New Life Church

There was once a time when people gathered in an atmosphere of genuine love for one another. People were accepted unconditionally, regardless of their ancestry, social status or their personal situation in life. People gave freely to each other according to their need. People were real with each other, nothing to fear, and relationships mattered. The scene was the first century a.d. – the early days of Christianity, the defining of church.

At New Life, we try to live out what church is meant to be, what church was in its earliest days, as best we can in the twenty-first century with college students at the University of Michigan. One thing we know church is meant to be about is “the least of these”: the poor, the oppressed, the hungry, the thirsty, the widow, the orphan, and so many others who suffer great injustice in this world.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me.’

Then He will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave Me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite Me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help You?’ He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’” (Matthew 25:34-45, NIV)

“He did what was right and just, so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is not that what it means to know Me,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 22:15b-16, NIV)

New Life is focused on fighting extreme poverty, HIV/AIDS, and sex trafficking — some of the worst injustices in our world today. We partner with incredible people and churches in Kenya, El Salvador, and Detroit. This blog is focused on those places: what’s going on, what we’re doing, and what you can pray for. We’d love to have you join us as we seek to live out these passions of our God’s heart!

Find out more.