Great Lakes Conference of the ECC

03/13/2026

New Date!

Get tickets online for 2026 Hope of the Gospel Evangelism Conference here.

03/12/2026

It was a privilege to preach in Millersburg, Ohio this past Sunday morning at St. John’s Evangelical Covenant Curch. A small but vibrant congregation in a community that is populated almost equally by “Amish” and English” residents, St. John’s adopted into the ECC from another denomination in 2002. Now in an interim chapter of ministry (following the call of their former pastor, Sara Charlton, to Sugar Grove, PA last Fall), the church is exploring ways to strengthen their ministry presence in the community while conducting a pastoral search. Mike Przybylski, retired Covenant Pastor and former GLC Director of Missional Vitality, has been serving as the Interim Pastor. Please join me in prayer for our Mission Friends at St. John’s as they strive to fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission in Millersburg.
-Garth McGrath-

03/06/2026

Thornapple is searching for a Minister of Worship Arts & Discipleship- full time job
More info here - https://www.thornapple.org/jobs?fbclid=IwY2xjawQYCZZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFEZ0xMS1o3UXI1eGxhMDVGc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPNTE0NzcxNTY5MjI4MDYxAAEee8IjGArqDM7F9EZkf4ig45zgUS7QtiJojgwPxmMvFHxNcHxggTfsnCd2Lds_aem_iNqOtJsJun9oHNKe87zW6w

Online presence of Thornapple Covenant Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan

03/06/2026

Registration for our Annual Celebration is on our website. Register now for Early Bird Savings!
https://greatlakes.cc/event/glc-annual-celebration-2026/

03/06/2026

Let me encourage you to take advantage of this final opportunity to register for the online option of the Rural Impact Leadership Conference on March 14th.

This is a valuable equipping event for both you and your ministry leaders and is accessible both individually or as a watch party with your team.

This year there is a First Time Attender Discount to introduce you to a growing resource of online workshops and plenary session speakers that will be available both live on event day, and post-event. Use them to train your leaders anytime throughout the year.

A one-day leadership training event for ministry leaders and pastors serving rural and small town churches

02/23/2026

It was a joy to worship with New Wine Covenant Church (Mason, MI) this morning in their newly acquired home - an unoccupied church building owned by the Episcopal Church.

Planted by bi-vocational pastors Rick and Terri McGarry in 2023 with support from the Great Lakes Conference and the Evangelical Covenant Church, New Wine is known for serving the community and for having strong community participation in their special events. The church is thrilled to have consistent space to welcome new friends and share the love of God with people of all ages who don’t yet know Jesus.

After several months of cleaning, painting and refreshing the facility the church had a “grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony” this morning coordinated by the local Chamber of Commerce, a sign of the church's strong reputation in the city of Mason.

The church is looking forward to seeing how God will use them for His glory and the good of the people of Mason in the months and years ahead.

Garth McGrath
Superintendent

02/08/2026

What an exceptional group of Jesus following/listening people! Exploring Your Call was such a delight. Thankful to each one here!!

01/21/2026

Job opening as The Life Kids Director at Life Canton - see posting here -

lead the spiritual development of our children & ministry volunteers through discipleship, teaching, training & equipping.

01/12/2026

What a joy to worship with Faith Covenant Church in Farmington Hills, MI yesterday. The church was chartered in Detroit in 1914 - the first Covenant Church in the Detroit area (today there are 15) - and moved to several locations before settling in Farmington Hills in 1980. Pastor Mike Rice and fellow pastoral staff members, James Bryde (Associate), Laura Jackson (Children), Devon Perry (Youth) and Cat Davis (Worship) serve this vibrant, healthy, missional church that is experiencing fruit as they strive to reach their community with the Gospel. - Garth McGrath, Superintendent -

01/05/2026

It was wonderful to worship with Lighthouse (Covenant) Church in Richmond, KY this morning. Originally planted as Hope City Church in 2017 by Harvey and Melissa Cozart, a merger with another local church several years ago resulted in the creation of Lighthouse Church. Though located some 300 miles from the nearest Great Lake (Erie), with the name “Lighthouse” the church takes its identity as a Great Lakes Conference church to heart! More importantly, the church takes its responsibility to be a ‘light in the darkness’ seriously. The church is known for its summer sports ministry to children of all ages (Give-n-Go Basketball & Mentoring Program and a Little Dashers Running Program for children and parents) and has recently relocated Sunday services to a community center on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University situated near an apartment building reserved for single mothers who are pursuing a college education at EKU. The church is experiencing a surge in attendance across generations and life circumstances. The Gospel message is shining brightly in Richmond, KY!!!

12/29/2025

Register for the 2026 Hope of the Gospel Evangelism Summit Webinar on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. CT.

Get tickets online for 2026 Hope of the Gospel Evangelism Conference here.

12/22/2025

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See Them Dec 12, 2025 Fernando has lived in this country for nearly four decades after crossing the border as a teenager in search of basic opportunity— desperate to escape grinding poverty and determined only to work—never intending permanent residence. Fernando’s intentions were simple: earn...