Maranatha Ministries of Detroit, located in Detroit, Michigan, was founded by Sir York A. LaFleur and Mother Rubie Stein LaFleur, who faithfully served in ministry for 44 years together. Pastor York LaFleur passed away on April 14, 2024, at the gracious age of 80. He is survived by 5 Children, 16 Grandchildren and 11 Great Grandchidlren. Mother Rubie Stein LaFleur, now 82, continues to express her praise and love for the Lord Jesus Christ. Mother Rubie Stein is the architectural designer, the investor, and one of the builders of the Maranatha Ministries Church Building. Mother Rubie Stein built many churches from the ground up, in Michigan. She continues to be the Beloved Mother of Maranatha Ministries.
On January 1, 1980, the ministry was born out of a New Year’s Watch Night prayer meeting, a custom associated with the Pentecostal movement that began in America on Janaury 1, 1901. Sir York LaFleur entered ministry with his beloved wife, Mother Rubie Stein LaFleur, following the example of Priscilla and AquilaActs 18:2-3. Together, they served the Church at a time when the Gospel needed to be preached to the Metro Detroit.
Their ministry began in a basement, where a few families met each week for Bible study. For a time, Pastor LaFleur served as co-pastor with another minister. As the congregation grew, Pastor and Mother LaFleur searched for a worship space. At the time, Mother Rubie Stein LaFleur served the community through her Child Development Daycare on 6 Mile/ McNichols Road in Detroit. After much prayer, the Lord provided an open storefront next door. They invested in the space and prepared it as a gathering place for the saints. After parting ways with the co-pastor, Pastor LaFleur became Senior Pastor and continued the ministry’s growth. Eventually, Pastor and Mother LaFleur purchased the first church building on Fielding Road in Detroit, establishing Maranatha Ministries of Detroit.
Mother Rubie LaFleur believed she and her husband could build a new church from the ground up for the Maranatha saints. She embraced the vision and designed the church layout, including her signature cross-shaped ceiling view. In 1987, Pastor and Mother LaFleur began purchasing several lots next to the Fielding Road church with their own funds. After the land was acquired and measured, Mother LaFleur worked with an architectural company to complete the design. Once the plans were finished, Pastor and Mother LaFleur petitioned the court overseeing the Brightmoor neighborhood for permission to build a new church. Although the petition was denied, they were not discouraged and appealed to a higher court. The appeal was granted, allowing construction of a new church on West Outer Drive.
A church fund was established, but it fell far short of the amount needed to begin construction. To help start the building process, Pastor LaFleur and Mother Stein LaFleur refinanced their home and used its equity. As the project continued and costs became difficult to manage, Pastor LaFleur and Mother LaFleur invested funds from Mother LaFleur’s daycare business and used equity from other properties to pay contractors and purchase building materials. Construction began in 1990, and by 1993 the building was inhabitable. That year, Pastor LaFleur performed his first wedding in the new Maranatha Church for his daughter, Portia LaFleur, who married Tim Dye.
In November 1993, Maranatha Ministries of Detroit completed its new church building at 10770 West Outer Drive in Detroit, Michigan. Mother Rubie Stein LaFleur’s vision for a new church home had become a reality. Saints witnessed a white dove fly down and land on the highest peak of the church building, an event many believed symbolized the Holy Ghost resting upon Maranatha Ministries. This moment remains engraved in the church seal to this day.
From 1993 to 1997, Pastor LaFleur and Mother LaFleur continued finalizing the new church. Over the next decade, Pastor LaFleur expanded his community outreach through a local broadcasting ministry. In January 2007, their son, Min. Jorel Shophar, produced a book titled Book of Laws, which was registered with the Library of Congress and sent to nations around the world. He received letters from prime ministers and presidents in several countries. Min. Jorel Shophar submitted the Book of Laws to his mother, who instructed him to make amendments and return to Michigan to prepare to become the next pastor of Maranatha. Honoring her guidance, he moved his family back to Michigan and surprised his father, Pastor LaFleur, on his birthday, Sunday, June 3, 2007. That morning, Pastor York LaFleur declared that Min. Jorel Shophar would no longer be known as Minister Jorel Shophar, but as Pastor Jorel Shophar, while Mother Ruby Stein called him a Priest of the Lord. Both Pastor York, and Mother Ruby Stein laid hands on Priest Jorel Shophar with oil and promoted him as the next leader and pastor over Maranatha Ministries.
From that time forward, Priest Jorel Shophar prepared for ministry while working closely with his mother. Although Pastor LaFleur did not retire in 2007, he continued to serve with strength for 17 more years. During this period, Priest Jorel Shophar preached the gospel through the United States Church Organization, that he moved to kansas, streaming the message to nations around the world and reaching millions of souls. While in kansas Priest Shophar faced persecution in his immediate family in kansas courts for "raising his children according to the bible," with kansas governmental state actors complaining that "Shophar asked the mother of his children to read the bible to them in the womb." Priest Shophar experienced tremendous persecution for his Faith in the Holy Word, affecting his family and children; nevertheless, Priest Shophar continues to raise his other children according to the Bible, as they excel in their talents and knowledge of a Living God, and His Christ. Priest Shophar continues to preach the Gospel of Christ and His return as King over the nations. As part of this preparation Priest Jorel Shophar’s eldest son, Raphah, studied the entire Holy Bible being tested over the course of 5 years, and servicing in ministry with his Father. Raphah Shophar was elevated to minister at the young age of 20, just as his Father. Priest Shophar was ordained in his young years at the age of 18, learning how to fast and pray from his Father. Sir, Pastor York trained Priest Shophar in the Word of God at an early age. Minister Raphah Shophar now accompanies his Father in ministry, taking care of the works of the ministry. Min. Shophar also runs the family businesses, which includes a security company, a home remodeling company, and a little league AAU basketball team. Min. Shophar is also a Minister of Music, worshipping the Lord on the piano. Priest Shophar's daughter, Grace Shophar also is very active in the family businesses, and ministry, assisting her brother and Father. She also assisted her Father with a biblical project that has taken 14 months to be complete, and is soon to be released. Grace Shophar writes music with her Father, and sings new songs of worship unto the Lord, gaining the position of Psalmist. The time has now come to carry forward the vision of Sir Pastor York LaFleur and Mother Rubie Stein LaFleur. Priest Jorel Shophar is now the Priest and Pastor, accompanied by his son, Min. Raphah Shophar, the grandson of Sir Pastor York, and his daughster and granddaughter of Sir Pastor York. She is known as Psalmist Grace Shophar. The time has come for Maranatha Ministries of Detroit to move into a New Generation, pursuing to complete the written vision of Sir, Paster York and Mother Ruby Stein, with an even greater vision for Maranatha Ministries.