Welcome to Saginaw First Assembly in Saginaw, Michigan

Welcome to Saginaw First Assembly

When we became pastors of Saginaw, Michigan First Assembly over 30 years ago, God gave us a big vision based upon the biblical mandate of Acts, to minister in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth. This solid biblical foundation has produced a healthy church, as the vision continues to enlarge and expand. The sun never sets on the ministry that flows out from this loving Church Family both near and far away. We are assisting missionaries throughout the world, proclaiming the good news that Jesus saves, He blesses, He guides, and He delivers. This is the most caring Church Family you’ll ever encounter! Saginaw First Assembly is known as the Church that is built on love.... love for God, love for children, love for all people, love for those in need, and love for one another. God commands His blessing where people dwell together in unity. In a society that is experiencing division and strife, First Assembly provides a shelter where you can find peace and receive love – love from Jesus Christ and love from your Church Family.

The Shepherd's Voice

August, 2007

Dear loving Church Family and Friends,

“My House shall be called a house of prayer for all Nations.” Isaiah 56:7. God gave us this call to prayer in January, 2005. Since that time some of our Church Family have met together every night to pray.

Recently we made a trip to Springfield to visit Dad Smolchuck, who celebrated his 90th birthday in February. All of his children were there for the weekend and we took him to church on Sunday. This happened to be the week for School of Missions in Springfield and there were 200 missionaries in the morning service at Central Assembly. It was an inspiring and moving experience to watch these missionaries walk across the platform, many wearing costumes from the country where they serve. Several were missionaries who receive support from our Church Family.

Pastor Jim Bradford’s sermon was taken from Isaiah 56, verses 6a and 7... “And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to serve him, to love the name of the Lord and to worship him, these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” Jesus quotes this verse in Mark 11:15-18 when he overturned the tables of the money changers and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts and taught them saying, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations?’”

Pastor Bradford went on to quote from a sermon he heard by Jack Hames talking about “If I were the Devil.... I would minimize missions. Don’s focus on the doomed, damned and dying. As the Devil, I would get Christians to focus on this world and not the next one. I would entice Christians to love earthly treasures more than heavenly treasures.”

Combining the focus on missions and prayer, he took us to Matthew 9:37-38 NIV...”Then he said to his disciples, ‘the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

It is scriptural to pray for all nations. Man refers to “closed doors”, but God knows none. “Ask of Me and I will give You the nations (“heathen,” KJV) for your inheritance” (Psalm 2:8).