A Church Born on Scio Church Road in 1983

Shekinah Christian Church sits on Scio Church Road on the south side of Ann Arbor, a fitting location for a congregation whose very name evokes the Old Testament word for the manifest presence of God. The church's beginning was in 1983, when Barbara J. Yoder received a word from the Lord to establish it. That moment was not an isolated one; it was part of an ongoing process that had been unfolding in her life for several years. From its earliest days, Shekinah has highly valued the presence of God, His glory, the Word, worship, and prayer as the foundation for every ongoing decision and ministry.

The heart of the church has always been to remain a community in perpetual revival like the book of Acts - constantly evolving into a fresh understanding of what that looks like, and exploding with God's tangible presence, anointing, love, and miraculous breakthrough. More than four decades later, that calling still shapes everything Shekinah does.

Engage His Presence, Encounter His Power, Equip for His Purpose

Everything Shekinah does flows from three foundations that are repeated like a refrain across the church's life. The first is Engage His Presence: opening the door of the heart so that God can come in and initiate an ongoing relationship. At Shekinah, that happens through actively positioning oneself to worship, listening to God's Word, and talking with Him.

The second is Encounter His Power. Once the presence of God is engaged, the church teaches that the next step is to be awed, overcome, and deeply touched in heart. Drawing on Paul's writings, Shekinah holds that when believers encounter the fullness of God's glory, they are transformed and empowered to be what He has called them to be.

The third foundation is Equip for His Purpose. Every person is born with a divine destiny and mandate, and the responsibility of the church is to equip each member to fulfill the specific purpose for which they were born. Teaching, ministry training, conferences, and resources all flow out of this third conviction.

A Multi-Ethnic Family of Radical Believers

Shekinah describes itself as a racially and culturally diverse gathering of radical believers. Because its members have personally experienced Jesus, their passion is to release His love and kingdom in whatever sphere they are assigned to. The church's tagline - Engage His Presence, Encounter His Power, Equip for His Purpose - captures both the inward life of the congregation and its outward mission.

The Sunday morning gathering is the weekly hub of this multi-ethnic community. Visitors and regulars alike are welcomed into a single celebration service at 10:30 AM at the Scio Church Road location, with worship, teaching, and ministry flowing from the apostolic and prophetic stream that has marked the church since its founding.

Sunday Mornings at 10:30

The Sunday celebration service is held at 10:30 AM at 4600 Scio Church Road, Ann Arbor. The gathering is intentionally simple in its invitation: We would love to have you join us. We gather every Sunday for our celebration service, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Worship is led with a contemporary, charismatic flavor that emphasizes the manifest presence of God. Teaching carries the apostolic and prophetic tone that runs through the broader ministry of Apostle Barbara. Communion is observed regularly as a remembrance of the new covenant, and water baptism is practiced as a public identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Because Shekinah teaches that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is available to all believers and is often accompanied by a spiritual prayer language, services frequently make space for impartation, ministry at the altar, and the prayer of receiving the Spirit.

Recent messages from the Sunday gathering are made available on the church's YouTube channel and through on-demand video, so those who cannot attend in person can stay connected to the teaching flow.

Beliefs Grounded in the Word and the Spirit

Shekinah holds to a classic evangelical statement of faith, with an added emphasis on the present-day work of the Holy Spirit. The church's We Believe statement names ten convictions:

• One God. There is one God, manifested in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Creator of all things and the Ruler of the Universe.
• Jesus Christ is alive. He is the Son of God and Lord of the Church. He existed from the beginning, came to earth through a virgin birth, is fully God and fully man, was crucified, dead, and buried, and rose again three days later, providing salvation for all mankind.
• The Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of all believers, giving power to live the Christian life, guiding into what is right, and revealing all truth.
• The Church is the Body of Christ - more than a building or a gathering, but a living body under the headship of Jesus.
• The Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God and the final authority for belief and life.
• Because of sin, all are separated from God and in need of salvation. The free gift of salvation is made possible through Jesus' death and resurrection, and is received by grace through faith.
• Communion represents the new covenant between God and His people, with the bread and the cup recalling Jesus' broken body and shed blood.
• The mission of the church is to advance the Kingdom of God by making disciples of all nations, carrying out the Great Commission.
• Jesus commanded water baptism as a symbol of identification with His death, burial, and resurrection.
• The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a gift from God available to all believers, often accompanied by a spiritual prayer language (speaking in tongues), and empowering believers for witness.

To that list Shekinah adds a confession of wholeness: God desires people to be whole, and salvation provides healing to the whole person - spirit, soul, and body. The church teaches that prayer and faith in God can bring healing in every area of a person's life.

The Founder: Apostle Barbara J. Yoder

Barbara J. Yoder is the founding and lead Apostle of Shekinah Christian Church, and the teaching voice most associated with the congregation. She serves on several ministry boards nationally and leads Breakthrough Apostolic Ministries Network (BAMN), a network of pastors, ministry leaders, and marketplace leaders. She travels extensively as a national and international speaker, ministering at various conferences and churches.

Yoder is the author of six books and has contributed to the Women of Destiny Bible edited by Cindy Jacobs and published by Thomas Nelson. She has also contributed to What Love Looks Like, compiled by James Goll and published by Chosen Books, and to When Generations Run Together: Stories of Elijahs and Elishas, compiled by Elizabeth Tiam-Fook. She has been featured on the cover of Charisma magazine as one of the most influential women leaders in the church today.

Her own titles include The Pioneer Anointing (self-published), The Breaker Anointing (Chosen Books), The Cry God Hears (Chosen Books), The Overcomer's Anointing (Chosen Books), God's Bold Call to Women (Chosen Books), and Taking On Goliath (Charisma House, a Strang Company). Before entering ministry, Barbara worked in academia, and her teaching style continues to carry a scholarly depth alongside its prophetic edge.

Yoder is known for what she describes as a cutting-edge apostolic breakthrough anointing infused with prophetic revelation. Her passion is to see the heart and spirit of the New Testament Church of Acts restored today: a church grounded in the Word, addicted to prayer, baptized in the Holy Spirit, led by God's voice, and releasing miraculous power that initiates and sustains revival, awakening, and the harvest.

A Core Team and Ministry Leaders

Around the founding apostle, a core team and a slate of ministry leaders carry the day-to-day life of the church. The core team includes Adewunmi Gbogboade (Prophet), Sharon Moore, Glen and Jane Wilkerson, Ayo Gbogboade, Tommie Norman, Shelly Campbell, and Kevin Campbell.

Ministry leadership across the church includes Sharon Weaver as Prayer Leader, Cheryl DeSouza as Children's Pastor, Janice Williams leading Evangelism and Outreach, and Terry Wilkerson overseeing Sound. Behind the scenes, Jennifer Waddell serves as BAMN and Personal Assistant to Apostle Barbara, coordinating speaking invitations and ministry travel.

Regional Gatherings and the Breakthrough Network

Beyond Ann Arbor, Shekinah hosts regional gatherings and seminars aimed at breakthrough across the Great Lakes region. Held quarterly, these weekends bring together pastors, ministry leaders, and believers from across the region for powerful teaching, breakthrough worship, and an atmosphere charged with the presence of God. Featured speakers over recent seasons have included Chuck Pierce, Bishop Joseph Garlington, Prophet Ed Watts, Apostles Tom and Jane Hamon, and Apostle Louis Dickens, with worship led by Steve Swanson and, on occasion, The Kim Clement Band.

Through these regional gatherings Shekinah extends the apostolic and prophetic ministry that began within its own walls. A twice-yearly women's summit - the Ignite Awakening Summit - calls women leaders into alignment with the call of Deborah and Esther, with speakers including Jane Hamon, Tonya Roberson, and Sylvia Williams. Personal Ministry Training courses, taught by Mary Audrey Raycroft, focus on hearing and releasing the heart of God in everyday ministry settings.

The wider Breakthrough Apostolic Ministries Network, founded and led by Apostle Barbara, links Shekinah to a network of pastors and ministry leaders across the country and around the world. Apostolic relationships named by the church include Tim Sheets of Oasis Church in Middleton, Ohio, Charles D. Pierce, and Bishop Bill Hamon. Barbara is also a member of the Board of Governors for Christian International under Bishop Bill Hamon's direction.

Teaching Resources for the Wider Church

Shekinah operates an online store of audio and book resources drawn from its conferences and the ministry of Apostle Barbara. Books include The Breaker Anointing, The Cry God Hears, The Overcomer's Anointing, God's Bold Call to Women, Taking On Goliath, and The Pioneer Anointing. Audio downloads and USB sets capture entire regional gatherings such as Divine Recovery 2023, Judah Break Through 2025, Ignite Awakening Summit 2025, Times and Seasons 2024, Identity for Impact, and The Breaker Collection. These resources make the teaching and impartation of the church's apostolic stream available far beyond southeast Michigan.

Teaching also flows through the church's regular YouTube channel, where recent Sunday messages are posted alongside shorter clips and worship moments. Visitors interested in catching up on a Sunday they missed, or in sampling the prophetic and apostolic teaching that characterizes Shekinah, can browse the on-demand library at any time.

Getting Connected in Ann Arbor

For those exploring faith, looking for a church home, or simply visiting to learn more about the community, Shekinah keeps a clear path open. A Get Connected form on the church's online portal gives visitors a way to share a little about themselves, after which the church follows up to help with the next step. Those with questions about church life, upcoming events, or ministries can write to info@shekinahchurch.org or call 734-662-6040. A weekly newsletter delivers prophetic thoughts, events, and news straight to subscribers' inboxes.

Giving is available online through Pushpay, and the church's presence on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube - all under the Shekinah RAC banner - keeps the wider community in touch with ongoing ministry moments between Sundays. Mailing correspondence can be sent to PO Box 2485, Ann Arbor, MI 48106.

Apostolic, Prophetic, and Open-Handed

Across its forty-plus years, Shekinah Christian Church has stayed remarkably consistent in its identity. It is a church built on worship and prayer, governed by the Word, animated by the Holy Spirit, and shaped by an apostolic and prophetic leadership that has ministered far beyond Ann Arbor. From the Sunday celebration at 10:30 AM on Scio Church Road to the quarterly regional gatherings that draw believers from across the Great Lakes, the heartbeat of the church is the same: to see hearts opened to God's presence, lives transformed by His power, and every believer equipped for the purpose they were born to fulfill.