The Relational Church

An Introduction to The Relational Church, Novi, MI

The Relational Church is a non-denominational Christian house church that gathers throughout Novi, MI and our surrounding community.  We began meeting (or gathering!) in September of 2008 with a leadership core of eight people with Pastor Michael Zerkich.

The Relational Church gathers in varying locations throughout each month.  This allows us to reach and be a part of our local community in ways that a traditional church cannot.  For instance, one Sunday morning we may be working on a service project such as visiting a local nursing home or making sandwiches for the homeless.  Another week we may be meeting at a coffee house for discussion groups to allow folks to express what’s going on in their lives in a supportive environment.  And, of course, we also meet in one another’s homes for times of worship through music, group prayer, and pastoral teaching.  We find that this format enables us to do what we love, engaging our community by BEING a church, not just calling ourselves one.

If this sort of church appeals to you or your family, please give us a call!  Pastor Michael Zerkich is ready, willing, and able to meet you or your family at a time that is convenient for your schedule.  Or, call to find out where our next gathering will be and drop in to meet us face to face.  Phone: (248) 491-3003.  Email: info@therelationalchurch.org.

Theology and Message from Pastor Michael Zerkich

Our church theology follows general Protestant understandings. As all of our leadership comes from an American Baptist tradition, we do adhere many of their worship understandings such as infant dedication, communion that is for remembering Christ’s death on the cross rather than being the actual body or blood of Christ, and believing that the Bible is fully true and the inspired word of God.

However, the Relational Church is very unique. Central in our basic understandings of what a church is, we don’t adhere to the concept that we evaluate our ministry in terms of “nickel and noses.” Meaning, our church is not about evaluating our ministry in terms of how much money or how many people attend. Rather, we are more focused on maturing the people who do attend with encouragement, prayer, and good role models as a church family. Through our character and faith we can demonstrate, in good times and bad, what it means fully to have the Lord in our lives. In short, we believe that a person learns more from the character of their teacher long after they forget the information that was taught.

As a church we want our participants to have an active relationship with God in prayer. Through that relationship we want our attendees to 1). seek the Lord and tell Him all that is on our hearts, 2) learn to listen to what God says or lead us to some action, and 3) to have the spiritual strength and personal character to fulfill what God puts on our hearts. To know whether what we hear or sense is really truly from God, there are three main tests that ALWAYS must hold true: 1) the direction God gives us can never violate the teachings of the Bible and cause us to sin, 2) the Holy Spirit will give us a great sense of peace about what God has said to us, and 3) if God gives us a vision of how things should be (as in the future) that the realities will happen in His time. We must be careful, then, to ask not for things that are selfish or self-serving, but for things that advance the kingdom of God here on earth.

There is a cause and effect our church has experienced which we believe mirrors more of the early church in the book of Acts. As we do not have a permanent building home, we do not have the expenses of a new building fund, maintenance, or utilities that burden other places of worship financially. Also, as we have no paid staff, we promote each person in the church to use their gift or gifts without looking for payment here on earth but to fulfill the calling for which they are given so that they are well rewarded in heaven. God, in Scripture, states that there is no lesser part in the human body such that all parts are necessary and the least of those parts is worthy of praise from Him who created them. Thus, God speaks of ministry, He does not see it as a building, paid positions, or having a title at church. Rather, all buildings or venues, all people despite their skill levels or education, can serve as part of God’s church. God says we are all ministers or disciples of Him and our task as a church is to mature the person spiritually in the Lord and to lovingly support them in their task for Him as a church family.

Lastly, we cannot gain the kingdom of God with works but through faith alone. However, without works our faith is nothing. Therefore, as we do not have one site to conduct our ministry we can travel to where the need is greatest in God’s eyes. We have already traveled to several locales and each place we go we, ourselves, seem to gain more than what we give, for it is through these acts of faith that we see things more through God’s eyes than through our own.

Mission Statement

At The Relational Church, we strive to help lead people to a more fulfilling relationship with God, better relationships with other people, and an improved relationship with oneself.