Detroit, MI

Pastor draws strength from Detroit church’s proud history to lead

Published

1 week ago

December 28, 2025

Press Room

Pastor draws strength from Detroit church’s proud history to lead

In 2025, Lawrence Rodgers celebrated his fifth anniversary as pastor of Second Baptist Church of Detroit. But when he serves his community, he draws strength from a nearly 190-year-old church history.

It is true that Detroit is the only American city where four major sports franchises play home games in the downtown core area.

However, it is also true that within walking distance of Little Caesars Arena, Ford Field and Comerica Park — the homes of the Detroit Pistons, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Lions and Detroit Tigers respectively — sits a Detroit institution that has been intimately engaged in a type of service where success is not measured by championship banners, but instead by the number of lives that are saved and transformed.

And this nearly 190-year-old institution has often performed its best work during some of the most challenging historical periods known to mankind.

That institution, founded in 1836 by 13 formerly enslaved people, is historic Second Baptist Church of Detroit, which, since 1857, has occupied a stately space at 441 Monroe St. within the cultural, commercial and entertainment district known today as Greektown.

“I’ve had people come up to me and say, ‘this church is why I am free’ because our church served as one of the last stations on the Underground Railroad. That’s heavy stuff and very humbling,” Second Baptist Church of Detroit Senior Pastor Lawrence Rodgers said about the oldest religious institution owned by Black people in the Midwest, which “claimed a mission” in 1836 “to free the enslaved and have them enjoy the full privileges of American citizenship.”

On Dec. 22, the 41-year-old Rodgers, who celebrated his fifth anniversary as the senior pastor at Second Baptist in 2025, provided some insight about how he finds inspiration to serve his congregation and the greater Detroit community.

Just as the players and coaches who participate in games played at the bustling sports venues near Second Baptist spend many hours studying past performances to get better, Rodgers says he finds strength by looking at photographs displayed within the church that reflect the significant history made by a host of special people. A tiny sampling includes: William C. Monroe, Second Baptist’s first pastor, who spearheaded the church’s involvement in the formation of two abolitionist societies — the Amherstburg Baptist Association and the Canadian Anti-Slavery Baptist Association. Second Baptist member and Sunday schoolteacher Fannie Richards, who became the first Black schoolteacher in a Detroit public school in 1868 and later taught an integrated class at Everett Elementary School beginning in 1871, the year the Michigan Supreme Court ordered Detroit to abolish segregated schools; and Robert Bradby, Second Baptist’s pastor from 1910 to 1946, who leveraged his relationship with Henry Ford to link hundreds of Black people to jobs at the Ford Motor Co. during the Great Migration.

The passionate tone in Rodgers’ voice when he provided an impromptu history lesson about Second Baptist provides a glimpse of the energy his congregation experiences when Rodgers delivers a sermon. But Rodgers says the history that he loves to share means little if it is not acted upon today.

“I never want people to think that this church is only a museum,” stated Rodgers, a native of eastern North Carolina, who says he did not dive into Second Baptist’s history until he responded to a “call from the Lord” while serving as a pastor in Baltimore and searched the internet for national pastor openings, which led to him being selected by Second Baptist out of 200 applicants. “This history is not just about what we have done, it’s also about who we are right now. My predecessors improved the conditions of our people during the institution of slavery, the Great Depression, World Wars, the Civil Rights Movement, the Detroit Rebellion of 1967 and other challenging periods in our history. They offered us a way to survive and even thrive. And that is a tradition that we need to apply today.”

After immersing himself in Second Baptist’s history, Rodgers came to Detroit in 2020 full of enthusiasm and a desire to continue the church’s tradition of serving humanity as the 24th senior pastor to lead Second Baptist Church of Detroit. Nonetheless, despite having the best intentions, Rodgers faced a challenge that no other Second Baptist pastor before him had to navigate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visits to the homes of church members and other extended in-person interactions were not possible when “everything was on lockdown” and “everyone was afraid.” But as time went on, with help from connections Rodgers made through the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity, and his own exploration across the city for basic essentials, Rodgers says he witnessed and felt a spirit that allowed him to appreciate Detroit in a different way.

“I can’t tell you exactly when it happened, but, at some point around the middle of my second year here, I called my mother and I said, ‘Detroit is like down home, up North,’ ” recalled Rodgers, who earned a master’s degree in divinity in 2017 from Howard University, where he graduated at the top of his class, while receiving numerous awards in the process. “Around the same time, I found a Detroit barber and a Detroit tailor and bought a pair of Detroit-style glasses. One of our members saw me afterwards and he said: ‘Now you look like one of us.’ But more than the member’s words, there was a sense of community and warmth that I felt — like Southern hospitality — that you don’t see or feel in a lot of places that have these temperatures.”

Powered by the “spirit of Detroit” that Rodgers described, he and the Second Baptist congregation have aggressively addressed challenges that continue to plague Detroit and our nation, including the opioid crisis; food insecurity connected to families and the unhoused, and human trafficking. And while helping Detroiters “survive,” Second Baptist is also committed to providing resources that enable Detroiters to “thrive,” such as resources and programs focused on financial and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) education.

Rodgers says that with each historical tour, training session and seminar provided at his church, along with direct outreach into the community performed by Second Baptist members, including providing food and other necessities to unhoused Detroiters, a message is sent that is felt well beyond the city.

“There was a time when the world looked to Detroit because of the automotive industry, but today the world is looking to Detroit to see how we are responding to challenges faced by our entire nation,” said Rodgers, who also has shared his concerns and ideas for helping Detroiters with the nonprofit Greektown Neighborhoods Partnership, which is leading the ongoing initiative to transform the Greektown district into a pedestrian-friendly destination. “The world wants to know how we are going to ensure that all people are served. Going into 2026, I’m so excited to be in Detroit at this time and I look forward to building on the relationships and partnerships that we have established at Second Baptist such as our partnership with the DTE Energy Foundation, which will allow us to expand our youth STEAM program and continue our mission to empower the next generation.

“I’m also extremely excited to be living in a time when Detroit’s first woman mayor is about to take office and I’m praying for Mayor Sheffield and all of our new leaders. I believe all Detroiters need to look back and be inspired and gain hope from the challenges that we have overcome in the past. Ancestral memory is important, but we don’t want to just look back at the history, we want to live it, and in that way we can continue to repair and turn around our city for the benefit of all Detroiters.”

Scott Talley is a native Detroiter, a proud product of Detroit Public Schools and a lifelong lover of Detroit culture in its diverse forms. In his second tour with the Free Press, which he grew up reading as a child, he is excited and humbled to cover the city’s neighborhoods and the many interesting people who define its various communities. Contact him at stalley@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @STalleyfreep. Read more of Scott’s stories at www.freep.com/mosaic/detroit-is/. Please help us grow great community-focused journalism by becoming a subscriber.

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Detroit, MI

Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears: How to watch today’s NFL game, kickoff time, TV channel and more

Published

8 minutes ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears: How to watch today’s NFL game, kickoff time, TV channel and more

The Chicago Bears have already made it into the NFC playoffs, but a Week 18 win against the Detroit Lions will determine their seed in the postseason and what happens next in the wild card round. The Lions are out of playoff contention, but they face a tricky situation themselves; while a win would be great for morale in the short term, a loss ultimately gives them a better draft position.

The Lions vs. Bears game will kick off at 4:25 p.m. ET this Sunday on Fox. Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch this Sunday’s game and get the full Week 18 schedule for the rest of the league.

How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears:

Date: Sunday, Jan. 4

Time: 4:25 p.m. ET

TV channel: FOX

Streaming: DirecTV, FOX One, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo + more

Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears game time:

The Lions vs. Bears game kicks off at 4:25 p.m. ET/1:25 p.m. PT this Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.

Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears game channel:

The game between the Lions and the Bears will air on FOX.

How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears game without cable:

You can stream FOX on platforms like DirecTV and Fubo, and the game will also be available on FOX’s streaming platform FOX One. You can also tune in on NFL+ for mobile viewing.

DirecTV is currently offering its Entertainment tier package for just $49.99 for your first month – a $40 savings over the regular rate.

DirecTV’s Entertainment tier gets you access to loads of channels where you can tune in to college and pro sports, including ESPN, TNT, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS Sports Network, and, depending on where you live, local affiliates for ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC.

Whichever package you choose, you’ll get unlimited Cloud DVR storage and access to ESPN+’s new streaming tier, ESPN Unlimited.

The best part is that you can currently try all this out for free for 5 days. If you’re interested in trying out a live-TV streaming service for football season but aren’t ready to commit, we recommend starting with DirecTV.

Try free at DirecTV

FOX One is a streaming service from FOX that launched in August. With a subscription to FOX One, you can tune in to all your favorite FOX channels like FOX News, FOX Sports, FOX Weather, FS1, FS2, FOX Business, FOX Deportes, Big Ten Network (B1G), and local FOX stations all in one place.

FOX One offers live programming, as well as on-demand shows and movies. At launch, the base price for FOX One will cost $19.99 a month, or you can save with an annual subscription for $199.99. FOX Nation fans can even bundle it with FOX One for $24.99 a month, or opt for an annual subscription, which nets out to $19.99/month.

You can also bundle FOX One with ESPN’s newly revamped streaming service for $39.99/month.

$19.99/month at FOX

NFL Week 18 schedule:

All times Eastern.

Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026

Panthers vs. Buccaneers: 4:30 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)
Seahawks vs. 49ers: 8:00 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)

Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026

Colts vs. Texans: 1:00 p.m.(CBS)
Chargers vs. Broncos: 1:00 p.m. (CBS)
Browns vs. Bengals: 1:00 p.m. (CBS)
Packers vs. Vikings: 1:00 p.m. (CBS)
Jets vs. Bills: 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Commanders vs. Eagles: 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Saints vs. Falcons: 1:00 p.m. (FOX)
Titans vs. Jaguars: 1:00 p.m. (FOX)
Cowboys vs. Giants: 1:00 p.m. (FOX)
Lions vs. Bears: 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Cardinals vs. Rams: 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Dolphins vs. Patriots: 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Ravens vs. Steelers: 8:20 p.m. (NBC)

How to watch NFL games in 2025:

Many NFL games are broadcast on local channels, so if you’re looking to catch an in-market game, it may be as simple as turning on your TV (or setting up a digital TV antenna) or finding a live TV streaming service that carries the correct RSN (Regional Sports Network). If you want to watch out-of-market games, a $7 monthly subscription to NFL+ will let you watch every out-of-market-game local and primetime game in the season on your phone — but only a select few regular season games on your TV. You could also spring for the uber-expensive NFL Sunday Ticket package to get every out-of-market Sunday game of the season.

When it comes to nationally broadcast games, NFL games typically air across ESPN, NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC and NFL Network. Thursday Night Football games stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, select football games will stream exclusively on Peacock, games on CBS will stream live on Paramount+, and Monday Night Football games will air on ESPN or ABC and stream on the newly revamped ESPN+ this season. That’s six channels and four streaming platforms to keep up with this season — and that’s not counting your local RSN’s for in-market games and an NFL+ or NFL Sunday Ticket subscription for out-of-market games. Plus, Netflix is once again hosting at least two Christmas Day matches, so add that subscription into the mix. And we can’t forget about Fox One, Fox’s first streaming service, a place where you can also stream games airing on FOX (if you don’t already have access to it).

Confused? You’re not alone. Here’s a breakdown of the platforms we recommend checking out ahead of the 2025 NFL season, so that come game time, tuning into your favorite team’s games will be as easy as simply turning on the TV.

DirecTV is currently offering its Choice tier (typically $108+/month with fees) for just $79.98 (after fees) for your first month.

DirecTV’s Choice tier gets you access to all the usual football suspects: NFL Network, ESPN, ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox, plus ACC Network, Big Ten Network, SEC Network and plenty more local Regional Sports Networks. (If you want to avoid paying the RSN fees, the Entertainment Tier has plenty of channels you can catch NFL games on, too.)

Whichever package you choose, you’ll get unlimited Cloud DVR storage and access to ESPN’s new streaming tier, ESPN Unlimited.

The best part is, currently, you can try all this out free for 5 days. So if you’re interested in trying out a live TV streaming service for football season, but aren’t ready to commit, we recommend starting with DirecTV.

Pros

Full package free trial available
Many local RSNs included
Free ESPN unlimited
Unlimited Cloud DVR

Cons

Cost
Regional Sports Network fee

$79.98 for your first month at DirecTV

Fubo’s new skinny sports bundle, Fubo Sports, includes local broadcast stations owned-and-operated by ABC, CBS and FOX, plus additional affiliates in select markets, as well as ACC Network, Big 10 Network, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox News, FS1, FS2, Fubo Sports Network, ION, NFL Network, SEC Network and Tennis Channel. It also includes free access to ESPN’s new ESPN+ unlimited plan. Fubo subscribers also get unlimited cloud DVR storage.

You can get $10 off your first month of the Fubo Sports package, which brings the cost to $45.99. After your first month it goes up to $55.99/month.

This new Fubo package has you covered for most nationally broadcast or in-market NFL games, and still leaves you with major savings compared to a traditional cable package.

The platform offers a free trial period, so you can check it out for a few days of the 2025 NFL season and decide if it’s right for you this year.

Pros

Free trial available
Unlimited cloud DVR storage
Free ESPN unlimited

Cons

Entirely sports-focused
Doesn’t include NBC

$45.99 for your first month at Fubo

Amazon Prime Video is the exclusive home for the NFL’s Thursday Night Football games. On top of Amazon Prime Video, an Amazon Prime subscription includes free shipping, exclusive deals, access to the Prime Day 2025 sale event, Amazon Music, a year of free GrubHub+ and more. A standard Amazon Prime subscription is $15 monthly or $139 annually, but discounts are available for students and those on qualified government assistance. You can try Amazon Prime free for 30 days.

Pros

You probably already have access to Prime Video

Cons

Only Thursday Night Football games

$15 at Amazon

A basic $6.99 per month (or $40 annually) NFL+ subscription will get you live local and primetime regular and preseason NFL games exclusively on your phone or tablet, plus live audio for every game of the season across supported devices and access to NFL Network. NFL+ Premium, while a little pricier at $14.99 per month (or $80 annually) also includes access to NFL RedZone, plus full and condensed replays of every game across supported devices.

Cons

Can only watch MOST live games on your phone

$6.99/month at NFL

ESPN’s revamped streaming platform offers thousands of exclusive live events, original studio shows and acclaimed series that air across ESPN’s suite of 7 linear channels, as well as exclusive content on ESPN+, ABC on ESPN, SEC+, ACCNX and some content from NFL Network and NFL RedZone. The new tier costs $29.99/month or $299.99/year.

Also of note, for its first year in existence, ESPN unlimited includes “bundle” access to Disney+ and Hulu at no extra cost!

And starting September 3, for an extra $10/month, you can bundle ESPN unlimited with NFL+ Premium, which includes full access to NFL Network and NFL Redzone, plus out-of-market NFL games on mobile.

Pros

All ESPN content in one place
Content from NFL Network and NFL RedZone
Bundle option with NFL+

Cons

Only ESPN games available with the base service

$29.99/month at ESPN

FOX One offers live programming, as well as shows and movies on demand. At launch, the base price for FOX One will cost $19.99 a month, or you can save with an annual subscription for $199.99. FOX Nation fans can even bundle it with FOX One for $24.99 a month, or opt for an annual subscription which nets out to $19.99/month – that’s like getting a year of FOX Nation free.

$19.99/month at FOX

Paramount+ offers subscribers access to loads of sports, including loads of weekly NFL games all season long, plus great shows like Survivor, The Challenge and more.

Unlike a lot of other streaming services these days, Paramount+ still offers a free trial — so new subscribers can sign up to watch Week 1 of the NFL season and all the other great programming on the platform. Once the trial ends, you can choose the ad-supported Essential plan or their ad-free Premium plan with Showtime for access which also gives you ad-free streaming of on-demand content, live access to your local CBS station, and full streaming access to Showtime. Paramount+ Essential plan costs $7.99/month, while Paramount+ Premium plans cost $12.99/month.

Try it free at Paramount+

How to watch NFL games in person:

Tickets for the 2025 NFL season are on sale now.

Find tickets

Every way to watch NFL games this season:

To recap, here are all the ways you can watch NFL games in 2025.

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Detroit, MI

2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit

Published

12 hours ago

January 3, 2026

Press Room

2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit – CBS Detroit

Watch CBS News

Michigan State Police say troopers were investigating Saturday after two people in a car on Lodge Freeway in Detroit were shot.

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Detroit, MI

With 46k outages around Michigan, Metro Detroit prepares for power loss

Published

6 days ago

December 29, 2025

Press Room

With 46k outages around Michigan, Metro Detroit prepares for power loss

High Wind Warning Today

Winds could gust up to 60mph today. Snow squalls could reduce visibility and wind chills could be as low as the teens this afternoon. Meteorologist Lori Pinson has your forecast.

(FOX 2) – With a High Wind Warning and high wind gusts expected to hit Southeast Michigan on Monday, utilities are preparing for a busy afternoon with possible outages.

DTE says it has response teams in place to deal with a loss of power to homes around the region.

DTE: Weather may cause power outages

According to DTE, approximately 6,200 homes were without power to start things out this week.

That number could rise as the wind picks up throughout the day. Gusts up to 60 mph are expected to blow through in the late morning and early afternoon.

“Our Storm Response Teams are ready to restore power as quickly and safely as possible,” read a note from DTE on their website.

The company will also be providing an update on their prepared response at 9 a.m.

Tap here to see the DTE outage map.

Dig deeper:

If someone does come across a downed power line, they should avoid the spot.

DTE recommends staying at least 25 feet away from the downed lines, and assume they are live and dangerous. If anyone sees downed power lines, they’re asked to report it here.

If there is an emergency, such as a fire or you see a power line on an unoccupied car, first call 911 then call the power company. DTE Energy can be reached at 800-477-4747. Consumers Energy can be reached at 800-477-5050.

More: How to apply for reimbursement from DTE, Consumers Energy

If you are inside your vehicle and a wire falls on it, DTE says to stay in your vehicle and call 911.

However, if you must get out of the vehicle, DTE advises removing loose clothing, and getting out without touching the frame. Jump with your feet together to avoid touching the vehicle and ground at the same time. Do not remove your feet until you are at least 20 feet away from the vehicle.

46k Outages Elsewhere

The recent blast of active weather over the weekend has already knocked out power for a big chunk of the state further to the north.

Approximately 46,000 households remain without power, according to Consumers Energy.

The bulk of those outages are north of Mount Pleasant, near Claire off of Highway 127.

See the outage map here.

According to Consumers Energy, they have 500 crews responding to the outages and hope to have power restored by 10 p.m.

High Wind Warning

Michigan will be under a high wind warning for the majority of Monday.

The National Weather Service issued the order from 4 a.m. until 9 p.m. The winds will shift from Southwest to Northwest at 25 to 35 mph. Occasional gusts between 45 and 55 mph are expected with a speeds climbing to 60 mph.

That means downed wires and tree branches are not out of the question.

Incoming snow could also worsen visibility on the road.

The Source: Data from DTE and Consumers Energy, as well as forecast information from the National Weather Service were cited for this story.

ConsumerMetro DetroitAround Michigan

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