Salem Baptist Church; Reverend Earl F. Young, a member of Friendship Baptist Church; and Reverend Mose Collins.
During the meeting, seven letters were brought by interested members to organize the new church. They were presented by Sister Ida Mae Young, Sister Henrietta Sims, Sister Etoria Mitchell, Sister Katie Page, Sister Essie Page, Brother B.C. Page, and Brother Quedellis Page. Once the church was organized, Reverend Earl F. Young was called as the first pastor. He served until his passing on November 14, 1982.
In May 1983, Reverend William Young Jr., who had been appointed assistant pastor in 1977, was installed as Macedonia's second pastor. He served for more than a decade before passing away on August 20, 1997. After a brief interim season, the congregation called Reverend Keith N. McDonald Sr. of Grand Rapids on February 13, 1998; he served until March 13, 1999. Reverend Jeffrey Curtis Franklin of Camden, Arkansas, was elected on May 12, 2000, and served until March 26, 2004. Reverend Royce Evans of Messiah Missionary Baptist Church served as interim pastor from August 12, 2004, until July 18, 2005. On February 16, 2006, the congregation voted to call Reverend Timothy P. Troxler, who continues to serve as pastor.
Rev. Timothy P. Troxler, Pastor Since 2006
Pastor Troxler is described by Macedonia as a purpose-driven, mission-minded man of God with a strong sense of direction for both the mission and vision of the church. His foundation in Christian Education was laid at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he served under his mentor, the Reverend Dr. Addis Moore, from January 1995 until March 2006. At Mt. Zion, he served in numerous roles, including Sunday School Superintendent, Director of Christian Education, Youth Minister, New Member Orientation Ministry leader, and Administrative Assistant to the Pastor.
Since coming to Macedonia in March 2006, Pastor Troxler has led the addition of new and innovative ministries aimed at saving souls and changing lives. He has lectured, preached, and taught across the country and graduated with honors from Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. He also serves as Vice President of Christian Education for the Chain Lake Missionary Baptist District Association and has served as Third Vice President of the Wolverine State Baptist Congress of Christian Education. He and his wife Nicole have two children, Joshua and Jada.
Sunday Mornings at Macedonia
The week at Macedonia centers on Sunday morning. Life Connections, the church's Sunday School ministry, meets at 9:15 a.m. Life Connections is described as Macedonia's primary strategy to connect people with Jesus, with His Truth, with His Community, and with His Mission. Classes are designed to build, grow, and strengthen attendees through concise, clear, and compelling teaching. The Life Connections hour is open to all ages and includes a quarterly 14 Essentials New Members Class at 9:15 a.m. for those exploring membership.
Sunday Worship begins at 10:00 a.m. and typically lasts about ninety minutes. A typical service features singing, the arts, and preaching, and the church uses visual technology to enhance the experience. Communion is observed once a month on the first Sunday, set aside as a time for the congregation to remember what Christ did, examine their own lives, and give glory to the Lord. At the close of each sermon, Pastor Troxler extends an invitation for visitors who wish to join the church to come forward, where a ministry member will guide them through the process.
A Blended Worship with Choir, Praise Team, and Dance
Macedonia describes its music as blended. Some Sundays bring traditional hymns, while other Sundays feature a more modern sound built around guitar, keyboard, drums, and other instruments. The Music Ministry includes a Mass Choir that is open to all teenagers and adults who want to praise God through singing, as well as a Praise Team. The Music Ministry rehearses weekly on Thursday evenings at 6:00 p.m.
Worship at Macedonia is not limited to song. The Dance Ministry is open to all adults and youth and uses movement as a life-giving expression of worship, drawing on the call of Psalm 150:4 to praise God with timbrel and dance. The Media Ministry supports all of this behind the scenes, supplying audio, video, livestreaming, radio broadcast, locally televised programming, large screens, photography, and the church's online presence.
Wednesday Bible Study and Christian Education
Bible Study is offered twice on Wednesdays, at 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. The current study walks through Dr. Gene Getz's Sharpening the Focus of the Church, which uses New Testament principles, church history, and practical insight to help a congregation stay centered on the gospel and the Scriptures. The Wednesday studies are livestreamed for those who cannot attend in person.
Christian Education is treated as one of the church's central callings. Macedonia teaches that God has called believers to be trained and equipped for excellence in His Kingdom. In addition to Life Connections and Bible Study, the church offers Church Membership Matters, a class on what it means to belong to a local body, and the 14 Essentials of the Christian Faith book and course, which lays out a foundational platform of sound Biblical teaching for new and maturing believers.
Life Connections and the Tribes
Beyond the classroom, Macedonia organizes its members into small fellowship units called Tribes. The Tribes are named after the twelve sons of Jacob - Asher, Benjamin, Gad, Issachar, Judah, Levi, Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon, and Zebulun - and each Tribe is made up of members whose last names fall in a particular letter range. Each Tribe is led by a Tribe Leader who communicates ministry activities, checks on members in times of need or celebration, supports prayer requests, and keeps the congregation spiritually and socially connected.
The Tribe Leader is the first contact for hospitalizations, surgeries, deaths of loved ones, accountability when a member is absent or shut in, prayer requests, milestones such as birthdays and anniversaries, and general questions about the ministry. In this way, Macedonia tries to make sure that no member of the congregation is overlooked.
Ministries that Serve Inside and Outside the Walls
Macedonia's ministries range from inside-the-sanctuary hospitality to outside-the-building outreach. The Hospitality Ministry greets everyone who enters the doors and sets the tone for the worship experience. The Usher Ministry includes both Adult and Junior Ushers who greet, seat worshippers, and give newcomers their first impression of the church. The Kitchen Ministry provides refreshments for Sunday mornings and food for funerals, church events, and other gatherings.
Outside the sanctuary, the Clothing Ministry offers free clothing to men, women, and children from a clothing house on the upper level of the church, open Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Transportation Ministry provides rides to Bible Study on Wednesdays and to Sunday services for members and non-members who need them, with ride requests taken by phone at extension 10. The Scholarship Ministry administers two scholarships for members attending college or university, including The Young Scholarship administered in collaboration with the Battle Creek Community Foundation and the member-funded MMBC Scholarship.
The Men's Ministry meets on the third Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. and offers men a setting to grow in prayer, fellowship, Bible study, and service. The Women's Ministry is open to women members of Macedonia and meets on the third Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. to serve the needs of women, youth, and the wider community.
Visiting Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church
Visitors are welcomed warmly at Macedonia. The church averages 100 to 200 people in worship each Sunday, and Pastor Troxler is described as approachable, often knowing people by name. Dress varies from suits to blue jeans, and most people dress casually in khakis and blue jeans. No one is expected to dress up, and if anyone feels their clothing might not be appropriate, the church's clothing house offers free clothing for infants through adults.
For those without transportation, the church's Transportation Ministry can arrange a ride to Wednesday Bible Study or to Sunday Life Connections and Worship. Rides can be requested by calling (269) 964-0015, extension 10. Worship, Bible Study, and Life Connections are all livestreamed for those joining from home. Giving is available online through the church's giving page.
What the Church Believes
Macedonia's teaching is grounded in the Bible as the revealed Word of God. The church teaches that salvation is wholly of grace, that Jesus Christ, according to the will of the Father, assumed our nature yet without sin, and that He died for the sin of the world. The church further believes in the bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead and, as a result, that Jesus has all power in heaven and on earth.
The church practices baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, on the authority of Jesus' name. Baptism is taught as a public response to God's love and an outward expression of an inward transformation that has already taken place through personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Salvation, the church teaches, comes before baptism and never depends on it, citing Ephesians 2:8-9.
Saving Souls and Changing Lives
From the original 1959 meeting to the present, Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church has kept its focus on two goals: saving souls and changing lives. Every Sunday, every Wednesday, and every ministry gathering points back to that motto - teaching the uncompromised Gospel, walking with members through the milestones of life, and reaching out to the Battle Creek community through clothing, transportation, scholarships, and the simple warmth of a hand on the door.