Across Michigan, something meaningful is happening.
Small groups of young people are gathering in homes, parks, coffee shops, and churches. They are sharing meals, praying together, studying the Bible, and finding ways to serve their communities. These groups are called MiTribes, and they are helping youth experience something many people are searching for—authentic Christian community.
MiTribe began in 2021 as an outreach to establish groups of young people across Michigan who wanted to grow in their relationship with God and others. Right now, there are 12 MiTribes. But the vision is bigger than that. Our goal is to see 25 MiTribes by the end of 2026. That goal isn’t just about numbers. It represents something far more important: more friendships centered on Jesus, more young people discovering purpose, and more communities experiencing the love of Christ through the lives of young disciples. At the heart of this movement is a simple but powerful idea:We are called to do life together. And God may be calling you to be part of it.
Many young people today feel deeply alone. In a world of constant notifications and endless scrolling, it is possible to be digitally connected while feeling spiritually and emotionally disconnected. You can have hundreds of followers online but still feel like no one truly knows you.
This isn’t the life God intended for us.
From the very beginning of Scripture, we see that God designed human beings for relationship and community. When God created Adam in the Garden of Eden, He said something profound: “It is not good for man to be alone.”
We were created for connection—with God and with one another.
Jesus modeled this throughout His ministry. Instead of building a movement through events or institutions, He started with a small group. He invited twelve disciples to walk with Him daily. They ate together, traveled together, learned together, and served together.
In other words, they did life together. MiTribes follow that same model. They are not programs to attend. They are communities to belong to.
What Is a MiTribe?
A MiTribe is a small group of friends who intentionally gather to grow as followers of Jesus together.
The gatherings are simple and relational. A tribe might meet in someone’s living room, around a campfire, or at a local park. Most meetings include sharing a meal, catching up on life, praying together, studying the Bible, and planning ways to serve others.
But the real power of a tribe is not in the format—it’s in the relationships. MiTribes create a space where young people can be known, supported, and encouraged in their faith. It becomes a place where friendships grow deeper and faith becomes more real.
At its core, a tribe is built around four simple elements: Friendship. Faith. Service. Community. When those things come together, something powerful happens. One young person recently confided to a leader that “getting involved with MiTribe saved my life.” They had been looking for something to give them hope, identity, and purpose, and being part of a MiTribe filled that void. That’s what makes this ministry extraordinary.
One of the greatest challenges facing our generation is loneliness. Many young people feel invisible, overlooked, or left out. They may sit in classrooms full of people and still feel like they don’t belong anywhere.
But the gospel calls us to something different.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus consistently reached out to people on the margins—the lonely, the rejected, and the overlooked. He welcomed those whom others ignored. His mission was to seek and save the lost and to bring people into the loving community of God’s kingdom.
That same mission belongs to us today.
Living the Great Commission
Before Jesus returned to heaven, He gave His followers a mission: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:18–20). The Great Commission reminds us that the Christian life is not just about personal belief—it is about making disciples.
Discipleship happens best in relationships. It happens when people walk alongside each other, ask honest questions, and grow together in their faith. It happens when someone notices a friend who is struggling and chooses to care. It happens when young people invite others into a community where Jesus is at the center.
MiTribes create a natural space for this kind of discipleship. Instead of waiting for people to come to church programs, tribes build friendships in everyday places—at school, on sports teams, at work, and in neighborhoods. They invite others into meaningful community where faith is lived out in real life.
The Spirit of Being Adventist
Being a Seventh-day Adventist is about far more than attending church services. Adventism is a movement—a community of people committed to following Jesus, sharing present truth, and preparing the world for His soon return.
MiTribes reflect that spirit beautifully. They are communities where young people open the Word of God together, pray for one another, serve their communities, and invite others into the family of faith.
This is the heart of MiTribe. And it is the heart of what it means to follow Jesus.
How to Get Involved
If you are a young person in Michigan, the first step is simple. Visit www.mitribe.us to find a tribe near you. Joining a tribe means joining a community that cares about your life, your faith, and your future. And if there isn’t a tribe near you yet, maybe God is calling you to start one.
A tribe can begin with just two or three friends who want to grow in Christ together. Find a place to meet. Share a meal. Pray. Open the Bible. Invite others. Serve your community. That’s how movements begin.
Adults across the Michigan Conference also play an important role in this movement. Parents, pastors, teachers, and church leaders can encourage youth, provide spaces for tribes to meet, and support young leaders who are stepping forward in faith. When adults empower youth to lead, incredible things can happen.
The Invitation
God is calling this generation to something beautiful. He is calling young people to build communities where no one is marginalized—where friendships are genuine and faith becomes real.
He is calling youth to seek the lost, invite them into community, and help them discover the love of Jesus. And it all begins with a simple invitation:Come do life together.
Join a tribe.
Start a tribe.
Invite someone who needs community.
Together we can build a movement of young disciples across Michigan.
For more info, visit mitribe.us.
Chad Bernard serves as the Youth Director for the Michigan Conference