ONE Church Detroit

09/07/2026

CONGRATULATIONS, MCC DETROIT!

Yesterday, Sunday, September 6th, Pastor Tony and I had the opportunity to visit the beautiful new church home of MCC Detroit, and all we can say is—LOOK AT GOD!

The building is absolutely magnificent, but what moved us most was seeing how good God continues to be, even in the midst of the storm.

In a time when we see so much darkness and trouble around us, MCC Detroit’s new church home is a powerful reminder that God is still doing good things. God is still opening doors. God is still making ways. God is still turning things around!

“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good...” — Genesis 50:20 (NKJV)

What may have been meant for evil, God can turn around for good!

To Rev. Dr. Roland Stringfellow, Senior Pastor, and the entire MCC Detroit congregation, please know that Pastor Tony, I, and the entire One Church Detroit family celebrate with you and stand with you in this exciting season.

We are looking forward to your Dedication Service on Saturday, September 19th, and One Church Detroit plans to be there in full force to celebrate this great thing God has done!

May this new church home be filled with worship, healing, hope, love, transformation, and ministry for many years to come.

God bless MCC Detroit! God is still doing GREAT things!

Senior Pastor Jeffrey M. Seals & Pastor Tony
One Church Detroit Family

09/07/2026

Praise God yesterday, today, and forever more...

“May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge” - Ruth 2:12

Day in and day out, the unnoticed work we do can become mundane and boring, even unbearable at times, whether it’s our routine at home, at school, in the office, or even at church.

Often, our contributions are taken for granted by those around us who may not even realize how much they benefit from our tireless efforts. Immediate rewards may not ever come from those who benefit from our labor.

As well, even prayer can sometimes seem like labor, especially when we’re committed to praying continually and feel like nothing is being accomplished.

But although our work may go unnoticed by those around us, God sees, especially in our prayers. He hears, He listens, and He is at work.

Laboring in prayer is kind of an old-fashioned term, but the truth is, prayer can feel laborious, along with often feeling like it isn’t making a difference and doesn’t matter, or even count in the whole scheme of eternity.

Yet, unlike many humans who hunger for public recognition, God does many things in secret, things we don’t know about and may not ever know about in our lifetime. Because He values things done in secret, He values the hidden things we do that no other person may ever know about. Still, He knows, and it matters to Him.

It seems, too, that it may matter more to Him than the things we are doing out in the open, where others notice and appreciate our efforts, because we’ve already received our reward.

Jesus talks about it in Matthew 6:2, explaining, “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.”

He goes on to explain in Matthew 6:3-5 how the Father personally rewards us when we do things in secret. “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

God sees our invisible labor and openly rewards us for it because it matters to Him.

Pray with me...

Dear Father, help us to accomplish invisible labor with the right attitude and heart. When we start to feel like it doesn’t matter, remind us that You see and You reward us. Strengthen us to push through when the labor is tiring, and we want to give up, especially when it comes to laboring in prayer. Remind us that it matters to You. Teach us to endure and push through, to be faithful in hidden things, even when it seems like nothing is being accomplished through our prayers...in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen...stay blessed 😇 😇😇

09/06/2026

Thank God for Communion Sunday. He will never fail

09/06/2026

09/06/2026

Praise God yesterday, today, and forever more...

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” - Proverbs 19:21

I don’t know about you, but I love a good plan. There is something so satisfying about witnessing dreams or goals become reality. Even better when you feel a sense of accomplishment as they are fulfilled. Perhaps you spent years researching, studying, preparing, praying, and planning for your future. Then the day finally arrived! All your patience and hard work paid off. You received the diploma, started the new job, married the mate of your dreams, or filled that final seat at the family dining room table. What an incredible feeling! You planned, you pursued, you sacrificed, you worked, you waited… and the desires of your heart became reality. Like the last puzzle piece fitting perfectly into place, the framework you designed produced your anticipated outcome.

Sounds incredible, right? But how many of us can say our picture-perfect ideas have become reality? If your life has been anything like mine, I would speculate that things haven’t always worked out as planned. Maybe you prearranged, pursued, worked, and then overworked, struggled, dug deep, fell down, and then pulled yourself back up by your bootstraps, adamantly refusing to give up on the vision you saw for your future. Yet despite your passionate efforts, it simply was not to be. Unmet expectations or unfulfilled longings can be disappointing, frustrating, and for some, even devastating. Where then can we find comfort or gain understanding when our dreams are dashed?

Today’s scripture comes to us from the book of Proverbs. Proverbs is believed to be written by King Solomon, David’s son, who succeeded him as the next ruler. Solomon was known worldwide for his sage wisdom. In the opening chapter of Proverbs, the writer shares the purpose of his communication.

“The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight;
for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young…” - Prov. 1:1-4

Solomon clearly communicates that the purpose of these writings is to help others gain insight and knowledge. He is not trying to boast or grandstand; his goal is to teach. Solomon concludes his introduction with a powerful reminder that the true origin of all wisdom is the Lord when he states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…” (Prov. 1:7, NIV). If we truly long for insight and understanding, God is the only source. He is not only the founder of all knowledge, but He sees what we don’t see. He understands what we fail to comprehend.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts,” (Isa. 5:8-9).

Our vision for our own lives is limited, at times, maybe even flawed. We are mortal beings. We reside in a framework designed by the Creator of the Universe. With such limited human understanding, it is impossible for us to accurately measure our lives and their meanings. As such, the plans and pursuits we select for ourselves may not be what God would choose. Like the potter who looks at a lump of clay and sees the masterpiece it will become, our Lord recognizes the vessel He is creating in each of us. He crafted us in our mother’s womb, uniquely different and for His good pleasure (Ps. 139:13). We can trust that His design for us is good. He has a prevailing purpose for each and every one of us.

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” - Prov. 19:21...in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen...stay blessed 😇 😇😇

09/05/2026

Praise God yesterday, today, and forever more...

“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope” (Psalm 130:5).

Perhaps you are waiting for clarity about a decision, direction for your future, or an answer to prayer that is a long time coming. During the day, you may be able to keep yourself busy. Yet when evening arrives, and everything falls quiet, the unknown future grows louder.

Most of us would rather have a quick answer than wait. Waiting can leave us feeling suspended between where we are and where we want to be.

The writer of Psalm 130 knew what it was like to wait. He began this psalm by crying to God “out of the depths.” His waiting did not take place at a time of ease or calm. He was deeply troubled. Yet he made a deliberate decision: “I wait for the Lord.”

Notice that he did not say he waited only with his thoughts. He said, “My whole being waits.” Waiting affects every part of us. Our minds spiral or shoot in one direction, then another as we search for solutions. Our shoulders sag or tense up. Our stomachs hurt. Our emotions rise and fall between hope and disappointment. The psalmist brought all of himself into the waiting room of God.

But, in that waiting room, the Psalmist also put his hope in God.

Scripture may not tell us exactly when our circumstances will change or which direction God will lead us. But it reminds us of who God is. He is faithful. He is compassionate. He hears our cries. Waiting for Him does not mean He has forgotten us.

Tonight, you do not have to work everything out before you sleep. You do not have to force clarity or prepare for every possible outcome. You can place the answer you need into God’s hands and let His promises settle your restless thoughts. The answer you want may still be slow in coming, but the One you are waiting for has you and your situation securely in His hands.

Pray with me...

Lord God, You know the answer we are waiting for and how deeply the uncertainty affects us. You see the questions that fill our minds and the tension we carry in our bodies. We bring our whole being before You tonight.

Help us not to mistake Your silence for Your absence. When we cannot see what You are doing, remind us of who You are. You are faithful, compassionate, and attentive to our prayers. Anchor our hope in You and Your Word rather than in our preferred outcome or timing.

We release the pressure to work everything out tonight. Quiet our thoughts and help us trust You with what remains unresolved. Give us patience for the waiting, wisdom for each next step, and peaceful sleep as we place tomorrow in Your hands...in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen...stay blessed 😇 😇😇

09/04/2026

Praise God yesterday, today, and forever more...

“Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10

Life in this fallen world is so stressful that you may sometimes forget how God wants you to experience joy. As you deal with your chores, work deadlines, family worries, and alarming news about what’s happening in the world, you may sometimes feel overwhelmed with sadness or stress.

In the book of Nehemiah, God’s people felt overwhelmed, as well. They had just finished rebuilding the broken walls around their city, Jerusalem. They gathered together to hear the words of God’s law read aloud. As they listened, they realized how far they had fallen short of how God wanted them to live. They saw their mistakes and began to cry and mourn, overwhelmed by the sadness and stress of making them.

But Nehemiah stepped in with a surprising message. He told them to stop grieving and start celebrating! He told them to eat good food, enjoy sweet drinks, and share what they had with those in need. Why? Because the day was holy to the Lord, and “the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Joy is a gift from God that you can choose anytime and anywhere, so it’s possible to experience joy in any circumstances. Don’t confuse joy with happiness. Happiness depends on good circumstances. When things go well, you feel happy. But when things go wrong, your happiness disappears. God’s joy is entirely different. The joy of the Lord is not based on how well your day is going. Instead, it’s based on who God is.

The joy of the Lord comes from knowing that God loves you, has forgiven you, and has a good future in mind for you. Because God never changes, his joy never runs out.

Nehemiah 8:10 reminds you that God’s joy can give you real strength. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, trying to push through in your own strength will only leave you exhausted. But when you let God’s joy fill your heart, it acts like fuel for your soul. It gives you the energy to keep going with peace and confidence.

Notice what Nehemiah asked the people to do once they received God’s joy: share it. He told them to send food to those who didn’t have any food prepared yet. God’s joy can’t be kept to yourself. When God’s joy fills your heart, it naturally spills over into generosity. You start noticing people around you who are in need, and you want to help them since God has helped you.

You don’t have to pretend your problems don’t exist to choose joy. Instead, you can choose joy by choosing to focus on God’s goodness rather than on your temporary troubles. You can feel joyful when you choose to believe that God is stronger than the challenges you’re currently going through.

So, decide to let God’s joy take the lead in your heart by focusing on how good God is to you. When a stressful situation comes up, remind yourself that God is with you. When guilt tries to sneak into your mind, remember that God loves you completely and unconditionally. When you catch yourself worrying, remember that God is more than powerful enough to help you with that concern. Celebrate the many blessings God pours into your life every day – like a good meal and a beautiful sunset – and look for ways to encourage the people you know to do the same.

Let God’s joy be your strength, today and every day. You don’t have to carry the world on your shoulders; you just have to let your loving Heavenly Father lead your heart.

Pray with me...

Dear God, thank you for loving us completely and unconditionally so deeply and for giving us strength in every situation. You know the burdens we've been carrying lately. You know what makes our hearts feel overwhelmed with sadness or stress. Today, we want to lay all those worries at your feet and trust you to help us with each of them. Please fill our hearts right now with the joy that only you can give. Help us to remember that our joy doesn’t depend on our circumstances, but on your goodness, which never changes. Teach us how to let your joy lead our thoughts, words, and actions today. Whenever we feel overwhelmed, please remind us that your joy is our true strength. Give us an open heart to notice those around us who are suffering and show us simple ways to share your joy with them. Thank you Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen...stay blessed 😇😇😇

09/03/2026

Praise God yesterday, today, and forever more...

“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:9-11

If you’re like me, you only know one speed: go, go, go! Your calendar is full, your brain needs at least five daily alarms, and you have no clue how to rest. Sure, rest sounds nice, but it produces a fidgety sense that there’s more to be done, that recharging the spirit and connecting with others must wait.

If you’re even more like me, you use the excuse, “Yeah, but I can’t truly rest until _(Fill in the blank)________ is done.”

I can’t truly rest until the house is cleaned,

The texts are answered,

The grocery list is made,

The errands are knocked out,

or any other excuse I try.

We could blame today’s culture and modern technology, which have made us feel that we must live at such a fast pace.

After all, it’s a tragic gift to be only a phone call away at all times, to everyone around the world.

It’s a tragic gift to have automated alarms, whether through text or email, that remind you of all of tomorrow’s to-dos.

It’s a tragic gift that we see ten-second clips of the world’s answers for all of life’s problems, whether it’s a better nighttime routine, healthier snacks, more fulfilling date nights with your spouse, less expensive vacations for your family, simpler cleaning hacks, fancier crafts for your next girls’ night out, or a “perfect” Bible-reading strategy (that you know deep down you won’t master).

Is it any wonder that an all-knowing God would see fit to command that His people, for all of time, remember the Sabbath and ensure that it remains holy (Exodus 20:8-11)?

He sees the stress that we take on before our feet hit the floor. He knows the comparison that steals our souls with the click of an app. This is why His command for the Sabbath is so simple. Better yet, this is why His command for the Sabbath is that it mirrors His holiness.

We are commanded, “... be holy, because I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44). Of course, we will never master holiness in a fallen world, but our efforts to become more like our Maker ensure that we, like Him, rest. That we recognize when we’ve put in the beautiful work, when we’ve cultivated the gifts we’ve been given, when we’ve sown the seeds and reaped the harvest, when we’ve accepted in God-honoring humility that we can never do it all and be it all, and we simply sit in and savor the comfort of the good, sovereign God who sustains us.

There’s always one more house project, one more deadline for something, one more dream that I’m convinced I need to work just a little harder for. But each time those dishes are washed, a task fir the project is completed, and that dream becomes a reality, I just find another laundry list piled high with false ideas of fulfillment.

My only rest, not just in my body but in my soul, comes from Almighty God. It’s in this rest, where I’m relying completely on the blessings of God for my purpose and joy, that I find holiness.

Holiness can easily seem intimidating, but God never invites us to be intimidated or fearful. Rather, He invites us to be bold as we strive to become more like Him. In this selfless pursuit, we find His holiness. We find rest. We find grace for the slower change in pace. We find glimpses of what our eternal home will be like. And best of all, we find the Lover of our souls...

Pray with me...

Father, grant us your quiet, your rhythm for how we should live. Help us understand what it means to keep the Sabbath holy, to defy the world’s demands for a fast-paced everything, and to rest in who you are and the gifts you provide.

It’s all too easy to let the constant bombardment of information, reminders, and checklists make us feel like slaves to everyone and everything but you. Protect us from this rat race of lies. Give us the strength to push back against the go-go-go pull that makes us feel like we have to do everything at all times.

Give us pockets of time to rest in your grace, to thank you and praise you for your mercy, and to better understand who you are through your Word, the people you have blessed us with, and your miracles that surround us.

Thank you for the gift of time. May we steward it as you intended, Lord...in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen...stay blessed 😇 😇😇

09/02/2026

Praise God yesterday, today, and forever more...

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8

As September begins and the busyness of a new season pulls at us from every side, this is the moment to ask ourselves if our roots are going deep in what matters, or if we are letting ourselves feel scattered and ungrounded.

I couldn’t help but recall how God calls His children to stay anchored in Him, especially during difficult seasons of transition or when we’re facing the unknown. I know this to be true as I think about all the times I've seen Him hold me steady when everything around me felt uncertain. When I felt like the ground beneath my feet was crumbling due to life’s circumstances, despite my love for the Lord.

The verses found in Jeremiah 17:7-8 paint a picture of what it means to stay rooted, much like a tree planted by water, steady and unshaken, no matter the season. Still beautiful. Still grounded. Still growing with strength, unaffected by what’s happening around it.

"Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence... they are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water," came to mind as I am feeling anxious about my new role. I realize it can easily scatter my attention in a hundred stressful directions because every lane will need something, every decision will pull me somewhere else. But a tree doesn't grow by chasing every gust of wind. It grows by sinking its roots deeper into a single, steady source with a single core focus.

These words resonate with me because just as God calls us to stay rooted in Him no matter the season, I believe this role could be steadied and made strong, from the ground up...Sometimes what looks scattered and unfinished on the surface is still quietly rooted where it counts.

September is a new season, and a good time to ask whether you're staying rooted, or letting your thoughts and energy be pulled in a dozen directions by new schedules, new demands, and new distractions. Invite God to plant your roots deep into Him first. No matter what you've experienced or where you find yourself right now, He is inviting you to stand strong, stay grounded, and bear fruit, even before you can see the outcome yet.

Pray with me...
Dear Jesus, we confess we feel scattered these days. There’s so much going on - good and bad - that we feel like we're on shaky ground, always questioning my next step, wondering if we're doing the right thing, struggling with our emotions, just not feeling grounded and secure. We feel like our faith is not where it should be. Please fill us with peace. Fuel our faith. Pull us into Your Word where we can find the foundation we need to be strong...in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen...stay blessed 😇 😇😇

09/01/2026

Praise God yesterday, today, and forever more...

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." - Philippians 4:8

You know the old “count to 10” technique, created to dispel anger that could lead to misbehavior? Have you ever done this? Or made yourself take a series of slow, deep breaths before handling a situation, so you could bring your best self to the solution?

We’re fallible humans, sharing a loud and overstimulating world. So it’s easy to see why our brains might get overloaded with things we didn’t choose to put there. Images we didn’t want to see. Misunderstandings we can’t untangle. Temptations that vie for our attention. Hence, we need a way to redirect those intrusive and often oppressive thoughts.

If God hadn’t made our brain so remarkably capable, there wouldn’t have been a need for Paul’s letter, aka the “epistle of joy,” that he wrote while under arrest in Rome. Paul most assuredly had a lot of feelings he could ruminate on, or thoughts he could catastrophize.

Instead, he admonishes us (in his letter to the Philippian church) to guard our minds by choosing what we focus on. Which is why it’s so helpful that he offered us his poignant version of the “count to 10” method. He walks us through eight different types of thoughts we can turn our attention to—instead of what might be negative, toxic, or non-constructive.

This verse is a beautiful one to recite internally if you ever feel lost in a tunnel of overwhelm, anger, or fear. Here, Paul acknowledges that you can be angry or terrified, and that you might even want revenge (all things Paul could have been thinking about in captivity). But you can also change your own mind. And in the process, welcome the kind of peace that surpasses understanding.

How? Paul asks us to focus on these eight things: What does God say is true? What is the noble way to behave? What is the right thing to do? What is still pure in my heart, life, or the world? What do I find so lovely that it calms and uplifts me? Who or what do I admire, and why? Is there an example of excellence that I can envision and appreciate? And finally, what deserves my praise? Your answer to all of these may be God. Or, it may be any of God’s gifts and creations that show you how lovely it is to recall joy, rather than brood on pain and anger.

This handy verse is a terrific tool for renewing your own faith. It asks you to practice a conscious and challenging act of free will to soul-search, meditate, or pray to experience the kind of peace God desires for you, regardless of the issue or disaster at hand. Which can give you the strength you need to battle your current situation.

Let’s get really real. Paul was expecting to be murdered by his enemies and wrote this anyway. He chose to recall that God secured his future. He wisely decided not to let fear steal his joy. In fact, he begins in the first chapter of Philippians by asserting that “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” So he offered this Philippians 4:8 technique as encouragement to all of us . . . then, now, and always. It’s our choice to think about what’s true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy.

Try it. The next time you find your mind locked down by a myriad of unpleasant burdens and thoughts, consider the choice Paul made while in prison. When you direct your thoughts wisely, as Paul concludes in Philippians 4:9, “the God of peace will be with you.”

Pray with me...

Dear God, our minds get filled up fast these days. It sometimes feels like a jumble of deadlines, bad news, unsavory media, sounds, and images we didn’t choose, and even fears about our future.

Thank you for reminding is in Philippians 4:8 that this mind you gave us can not only absorb, but it can also make active decisions. We can choose what we focus on. We're so grateful you gave us eight ideas to replace fears, anger, worry, upset, and more.

God, we pray that you would empower us to clear our heads today. Move us to make time in our schedules to purposely choose what we want to think about. And, please, keep showing us lovely, pure, noble, and praiseworthy things, so we can follow the path of peace you desire for us...in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen...stay blessed 😇 😇😇