Michael J. Rath, Pastor
Michael Rath and his wife, Jennifer, attended and came to faith in Christ here at First Church of the Brethren. Mike has served here as pastor from July, 1992, to the present. He and Jenny have two adult children and five grandchildren. Their daughter, Cara, and her husband, Michael, have two children (Olivia and Drew), and their son, Joseph, and his wife, Shanna, have three children (Abigail, Eleanor and Isla).
While Jenny grew up in our church and came to Christ at an early age, Mike began attending and came to Christ here in 1976. They continued to attend until 1983 when Mike was called to serve as pastor of the Shepherd Church of the Brethren in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. They and their family were there until 1989 when they moved to Indiana, where Mike had enrolled at Grace Seminary. It was early in 1992 when our congregation issued the call to him to come "back home" to Waterford to serve here as pastor.
Mike has an Associate in Biblical Studies degree from Moody Bible Institute (Chicago, IL), a Bachelor of Religious Education from William Tyndale College (Farmington Hills, MI), and a Master of Arts in Ministry from Grace Theological Seminary (Winona Lake, IN). He was licensed in 1981, ordained in 1986 and has now served in pastoral ministry for 34 years.
Pastor Mike states, "Jenny and I consider it a great privilege to be here serving the Lord in the very congregation where we were introduced to Jesus Christ. We love the people here in this warm and welcoming church family. I thank God for what He has already done through the ministry and mission of First Church of the Brethren. I also look forward to what He will continue to do, in us and through us, as we make known the life-giving truth of the Gospel of Christ, and see Him transform lives!"
While Jenny grew up in our church and came to Christ at an early age, Mike began attending and came to Christ here in 1976. They continued to attend until 1983 when Mike was called to serve as pastor of the Shepherd Church of the Brethren in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. They and their family were there until 1989 when they moved to Indiana, where Mike had enrolled at Grace Seminary. It was early in 1992 when our congregation issued the call to him to come "back home" to Waterford to serve here as pastor.
Mike has an Associate in Biblical Studies degree from Moody Bible Institute (Chicago, IL), a Bachelor of Religious Education from William Tyndale College (Farmington Hills, MI), and a Master of Arts in Ministry from Grace Theological Seminary (Winona Lake, IN). He was licensed in 1981, ordained in 1986 and has now served in pastoral ministry for 34 years.
Pastor Mike states, "Jenny and I consider it a great privilege to be here serving the Lord in the very congregation where we were introduced to Jesus Christ. We love the people here in this warm and welcoming church family. I thank God for what He has already done through the ministry and mission of First Church of the Brethren. I also look forward to what He will continue to do, in us and through us, as we make known the life-giving truth of the Gospel of Christ, and see Him transform lives!"