Our Story

In 1980, during break from Oakland University, undergraduate student, Timothy R. Stokes gave his life to the Lord, receiving the miraculous gift of salvation.  When he returned to campus, he was a changed man.  He witnessed to his peers and strangers alike about Jesus, evangelizing the campus.  After graduating with a Bachelors of Arts in Communications and a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration, he returned to Oakland University as an administrator in the Upward Bound program where he worked with young adults, preparing them for the college experience.  At the same time, he led a viable bible study in which many people were changed by the power of God.

In 1987, Timothy R. Stokes met Tanya Thomas, the lovely woman who would eventually become his wife, mother of his children, and his partner in ministry.  After three years of devoted ministry to the students of Oakland University and faithful membership at Pentecostal Outreach Church of God in Christ in Lansing, Michigan, Pastor Stokes and his wife Tanya moved to Grand Rapids where they served a ministry faithfully until they were sent to Flint in 1991 to oversee a new work – Family Worship Center Church Intl. 

1n 1992, through the ministry gift of Pastor Stokes, the ministry experienced spiritual and natural growth.  The small eighty-seat sanctuary, located on Carpenter Road, was no longer large enough to house the ministry and the growing church secured its second facility on Flushing Road. Through his leadership, FWCC built our current facility and owns the surrounding 137 acres of land.

Pastor Stokes is a versatile and bold preacher and teacher of the gospel.  He is  an author, conference speaker, and he performed the first wedding ever on the Dr. Phil Show in November 2006.  He is also a family man, the father of four children (Brendon, Amber, Emmanuel and Timothy II), and a devoted husband.

Pastor Tanya is skilled in teaching and preaching and helps people build quality lives through the word of God. She is an author, leader, conference speaker and the lead pastor of Family Worship Center Church. 

Family Worship Center Church is fulfilling the vision of winning souls and making disciples.  Our desire is to develop Christ followers, who will reach others with the Gospel. Everything we do points to helping people in their walk with Jesus.  Through prayer, the Word of God, discipleship and evangelism we are reaching the world for Christ.