MISSION
OUR PURPOSE
Our purpose here at AMPLIFY Christian Church is to provide God-Centered gathering experiences that encourage seekers to accept Jesus as their Savior, build their Christian Character through Biblical education, and equip them for their ministry to the world in order to fulfill God’s mandate and exalt His name. We accomplish this in three ways:



“…God does not show favoritism.” – Acts 10:34 NIV
PASTOR COREY L. KENNARD
Corey L. Kennard began his active work in the business sector as well as in ministry over 25 years ago. Corey earned a Masters Degree from Ashland Theological Seminary and carries out his passion for people as a daring and devoted agent of change, serving as a Pastor, Spiritual Life Coach, Motivational Speaker, and Partner/Board Member for several community organizations that promote positive change for both youth and adults. As a result, he has received the Michigan Chronicle’s Men Of Excellence Award as being one of the Top 50 Most Influential African American Men in the Metropolitan Detroit Region.
Corey has been involved in the field of healthcare for over 20 years with over a decade of experience in the areas of Palliative Care and Hospice. His work includes leading a spiritual care team at one of Detroit’s largest hospitals, and formerly serving as a Faculty Lead for Duke University’s Institute on Care at the End Of Life (ICEOL) national training program called, “APPEAL.” In this role, he was instrumental in co-creating a national teaching module for understanding spirituality at the end of life. He has provided intensive, hands-on consultation, as-well-as informative and motivational conference presentations to Healthcare Professionals and Faith Community Leaders on the importance and impact of a person’s spirituality while facing illness. He also serves as a National Advisory Board Member for The Hospice Foundation of America, and is Co-Director of a Community Faith Advance Care Planning Project for the University of Virginia.
His thought provoking and energizing speaking style has made him a choice of organizations and educational institutions seeking conference speakers, workshop presenters, or inspiring lecturers. Such organizations include The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM), Reimagine End of Life, the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), and the University of Washington’s Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence. Corey is becoming one of the most sought after and preferred national speakers on the subject of faith and its impact on medical care.
As a writer, Corey is an avid Blogger, and has also been a New York Times contributing columnist. He has been published in the Journal of Palliative Medicine, written motivational columns for the Detroit News, and authored a previous book entitled, “Goliath Must Fall” (2005). His latest release, “Hamburgers & A Holy Man” (2018), is currently available on Amazon.com and Kindle. In addition, Corey also wrote/directed a major stage production for Detroit area Youth which provided solutions for the challenges that teens face today. Furthermore, he has served as the host for the “Real Life, Real Authority” radio program.
Pastor Corey shares his life’s work with his wife Kristen, and they are the blessed parents of three wonderful children – Kayla Ariana, Kourtney Lael, and Corey Lynn II.
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QUESTIONS CONCERNING CHILD DEDICATION
What is AMPLIFY Christian Church’s position concerning the baptism of children, their security in the Kingdom, and the practice of dedicating them to the Lord?
According to the Bible, everyone (adult or child) who recognizes his or her need of a Savior and then repents and believes in Christ should be baptized (Acts 2:38,41; 8:36-38). But in the Scripture there is no record of infants or very young children being baptized. This is because they are not yet able to understand the need of a Savior. Yet God places a high priority on children. When asked who is the greatest in the kingdom of God, Jesus responded, “Unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). God’s love for children is also shown in the Old Testament. In Leviticus the Lord specifically prohibited the people of Israel from offering their children as a sacrifice to the pagan god, Molech (Leviticus 20:1-5). It seems fair to conclude that if God forbade children from being sacrificed, He would not order those same children to be placed in the eternal fire of hell. From these Scriptures we believe that children are loved by God, and until they come to an age of understanding (some call it “the age of accountability”), they have a place in the kingdom of God. This means that should a child die before developing to a point where the knowledge of Christ can be understood and applied through forgiveness, the child would inherit eternal life in heaven as an heir of God’s kingdom.
In Luke 2 we see the parents of the baby Jesus taking Him to the temple “to present Him to the Lord” (Luke 2:22). Later the Gospels tell us that little children and infants were brought to Jesus for Him to touch them and bless them (Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17). In following this practice, we encourage parents to publicly dedicate their children to the Lord.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between Infant Baptism and Child Dedication?
A: Those who practice Infant Baptism believe in Baptismal Regeneration, which means that a person (infant) comes into the blessings of grace (salvation) through their baptism. We believe that salvation comes by faith alone and baptism is not required for salvation, but in obedience to the act of salvation. Therefore, believing that an infant is not old enough know his/her need for salvation we dedicate both the parents and the child during our Dedication Ceremony. First we dedicate the child to the Lord symbolizing our desire that they would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ in their future and we dedicate ourselves (the parents) to the Lord as a promise to raise our children modeling what it is like to be a “fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.” Corey L. Kennard, Pastor P.O. Box 24616 – Detroit, Michigan – 48224 www.amplifychristian.church
Q: Do the parents need to be Christians in order to dedicate their child?
A: As a couple or single parent standing before God dedicating their child to Him in a Christian church, we strongly suggest that your life should show the characteristics of Christ. This means that being “knowingly” involved in behavior that is displeasing to God and goes against what His Word says, i.e. fornication, adultery, homosexuality, etc., can prohibit you as a parent from actively taking part in this ceremony. Sometimes people bring their babies for dedication because it is “the thing to do.” We believe this a serious commitment on the part of parents and it should be approached with an authentic desire to live according to the scriptures and honor Jesus Christ with both our words and actions.
Q: What if I’m a Single Parent; Can I dedicate my child to the Lord?
A: Absolutely. We encourage single parents who are following Biblical principles in raising their children to dedicate their children and themselves to the Lord.
Q: Does dedicating my child guarantee that they will become a Christian?
A: No. Each of us makes that decision on our own. However “values are more caught than taught” and we do believe that by dedicating your life as parents to Jesus Christ and faithfully living as a Christian believer, your child will one day make the decision to serve the same God that you serve.