ABOUT OUR PASTORS

Elder James A. Smith, our Senior Pastor, was born into the ministry in 1974. He is an ordained Minister and received formal training at Toledo Bible College.  He has served as a Pastor, Interim Pastor, Youth Pastor, Associate Minister, and Bible Study Facilitator at various churches in the Metropolitan Detroit area. He brings to Maranatha 25 years of teaching experience and a TRUE Evangelistic Heart for the hurting and lost. 

Evangelist Cathy R. Smith, is an ordained Minister called into the ministry in November of 1995.  She has served as a Ministerial Assistant, Sunday School Teacher, Vacation Bible School Teacher, Youth Advisor, Office Administrator, and Spiritual Counselor, and Revivalist.  God has anointed her to assist her husband and preach the gospel with clarity, simplicity, and power and is developing her Prophetic gifting.  

Maranatha Gospel Church was birthed in the hearts of Pastors James & Cathy before they even knew one another.  The church name was prayerfully selected because of its meaning. MARANATHA is an Aramaic term meaning "The Lord cometh or come Lord Jesus", GOSPEL was chosen because we have committed to ONLY preach the Gospel and not our own theology or opinions.
CHURCH was added because we are the "Ecclesia, or called out ones" in the earth. Our Pastors envisioned a church where the gifts of the Spirit could have free reign with no constraints from "traditionalism". They were concerned that some churches today have become distracted with finances, boards, committees, buildings and numbers  and have left their first love......JESUS CHRIST. Jesus is the savior of the World and HIS Gospel must be declared to save the lost!

The Lord called our Pastors to start Maranatha on Mother's Day 2003 (May 11th).

Maranatha's leadership consist of our Senior Pastor, Assistant Pastor, and 6 Associate ministers anointed with various gifts and callings. God has blessed us with Ministers who serve humbly and obediently and place the greatest priority on pleasing God.

Maranatha actively operates the ministries of: Deacon, Mother's Board, Trustee, Youth Praisers, Choir, Praise Team, Counseling, Benevolence, Outreach Evangelism, Young Adult (ages
18-25), Crisis Intervention and Tape Ministry.

Please continue to pray for this ministry and its leadership as God is building this house for His glory!

"Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." - Psalm 127:1