Michael J. Rath, Pastor
Michael Rath and his late wife, Jennifer, attended and came to faith in Christ here at what is now Waterford Covenant Brethren Church. Mike has served as our pastor since July of 1992. He and Jenny were blessed with two children and five grandchildren: Daughter, Cara, and husband, Michael, have two children (Olivia and Drew), and son, Joseph, and wife, Shanna, have three children (Abigail, Eleanor and Isla).
Jenny grew up in our church and came to Christ at an early age, while Mike began attending and came to Christ here in 1976. They attended until 1983 when Mike accepted a call to pastor what is now New Life Christian Fellowship in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. The Rath family was there until 1989 when they moved to Indiana, where Mike had enrolled at Grace Seminary. It was early in 1992 when our congregation issued the call to him to come "back home" to Waterford to serve here as pastor.
Mike has an Associate in Biblical Studies degree from Moody Bible Institute, a Bachelor of Religious Education from William Tyndale College, and a Master of Arts in Ministry from Grace Theological Seminary. He received his license into ministry in 1981, was ordained in 1986, and has served in pastoral ministry for 39 years. Jenny, who went home to be with the Lord in 2024, faithfully served in our congregation alongside Mike, and she left a lasting impact that will bear fruit in our lives and our church into the future.
Pastor Mike shares, "It is a privilege to be here serving the Lord in the very congregation where we were introduced to Jesus Christ. I thank God for what He has already done through the ministry and mission of our church family. I also look forward to what He will continue to do, in us and through us, as we make known the life-giving truth of the Word of God and the Gospel of Christ, and see Him transform even more lives!"
Jenny grew up in our church and came to Christ at an early age, while Mike began attending and came to Christ here in 1976. They attended until 1983 when Mike accepted a call to pastor what is now New Life Christian Fellowship in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. The Rath family was there until 1989 when they moved to Indiana, where Mike had enrolled at Grace Seminary. It was early in 1992 when our congregation issued the call to him to come "back home" to Waterford to serve here as pastor.
Mike has an Associate in Biblical Studies degree from Moody Bible Institute, a Bachelor of Religious Education from William Tyndale College, and a Master of Arts in Ministry from Grace Theological Seminary. He received his license into ministry in 1981, was ordained in 1986, and has served in pastoral ministry for 39 years. Jenny, who went home to be with the Lord in 2024, faithfully served in our congregation alongside Mike, and she left a lasting impact that will bear fruit in our lives and our church into the future.
Pastor Mike shares, "It is a privilege to be here serving the Lord in the very congregation where we were introduced to Jesus Christ. I thank God for what He has already done through the ministry and mission of our church family. I also look forward to what He will continue to do, in us and through us, as we make known the life-giving truth of the Word of God and the Gospel of Christ, and see Him transform even more lives!"