May 6th 1990 – PRESENT
Sanctuary
The Birthing of Shield of Faith Ministries
In May 1983, Shield of Faith Ministries was birthed in the hearts of Weldon and Kathleen Townsend following their completion of Bible School in Midland, Michigan. Shortly after our ordination, the Lord spoke to us saying ‘He was giving us a city’ to pastor and to shepherd.
Six years later, the Lord showed us that the city we were to run after was Saginaw, Michigan and then He dropped into our hearts the name of the church. Because the location He was showing us was Shields, Michigan, in Saginaw, and that we would need the Shield of Faith in our everyday lives, to shield off all the fiery darts coming our way.
On May 6, 1990, we held our inaugural service in the first building of three, which included two acres with the option to buy the other twelve acres and remaining two buildings in the future. In the fall of 1990, Shield of Faith Ministries began a K-12 Christian Academy which continued for 12 years.
In 1995, SOF was changed by the River of God’s outpouring that was hitting the world using Toronto, Canada, as the portal, beginning in 1994. His presence undid us and caused us to fall deeper in love with Him and His body (the body of Christ). God showed us that it was time to lay down our personal agendas and start building His Kingdom. He showed us that there were only two Kingdoms – His and the devil’s, and that there was only one Body of Christ, and only one Church of Saginaw.
Recently, as we have grown through prayer and intercession, studying God’s Word, we have begun to fall more and more in love with each other (His body), and have become transparent and accountable to one another. We are realizing we really need each other in order to be complete, knowing that the world will want what we have to offer by seeing the love we have one for another.
Although there are many churches in Saginaw with God given visions, we all need each other, as one united Church of Saginaw in order to win our city. As the city goes, so goes the region.
The journey has been hard, but rewarding, long but refreshing. And, anything and everything that we have gained that is good came purely by His Grace and Mercy, and not of ourselves.
