We would like to invite you to worship with us at the Maranatha Christian Center. Our Worship is informal and spontaneous, and is based on the pattern of the Word of God. We believe that the people are the church, and that the building is where the church meets. Therefore, the building is not the House of God, it is the Home of the Church.

This is a church where; "Jesus is our model, people are our passion, transformed lives are our product, and glorifying God forever is our goal."

We invite you to join us in one of our services in order to encounter a God who loves you, and has a purpose and a plan for your life. We look forward to seeing you!

- Pastor Steve McMichael

The Beginning

          Maranatha Ministries began after a young man, who had been coaching and teaching math in a high school in Arkansas, realized the call of Jesus on his life for full time vocational ministry. In the year of 1976, Steve McMichael incorporated Maranatha Ministries. It wasn’t until almost 10 years later that the true vision of what the Lord had for Steve was realized. Through an amazing turn of events in 1979, Steve and his new wife Mechele ended up in Grand Junction, Colorado, where they began serving at a local church. It was during this time of patiently waiting and serving that the Lord birthed into Steve and Mechele, the desire to plant two churches under the covering of Maranatha Ministries.

Growing

          The first service began in Steve’s parents’ house in a small living room on October 6, 1985 in De Kalb, TX. There were 26 attendees that first Sunday morning. After meeting for two Sundays, Steve and Mechele were to go back to Grand Junction where they had lived for 6 years to implement another church plant. This church, also Maranatha Ministries, met in Steve’s office on October 20th with 31 in attendance at that first service. Quickly outgrowing the office, the church leased space in a strip mall in Grand Junction to continue its ministry. For approximately four years Steve and Mechele would follow this pattern while developing these two baby churches. Every two weeks they would travel back and forth to speak and minister to each church. While gone Steve made arrangements for associate ministers to fill his place and take care of things until he returned. It was during these years that Steve and Mechele had their three children, Christa(’82), Cayla (’84), and Cody (’86), and the Lord began yet another work in their lives.

          Steve’s heart began to grow with excitement because he felt that the Lord was dealing with him about a change that would be coming soon. After a time of prayer and fasting, Steve and Mechele felt God leading them to move back to   De Kalb and to continue full time on that field. In the Spring of 1989 Steve made the arrangements for Maranatha in Grand Junction to merge with a sister church, he and Mechele then packed up their things and began what would be the start of a new journey.

 

Expanding Our Ministry

          During the first four years Maranatha Ministries of De Kalb saw many changes. One month after meeting in the living room, the church was moved into the old Par Gas building in downtown De Kalb. For the next year or so, this would be called home until God opened the door for the next phase for Maranatha. On the corner of Mill and Beck Street Maranatha leased a vacant church building, and for approximately the next eight years this would be the base for the ministry at Maranatha. However, God was not finished yet. Around that same time God began to reveal where the final place for Maranatha Ministries would be.

          After meeting and praying with the Elders of the church a number had been reached that could be paid and Steve went to offer it for the land. However, his offer was declined and Steve was left trusting in God that He would do what He said He would. After several months, and through a miraculous turn of events the previous landowner approached Steve and asked him approximately how much land he needed for the new church? Steve told him and the man said, “Well, how about I just give that to you?” Enthusiastically Steve said “That would be great”. He knew that once again, the Lord was working in this situation. After several years, Steve felt it was time for him to purchase the rest of that property, which was now owned by a bank. He went to the bank knowing that someone had already offered well over what he was prepared to offer. Steve made the offer for the price that he felt God had told him and miraculously the bank accepted the offer. Again, one could see the hand of God at work. Maranatha now had 10 acres of prime real estate right on Hwy 82.

          Soon a building fund was implemented to begin construction on a new church home for Maranatha. In November of 1995 the people of Maranatha moved into their new church building, calling it The Maranatha Christian Center.

Your Role In The Story       

          At Maranatha, we recognize that God has a specific plan and purpose for each person’s life. That’s why we say," the people are the church." The broad scope and variety of ministries at Maranatha are simply a reflection of our heart to help people of all economic, social and ethnic backgrounds in De Kalb and around the world! We believe that after 23 years of ministry, that we have just begun to see what all God is going to do.

It is our desire to see the ministry of Jesus continue by the power of the Holy Spirit working through the Body, the Church. In order to do this, we believe that we must be committed to the work of equipping the saints for the work of the ministry.

We believe that, "a great commitment to the great commandment and the great commission will grow a great church."

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
                                                           (1 Peter 2:9)

The Holy Scriptures

We believe the Bible is God-inspired (2 Timothy 3:16,17)

The Eternal Godhead

We believe God is Triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14).

The Fall of Man

We believe that man was created in the image of God, but that by voluntary disobedience he fell from innocence and purity (Romans 5:12).

The Plan of Salvation

We believe that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, signing the pardon of all who believe on Him (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).

Salvation Through Grace

We believe that we have no righteousness and must come to God pleading the righteousness of Christ (Ephesians 2:8).

Repentance and Acceptance

We believe that upon sincere repentance, and a whole-hearted acceptance of Christ, we are justified before God (1 John 1:9).

The New Birth

We believe that the change which takes place in the heart and life at conversion is a very real one (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20).

Daily Christian Living

We believe that it is the will of God that we be sanctified daily, growing constantly in the faith (Hebrews 6:1).

Baptism and the Lord's Supper

We believe that Baptism by immersion is an outward sign of an inward work (Matt. 28:19). We believe in the commemoration of the Lord's Supper by the symbolic use of the bread and juice of the vine (1 Corinthians 11:24, 25).

Baptism with the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is to endue the believer with power; and that His incoming is after the same manner as in Bible days (Acts 2:4).

The Spirit-Filled Life

We believe that it is the will of God that we walk in the Spirit daily (Ephesians 4:30-32).

The Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit has gifts to bestow upon the Christian; and that we should show spiritual fruit as evidence of a Spirit-filled life (1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Galatians 5:22).

Moderation

We believe that the experience and daily walk of the believer should never lead him into extremes of fanaticism (Philippians 4:5 KJV).

Divine Healing

We believe that divine healing is the power of Christ to heal the physically sick in answer to the prayer of faith (James 5:14-16).

The Second Coming of Christ

We believe that the second coming of Christ is personal and imminent (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).

Church Relationship

We believe it is our sacred duty to identify ourselves with the visible Body of Christ (Acts 16:5; Hebrews 10:25).

Civil Government

We believe that rulers should be upheld at all times except in things opposed to the will of God (Romans 13:1-5).

The Final Judgement

We believe that all shall stand some day before the Judgement Seat of God, and there receive eternal life or death (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Heaven

We believe that heaven is the glorious eternal home of born-again believers (John 14:1-3; Revelation 7:15-17).

Hell

We believe that hell is the place of eternal torment for all who reject Christ as the Savior (Revelation 20:10,15).

Evangelism

We believe that soul winning is the most important responsibility of the Church (James 5:20).

Tithes and Offerings

We believe that the method ordained of God for the support and spread of His cause is by giving of tithes and free-will offerings (Malachi 3:10; 2 Corinthians 9:7).

Why Do We Stand When We Sing?

"And the Levites, . . . of the children of Korhites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high." (2 Chronicles 20:19)

Why Do We Clap Our Hands?

"O clap your hands all ye people; shout unto God
with the voice of triumph." (Psalms 47:1)

Why Do We Lift Our Hands?

"Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and bless the Lord" (Psalms 134:2)

 

"I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up
holy hands, without wrath and doubting." ( 1 Timothy 2:8)

Why Do We Have Audible Praise Unto God?

"Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me
bless His holy name." (Psalms 103:1)

 

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually
be in my mouth." (Psalms 34:1)

"And When they heard this, they lifted their voices to God  (Acts 4:24)

What Is Prophecy?

"But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and
exhortation, and comfort." (1 Corinthians 14:3)

 

"Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that
ye may prophesy, " (1 Corinthians 14:1)

 

"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit
withal ... To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy. "

(1 Corinthians 12:7 & 10)

 

"For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn
and all may be comforted." (1 Corinthians 14:31)

Why Do We Have Speaking with Tongues and
Interpretation of Those Tongues?

"Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues."

(1 Corinthians 14:39)

 

"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal ... To another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation
of tongues." (1 Corinthians 12:7 & 10)

 

"I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying." (1 Corinthians 14:5)

 

"If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course, and let one interpret." (1 Corinthians 14:27)

 

Why Are Musical Instruments A Part of the
Worship Service?

"Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the psaltery and harp. Praise Him with the timbrel and dance. Praise Him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise Him upon the loud cymbals: Praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals."

(Psalm 150:3 5)

 

"And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps." (Revelation 14:2)

Why Does the Whole Church Pray at Once for Specific Needs?

"And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, Thou art God, which hast made heaven and earth . . ."  (Acts 4:24)

Why Do We Anoint with Oil and Pray for the Sick?

"Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him." (James 5:14, 15)