Sarah’s Story

I don’t have to put on my church face to be here. Oak Pointe is very honest and I love that. You just come as you are. The first time I came to Oak Pointe was in elementary school with a friend’s family during a sleepover. I thought it was fun…I couldn’t believe this was church.

My senior year of high school, my parents got divorced. It was a total shock and it was devastating to me. But my 707 friends loved me through it. We are still tight to this day. I’ve been so blessed to have that kind of influence in my life.

I believe Oak Pointe is positioned to share the gospel with thousands of people in metro Detroit. Investing in the church so we can grow is totally worth the sacrifice. The gospel is worth it. People are worth it.

John’s Story

My family started attending Oak Pointe in 2011. We felt at home here right away. I love being part of this church because it teaches the Bible, it creates a fun atmosphere, and it is a safe place to ask spiritual questions. I love how Pastor Bob always reminds us that Oak Pointe is all about “no shame and no same.”

It’s so important for a church to be facing the right direction. We aren’t supposed to be huddled up and facing inward toward each other with our backs to the world. Oak Pointe faces out…we engage the people and challenges around us.

I’ve grown so much here through the relationships I’ve built and the examples I’ve seen set by Godly men. You can be real with people here. Being able to admit your struggles and share accountability with friends is huge.

I’m excited to be part of NEXT because it will make room for even more people to experience the kind of impact I’ve seen in myself and my family.

Emily’s Story

When I was in 6th grade, my best friend, Hannah, invited me to church. My first impressions of Oak Pointe were that everyone was so friendly and made it easy to feel like I belonged.

The Rock middle school ministry opened my eyes to who Jesus is and why I needed to have a relationship with Him. Before coming here, I wasn’t even aware that was possible. At first, I just wanted to be part of the church because it was fun to be with good friends. But over time, I began to love learning about the Bible and being refreshed by God’s word.

As a high school student, I see so many peers who are hurting and broken. I pray all the time that they will come to know the difference Jesus can make. I love inviting them to Oak Pointe so they can be impacted just like I was.

Amanda’s Story

When I first stepped foot in Oak Pointe three years ago, my immediate impression was that it looked like a shopping mall, which is where I spent my middle school years so I guess that made it feel familiar. There were just so many rooms and activities going on.

The young adult group, Sozo, has been a big blessing for me. I love how we invest in our community and try to reach every demographic without making anyone feel unworthy. That just speaks to me…especially as a person who is
covered in tattoos.

I discovered transforming prayer at Oak Pointe and it revealed some deep wounds I didn’t know I had. Dealing with those traumas caused me to shut down for a few months but no one loved me less for it. Instead, people reminded me I was valued by God and not forgotten.

I think the outreach we do that touches the outcast or loner is so important because Oak Pointe is a place to find your spiritual family.

Jayme and Tony’s Story

Something drew us to this church. At the time, we really didn’t know what it was, but looking back it’s clear it was the Holy Spirit. Our experiences with churchbefore Oak Pointe were mixed. We were disillusioned or just hadn’t found a place that fit. And that changed as we got connected here.

Life isn’t perfect. It’s not all rainbows and butterflies. Some churches try to ignore the parts of life that are hard or uncomfortable to talk about, but not Oak Pointe. There’s an honesty to it.

Helping lead worship, volunteering in XP45, or welcoming visitors on Sunday mornings is stuff we love to do. It’s fun when you see other people get that look on their face that tells you they just realized Oak Pointe is for them, too.

Pamela’s Story

I grew up in a Catholic home and went to parochial school. I always believed God was real but I never knew Him. I don’t think I truly heard the gospel message until I was 40 years old. Once I did, it changed everything.

Today, I’m grateful to God for delivering me from lifelong depression. The sense of doom that dictated my thoughts for the first half of my life is gone. I’ve been set free. And because my life has been changed, I know God can deliver anyone. His promises are true.

The serving role that has been so meaningful to me is being part of the English as a Second Language (ESL) classes we host at Oak Pointe. It’s incredible to welcome people from around the world to our community and to show them love as they learn to live in a totally different culture and speak a new language. It’s a non-threatening way to introduce people to our church and let them know they are welcome here. I’m excited to see our ESL classes grow as we expand the meeting areas available in our building.