Belief, faith, religion, and spirituality in Ypsilanti, Michigan are the focus of this portion of our guide.
According to a recent survey, Ypsilanti residents are considerably less likely to be religious than those in the typical locality in Michigan or the United States. While 41.9% of respondents in Michigan and 49.4% of those in the United States cite an affiliation with a religion, only 32.9% of those in Ypsilanti were religious.
Of these, the Catholics were, by far, the most prominent. Others included Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Baptists, Pentecostals, Muslims, Mormons, Episcopalians, Judaism, and various Eastern religions.
Belief, faith, religion, and spirituality are terms that are often used interchangeably, and, in many contexts, that is understandable and appropriate. However, they are unique words with separate definitions.
Belief can refer simply to the acceptance of something as being real. In the context of religion, it could simply be an acknowledgment of the existence of a deity. Faith can refer to a body of belief, as in the Christian faith, or the Catholic faith. Most often, however, it suggests an attitude on the part of the believer, as in "my faith is firm." Faith involves the acceptance of what is to be believed.
In common usage, religion alludes to a system connected to spiritual or supernatural components that embrace a member's behavior, beliefs, culture, and sense of morality. Religion defines the worldview of the believer. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Sikhism are religions, in that sense.
In another context, religion can take a narrower meaning. References to religion might emphasize rituals, prayers, confessions, and other actions or attitudes. In that sense, an individual who prays often might be said to be practicing religion.
Spirituality is a broader concept with several perspectives. Most generally, spirituality is a reference to a sense of connection to something larger than the self, involving a search for the meaning of life. In that sense, it isn't necessarily involved with religion. While spirituality incorporates elements of religion, it is a broader concept.
For the purposes of this guide, most of the resources here will be information and links to websites representing ministries or places of worship in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Recommended Resources
Beautiful Gate International Church
The multicultural, non-denominational, Christian ministry has services in both English and Spanish. In service since 1999, the church is on South Congress Street in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Its address, telephone, and fax numbers, and an online contact form are provided, along with an overview of its ministries and community service opportunities, weekly schedules, a calendar of upcoming programs and events, a newsletter, announcements, and an audio sermon archive.
http://beautifulgatechurch.com/
Affiliated with the Southeast Michigan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the congregation meets at its facilities on North River Street in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Organized in 1833 by the Rev. Friedrich Schmid, who came to evangelize the Native Americans, but soon turned his attention to the German settlers in the area, who had no church. The church's history, leadership, and core beliefs are set forth, along with its location, service schedules, and contacts.
https://emmanuelypsi.org/
First Presbyterian Church of Ypsilanti
Organized by the Congregational Society of Ypsilanti in 1829, the congregation voted to adopt the Presbyterian form of church government in 1832, and its first dedicated church building was constructed in 1836, while its current building was built in 1857. Its history, leadership, service schedules, live streaming media options, and ministries to students, youth, and adults are outlined, and its location, a map, telephone number, email address, and an online contact form are provided.
https://www.fpcy.org/
First United Methodist Church of Ypsilanti
Formed in 1825, the congregation's first church structure was built in the 1830s, while its current building was constructed in 1892. Meeting on Sunday mornings at its facilities on Washtenaw Avenue in Ypsilanti, Michigan, the congregation meets at other times according to its posted announcements and calendar of events. Its history, a statement of beliefs, photo gallery, and contact information for the church's pastor, leadership staff, and office hours and numbers.
https://www.fumcypsi.org/
The congregation meets at its facilities on South Adams Street in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Featured is a statement of beliefs, an introduction to the pastor and the church leadership, and an overview of its group ministries, new members program, and other programs and activities. Forms are available for signing up for baptism, registering for various ministries, church newsletters, and other contacts. The address, a map showing the location of the church, and a phone number are included.
https://www.reachchurcha2y.org/
Episcopal missionaries first came to the Ypsilanti, Michigan region in the 1820s, and St. James Church was founded in 1830. In 1837, the church reorganized as St. Luke's, and acquired property on North Huron Street, replacing it with the current larger structure in 1858. The church's history, location, and statement of beliefs are published on its site, which includes weekly schedules, a calendar of events, and an introduction to its church school for children from four to twelve.
https://stlukesypsi.org/
Meeting at its facilities on South Prospect Street, the Ypsilanti, Michigan church gathers at 11:30 each Sunday morning for worship, and at 7:00 pm on Wednesdays for Bible study. The address, a map showing the location of the church, and its telephone number and email address are provided. Its children's ministries, young adults ministries, intercessory prayer, and outreach ministries are highlighted, and contributions to the church may be made online.
https://www.ypsicommunitychurch.org/
Ypsilanti Seventh-day Adventist Church
Associated with the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist denomination, the Ypsilanti, Michigan congregation was formed in 1952. Featured is a vision statement, mission, and overview of the denominational organization. Descriptions of the ministries and offices in the church may be downloaded from the site, and their location is shown on a map. Its location, weekly schedules, a calendar of programs and events, and live broadcasts of Saturday services are available.
http://ypsisda.net/
