A Parish Story from Islandview | Detroit, MI

What does it look like for a church to collaborate for renewal with their neighbors to create lasting, systemic change? That’s what Church of the Messiah Episcopal Church in Detroit is doing under the leadership of our friend Pastor Barry Randolph. Church of the Messiah is working to tangibly meet the needs of people in their Parish, creatively addressing the new pressures of a post-pandemic world.

Beyond the roles that you would expect a typical church to play, Church of the Messiah operates as a business incubator and has launched, with the talents of community members, a leather goods company, a clothing line, a tea company, a media production company, a bike repair shop and a youth marching band. The Church also owns over 200 units of affordable housing throughout the Islandview neighborhood of Detroit and serves as the internet service provider to countless community members.

The Church’s strong social justice arm also provides vital, free services to the community with their contact-free food distribution throughout the pandemic, after school/homework programs, and fitness and nutrition classes. Rev. Barry and the other team members lives out the truth that when we make church tangible and take it to the street, we will see the church impacting the lives of people in our communities.

Rev. Barry Randolph

“There are 400 churches in Detroit. This should be the holiest place on Earth. If all of the churches actually stood up and made a difference in the communities around them, we could get this straightened out.”

Click to watch a powerful conversation between Christiana Rice, Rev. Barry, Rev. José Humphreys, and Dave Kresta recorded live in Fall 2021. The conversation explores what it means for the church to be attentive to economic equity and development in the life of our neighborhoods.

To connect with Rev. Barry and learn more about the church, visit their website: Church of the Messiah.