.
Covenant
Community on
the Rise in
Detroit
by Carmen
Dahlberg and
Michael Davis
"Black, white,
male, female,
Catholic,
Protestant,
married,
single, fresh,
mature, and
much in
between – a
taste of what
God is shaping
Detroit
Community
Outreach to
be."
Several
dozen are
gathered
behind the
sanctuary of
Southwest
Detroit’s
Messiah
Church, and
the energy is
palpable.
Today, Detroit
Community
Outreach (DCO)
launches its
third round of
commitments as
a community.
As in the
previous two
years, the
commitment is
short-term: in
one year, its
members will
gather once
again to renew
their covenant
to each other,
wiser still to
Detroit’s own
flavor of
covenant
community. 24
adults make
this
commitment
today,
surrounded by
friends and
guests
worshiping and
seeking the
Lord together
on a beautiful
September
afternoon.
At the helm of
the community
sits Brother
Michael
Johnson, who,
along with his
wife, Lyris,
hails from the
east side of
Detroit and
has assumed
leadership of
DCO amidst
Dave
O’Connor’s
transition to
the
Philippines.
“I’m a
watchman,”
Brother
Michael says
about himself.
“I watch and
pray.” And he
does. Prayer
and Bible
study are the
bedrock of his
own ministry,
Crusade of
Deliverance,
and he leads
DCO with the
same zeal for
the Lord and
His work. He
is fervent in
prayer, humble
in leadership,
and
tenderhearted
toward the
suffering.
Alongside him
in leadership
serve Kathleen
Wright, a
teacher at
Detroit Public
Schools; Brian
LaLonde, a
brother in the
Servants of
the Word and
developer at
Servant
Systems;
Michael Davis,
a social
worker in
child &
adolescent
community
mental health;
and Carmen
Dahlberg, a
marketer who
teaches
digital skills
to low income
moms.
Collectively,
they are
black, white,
male, female,
Catholic,
Protestant,
married,
single, fresh,
mature, and
much in
between—a
taste of what
God is shaping
DCO to be.
Having members
gathered on
this day to
commit to
another year
together is a
testament to
two decades of
the Lord’s
work through
those He has
called to live
and serve in
the city. The
vigor pulsing
through the
room is both
steadfast and
young,
understanding
the sacrifices
and resources
upon which
today is built
yet hopeful of
what waits
around the
corner. Over
this year and
the next
several, the
members of DCO
are working to
build
intergenerational
community that
serves and
fuels distinct
stages of
life. In a
given month,
this manifests
as young
professional
outreach
events,
family-friendly
cider mill
outings,
in-home Lord’s
Days,
childcare
provided by
single
community
members, game
nights, shared
dinners,
neighborhood
prayer booths,
and service
with
YouthWorksDetroit
or other
ministries
throughout the
city.
Anchoring a
calendar of
service and
social events
are facets of
community that
look familiar
across Sword
of the Spirit
communities:
prayer
meetings,
Lord’s Days,
and dynamic,
honest men’s
and women’s
sharing
groups. These
are fueling
DCO’s long
-term vision
for a city
that can unite
in
denominational
ecumenism and,
through that
expression of
unity , break
down racial,
socioeconomic,
and
generational
barriers.
We invite you
to partner
with us in
prayer, as so
many of you
have done
faithfully
over the
years, to
bring that
vision to
fruition. In
particular, we
crave prayers
for unity,
wisdom, and
true care for
one another.
Please pray
that each of
these things
begins with
DCO’s
leadership
team,
overflows to
our community,
and spills
into our
outreach. Join
us also in
praying for
growth that
represents
Detroit and
builds
reconciliation
through our
commitment to
ecumenism,
worship, and
daily pursuit
of Christ
alongside one
another.
This
article first
appeared in
the Sword of
the Spirit
North America
Regional
Newsletter
November 2019.
Used with
permission.
Top photo montage: Brother
Michael
Johnson on the
left, some
community
members and
friends on
right
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