On 22 Mile Road in Shelby Township, just east of Van Dyke, Macomb Christian Church has planted itself as a church built around a single sentence: lead people to love Jesus, the Bible, the church, and others. Two Sunday morning services, an active children's wing, a student ministry that meets two extra times a week, and a long list of mission partnerships near and far all flow from that calling. The church describes itself as a place where, on any given Sunday, the Holy Spirit moves to encourage, challenge, and shape whoever walks through the door, whether they are exploring faith for the first time or have been a Christian for decades.
Sunday Mornings at 9:30 and 11:00
MCC gathers twice each Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., with the earlier service also livestreamed on YouTube for those at home or traveling. Both services follow the same pattern: heartfelt worship led by a band and vocal team, biblical teaching, prayer, and communion. Communion is observed every Sunday, and the practice of sharing the Lord's Supper with the congregation is treated as a regular rhythm rather than a monthly or quarterly event.
The dress code is informal. Visitors are welcomed with the phrase that shows up more than once across the church's materials: come as you are. Greeters and a Connections team meet people at the doors, and a Connection Card is offered so newcomers can share their names and any prayer requests with the staff.
Children have their own dedicated environments during both services, and the 11:00 service is also the gathering point for students in sixth through twelfth grade.
Kids: Nursery Through Tweens
Children's ministry at MCC stretches from birth through sixth grade, with programming tailored to each stage.
- Nursery (birth through age 3) is open during both Sunday services. It is staffed by gentle, background-checked volunteers and stocked with age-appropriate toys, books, and quiet corners for the youngest children.
- Preschool (ages 3-5) meets at both services for Bible stories, music, crafts, and play in a hands-on environment built for early learners.
- Elementary (kindergarten through third grade) gathers at 9:30 and 11:00 for an energetic mix of Bible teaching, games, music, and small group time.
- Tweens (fourth and fifth grade) meet only at the 11:00 service. They begin the morning worshipping and taking communion with the elementary kids before moving to their own classroom for discussion-based lessons designed for kids who are ready for something deeper.
A secure check-in system gives parents peace of mind, and every volunteer who serves with children is background-checked.
Shine! on Wednesday Nights
Midweek programming centers on Shine!, a Wednesday evening program for elementary kids and tweens. The night begins with a free, family-friendly dinner at 5:30 p.m., with the program starting at 6:00 p.m. Each week includes games, a Bible lesson, crafts, and time for connection. Shine! is designed as a low-pressure environment where new families and church families alike can build friendships and grow in faith together.
Students: 6th Through 12th Grade
Middle and high schoolers have their own corner of the church. Each Sunday at 11:00 a.m., students start in the main worship service, taking communion with the rest of the congregation, then break into middle school and high school groups in the Student Center. Each gathering includes an icebreaker, a teaching video, and discussion that helps students connect Scripture to everyday life.
During the school year, the Student Center fills again on Sunday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The Sunday night rhythm includes a shared meal, interactive games, student-led worship, a message designed specifically for teenagers, and small groups. Occasional themed nights - like the annual Halloween Party - keep the calendar lively.
Tyson Lucas serves as the NextGen Minister, overseeing both the kids' and students' ministries alongside a team of adult volunteers.
Life Groups: Making a Large Church Feel Small
Beyond the Sunday gatherings, MCC encourages everyone to join a Life Group. These are small groups of eight to sixteen people that meet in homes or at the church on various nights of the week. There are men's groups, women's groups, and mixed groups covering a range of ages and life stages. Most groups walk through the same sermon-based curriculum written by MCC's pastors, giving the church a way to keep small group study aligned with what is being taught on Sundays.
The goal, the church says, is for every person to have a core group of others who know them, value them, and encourage them through discipleship. An interest form on the Life Groups page is the entry point, and the Connections Coordinator matches newcomers to an available group.
Connection Events: Pizza, Tours, and Classrooms
A rotating series of Connection Events helps newcomers move from a first visit to deeper involvement:
- Welcome Class is an informal gathering with several leaders where newcomers learn about MCC's mission, beliefs, ministries, and staff.
- Connection Tour offers a behind-the-scenes walk through the building, showing how Sunday services come together week after week.
- Pizza with the Pastors is a casual lunch after the second service for newer guests and attenders to meet the staff and elders.
- Knowing God focuses on growing deeper through Scripture reading and prayer.
- Baptism Class walks through the hows and whys of baptism for anyone considering the next step.
These events run on a regular rotation throughout the year.
Outreach: Local and Global Partners
MCC frames its outreach around the Great Commission of Matthew 28, sending people and resources both across the globe and into its own backyard.
Local partners include:
- Abigayle Ministries, an interdenominational non-profit in southeast Michigan that supports pregnant women and their children through housing and life-skill programs.
- Great Lakes Christian College in Lansing, which prepares students for ministry.
- His House Christian Fellowship, a campus ministry with twelve locations across Michigan. MCC has partnered with HHCF for over sixteen years.
- Master Provisions, a long-running partner of more than twenty years that connects resources to needs. MCC has joined short-term trips to Ukraine and Honduras, organized clothing drives for Ukraine, and supported a mobile food pantry in Northern Kentucky.
- Wolverine Christian Camp, a 90-acre camp in southeast Michigan that has been running summer camps since 1975.
- MCREST, the Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team, the county's largest nonprofit agency serving people experiencing homelessness. MCC supports MCREST through fundraising and volunteer help.
Global partners include:
- Home of Blessing in northern Thailand, where Michael and Naomi Phillips oversee a home for fifteen Hmong boys from hill-tribes. MCC sends short-term teams for fellowship and encouragement.
- Training Tomorrow's Leaders, a church-planting effort in West Africa led by the Ganyo family. MCC has sent teams to Ghana and regularly welcomes Austin Ganyo as a guest preacher.
- The Bindeman Family, former MCC members who have been serving as missionaries in France since January 2024, planting churches through relational evangelism.
A 2027 Ghana mission trip is in the planning stages, with informational meetings for interested participants.
Prayer, Care, and Practical Help
Pastoral care at MCC runs through several channels. A dedicated Prayer Request form goes to the prayer team, and Stephen Ministers are trained church members who provide one-on-one care for people walking through grief, illness, or major life transitions. Stephen Ministers complete more than fifty hours of specialized training and serve as compassionate listeners rather than counselors.
For practical needs, MCC offers utility assistance for past-due gas, water, or electric bills. Applicants do not need to be members of the church, but they must live in a participating township or village and meet with two team members in person. A separate Benevolence program assists active attenders who have been part of the congregation for more than three months. A list of other community resources is also available for those who need help beyond what MCC can provide.
Mission and Core Beliefs
MCC's mission is rooted in the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20. The church breaks that call down into four loves:
- Loving Jesus by following him and aligning daily life with his commands.
- Loving the Bible as God's inspired and authoritative revelation.
- Loving the church by connecting and contributing to the health of the body of Christ.
- Loving others by showing the love of Jesus to the community and the world.
Core beliefs are stated plainly and tied to Scripture. MCC teaches that God exists in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and that Jesus is the Christ, the eternal Son of God, who died for sin and was raised on the third day. Salvation is given to those who trust Christ as Savior and Lord. Those accepting Christ are called to repent, confess faith, be baptized, and live for him. The Bible is treated as God's inspired and authoritative word, the church as the body of Christ on earth sent to evangelize and equip, every person as a creation of God with inherent worth though fallen through sin, and Jesus Christ as the King who will one day return to reign forever.
Leadership
Kurt Charlton is the Lead Minister, having joined MCC in 2023 after years of ministry in Ohio and Missouri. He holds a Bachelor's in Advanced Biblical Studies from Kentucky Christian University and a Master's in New Testament Studies. Noah Lane leads worship, bringing two decades of ministry experience and a recently completed Master's in Missional Leadership from Rochester Christian University. Tyson Lucas oversees NextGen, the combined kids and students ministry. Luke Jones serves as the part-time Connections Coordinator, helping newcomers find their place. Hannah Kennedy and Kristine Charlton provide administrative support for the staff team.
An elder board of Larry Dodge, Frank Kania, Mike Minke, Brian Carr, and Scott Sytsma provides spiritual oversight. Elders shape the overall direction of the church, shepherd the congregation, promote sound doctrine, and are approved through a congregational vote.
Worship and Giving
The 9:30 a.m. service is livestreamed on YouTube, and online worshippers can fill out a Connection Card to introduce themselves to the staff. Online giving is available through the church's Church Center platform, and over ten percent of regular giving and special offerings is directed toward world outreach missionaries, local outreach partners, and community projects.
Visiting Macomb Christian Church
MCC's building sits at 13845 22 Mile Road in Shelby Township. Doors open well before each service, greeters are posted at the entrances, and a Connection Card is offered to anyone who wants the staff to follow up after a visit. Nursery and children's programming are available at both services, students meet during the 11:00 service and on Sunday evenings, and Shine! on Wednesday evenings provides a midweek option for elementary families. For the curious, the next step is usually a Welcome Class or a Connection Tour, both of which run on a regular rotation throughout the year.