Stephen Herrod has been preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ since he was 6 years old. It was a summer day in 2000 when Stephen was riding with his dad on the way to an usher board meeting when he declared to his dad, “the Spirit of the Lord has called me to preach and to lay hands on my dog Benji who bit me,” and that changed his life forever. He is now the Senior Pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, East in Detroit, MI. Prior to the call to Pastor, Stephen was a Youth Director, and over the years Stephen has served in a variety of ministry settings including Christian Non-Profit, Kids and Teen ministries, Mission Teams, Teaching Teams, Retreat Leader, and Pastoral Counseling.  Stephen Herrod met his wife on July 17, 2019, and they were married by December 28, 2019, and have been together ever since. The fruit of this union has produced 2 beautiful children, True Lee Herrod and Honor Alexander Herrod, and a third baby coming soon, Lord willing. Stephen Herrod is a native of Detroit, MI, born into the family of Harrison and Debra Herrod. He has two older brothers, Thomas Herrod, and William Herrod, who preceded him in death in 2024.  Stephen is a 2016 graduate of Eastern Michigan University earning his BBA in finance, and a 2019 graduate of Moody Theological Seminary earning a Master of Divinity in the discipline of Pastoral Studies. Upon attending Moody Theological Seminary, Rev. Herrod was selected to be in the Urban Scholars Program for his work done in socioeconomically depressed neighborhoods in the city of Detroit, and was awarded an Urban Ministry Scholars award for his achievements during his time at Moody. Stephen is also a 2022 MSW graduate from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and currently a PhD student in Christian Education and Congregational Studies at the Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. ​​ Stephen Herrod is passionate about “rightly dividing the word of Truth,” and making disciples of Jesus Christ. Stephen is a preacher, teacher, leader, writer, music enthusiast, art collector, worshipper of God, and follower of the one and only Lord Jesus Christ.