Our Man of God

Bishop Andrew Merritt founded the Straight Gate Church in 1978. The first service was held in a storefront building with three members -- he, his wife Viveca and daughter Rachelle. Under the powerful preaching and expository teachings of Bishop Merritt, the church has experienced phenomenal growth -- from three members in 1978 to eight church moves to serve the needs of the emerging congregation of more that 6,000 today. A family based ministry, housed in a 165,000 square foot building located in the heart of Detroit, Straight Gate Church is "Where Jesus makes families whole".

Our First Lady

Pastor Viveca Merritt, as she is fondly called by the church congregation, gave her heart to the Lord Jesus Christ and was filled with the Holy Ghost in 1967. Since her rebirth, she has humbled herself to the "will" of God and continuously manifest the "Fruit of the Spirit" in every area of her life. She has dedicated herself to be a helpmate to her husband as they have built the Straight Gate congregation from a humble beginning of three individuals to a congregation that now has over 6,000 members