Lord of Lords Christian Ministries’ story isn’t just one about solar panels or energy upgrades—it’s a story about people, faith, and the unexpected doors that open when a community dares to believe in something bigger than their circumstances.

In the heart of a neighborhood long shaped by disinvestment and environmental injustice, what began as an effort to improve air quality and cut energy costs has become a movement that’s energized a congregation, inspired neighboring churches, and positioned the church’s pastor, Calvin Glass, as a powerful local voice for clean energy and equity.

Lord of Lords hosted a Solar Celebration to celebrate the installation of their panels and Michigan IPL's 20th anniversary (May 2024).

“The sun is not going nowhere and it’s God given” - Pastor Calvin Glass

In the heart of a struggling neighborhood on Detroit's East Side, Pastor Calvin Glass and his congregation at Lord of Lords Christian Ministries have spent over three decades filling a place of need for their community. A pastor's kid and one of nine children, Pastor Glass grew up in a home where church and service were central. It wasn’t unheard of for his mother to invite up to 20 people over for a Sunday meal. In his early twenties, with support from his father, who pastored King of Kings (just 15 minutes away), and his wife, he founded Lord of Lords Ministries in 1990.

Rooted in outreach from the beginning, the church initially served a largely working-class, factory-employed community. But as economic decline and population flight took hold — as Pastor Glass said, “first white flight, then Black flight, then everybody flight” — the church found itself in a neighborhood hollowed out by poverty, blight, and systemic neglect. Still, Pastor Glass and his congregation adapted, feeding the hungry, giving out groceries, Thanksgiving turkeys, toys, and bikes, and serving those who didn’t qualify for help elsewhere.

The pandemic brought severe challenges, depleting resources and shrinking their programs, but their mission remains unchanged: to love, serve, and uplift a community many have forgotten.

In December 2023-- before the church's solar panels were up and running-- Lord of Lords' electricity bill was $467.79. A year later, the church's electricity bill was just $2.41.

A journey from poor air to solar power

Pastor Calvin Glass’s journey into solar energy began about five years ago. He recalls, “I decided to teach our congregation and our community environmental stewardship.” His inspiration came from the book of Genesis, where God instructs Adam to care for and cultivate the land.

That message hit home when a neighbor brought in an air quality monitor and revealed just how poor the church's air quality was. Disturbed by the finding, and further motivated after discovering that the EPA had given their neighborhood an "F" for air quality, Pastor Glass asked, “If it's this bad—who is doing anything about it?” With high rates of respiratory illness, cancer, and asthma in the area, he felt a moral obligation to act. He didn’t just preach about it—he led by example, purchasing an electric vehicle, switching to battery-powered tools, and encouraging his congregation to consider clean energy despite the financial barriers. 

Soon after, he received an invitation to a meeting at Second Baptist Church in Detroit, where the conversation centered on how houses of worship could adopt solar power, sponsored by the Detroit 2030 District. After the meeting, Pastor Glass inquired whether Lord of Lords Ministries could benefit from solar lighting, and through Michigan IPL's Carbon Fund, the church received a small grant for solar-powered lights in the parking lot. Pastor Glass’s involvement deepened as he joined the Michigan IPL board.

In late 2023, Lord of Lords became the first Black church in Detroit to go solar through our Positive Energy program, which brought together grants, donations, and five individual lenders—each contributing $5,000—to finance a solar array for the church. 

Since going solar, Lord of Lord’s panels have generated 13 megawatt-hours of clean energy, preventing the equivalent of 42,413 pounds of coal from being burned. And the solar has cut the church's electricity bills by 80%.

Pastor Glass saw these opportunities as not just energy solutions for his congregation, but as a form of environmental and social justice. For Pastor Glass, solar isn’t just about saving energy; it’s about saving lives.

Pastor Glass (4th from right) and past and present Michigan IPL Board members and staff at the May 2024 Solar Celebration.

Uniting communities to expand clean energy access and justice

Access to clean energy isn’t just an environmental concern—it’s a social justice issue, and Pastor Glass sees that clearly through the work of Lord of Lords Ministries. Following the wisdom of his mentor, Dr. Eddie Edwards, pastor and founder of Joy of Jesus in Detroit, Pastor Glass emphasizes that low-income communities don’t need “a hand out, they need a hand up.” 

Too often, outreach efforts fall short because while the desire to help is there, the resources, training, and partnerships are not. Pastor Glass believes real change comes when the "haves" and the "have-nots" work together—when leaders from the suburbs unite with those in underserved city neighborhoods to fight the climate crisis together, in solidarity. 

Many low-income families want to live sustainably but simply don’t have the means or access. Lord of Lords Ministries is working to bridge that gap by seeking out investors and organizations that are willing to rally behind this cause. Pastor Glass dreams of creating a solar starter package for pastors and community leaders across Detroit—offering access to affordable, low-interest loans that could eventually wipe out sky-high utility bills. “Believe more in the mission than the money,” he says. That’s why he continues to advocate, educate, and lead by example—because clean energy should be a right, not a privilege.

Becoming the first Black church in Detroit to go solar positioned Lord of Lords Ministries—and Pastor Calvin Glass—as a trailblazer in both the city’s faith communities. “I became a leader among the leaders,” Pastor Glass says, as more pastors and churches now turn to him for guidance on clean energy. He launched a monthly solar awareness meeting for local clergy, creating space to share information, resources, and opportunities for churches interested in solar. 

As a designated resiliency hub through the Community Change Grant, funded by the EPA (now suspended due to the Trump administration’s attempt to claw back funds - Michigan IPL and others are part of a class action lawsuit to restore these funds), and through funds received through the Michigan Community Center Grant, the church now has backup batteries and the ability to serve the community during blackouts by providing a safe space to charge devices, power medical equipment, and stay cool during extreme weather. Backup batteries allow the church to store excess solar energy for use when panel output is low, such as at night, instead of sending it back to the grid. But Pastor Glass’s vision goes further—he dreams of community solar that can lower costs for residents and send surplus energy back to the grid. 

Pastor Glass shares his story with Solar Celebration attendees.

Renewing faith and community through clean energy and stewardship

The impact of the congregation’s move toward clean energy is tangible: the church is growing again, the congregation is more enthusiastic, youth are engaged, and a community garden has been established. The broader community is rallying behind the effort, and Pastor Glass has become a trusted spokesperson for clean energy and a passionate advocate for low-income residents who often go unheard. Pastor Glass is holding fast to faith that policies will catch up to the need.

Pastor Glass would tell other congregations that now is the time to get involved in the clean energy movement—whether by investing directly or seeking out the resources to do so. “The sun is not going nowhere, and it’s God-given,” he says, reminding faith communities that caring for creation is both a spiritual responsibility and a moral one.

As people of faith, we are called to steward the earth, protect our bodies as temples of God, and care for our neighbors—especially those most vulnerable to the impacts of pollution and climate change. Clean energy is not just an environmental issue; it’s a sacred duty.