Locust Grove Church (Burr Oak, Michigan, USA)
The Locust Grove Mennonite Church in Burr Oak, Michigan, began about 1940 as a mission outpost of the Shore Mennonite Church near Shipshewana, Indiana. The initial members met in a house until a meetinghouse was constructed at the present site in 1941. It enlarged the meetinghouse in 1950.
The congregation was formally organized on 18 November 1945.
Locust Grove established a daughter congregation, South Colon, in 1954.
In 1960, Locust Grove decided to build a new meetinghouse with brick veneer on the property. In 1975, a fellowship hall was added to the building, with additional Sunday school space in its basement.
A major church split in 1997 occurred over leadership styles and differing understandings of the pastor's role. Pastor Jay Ulrich resigned and formed the new non-denominational Firm Foundation Ministries. A number of Locust Grove members followed Ulrich to the new church.
After the painful split, Interim Pastor Gerald Sims suggested the congregation put together a Christmas drama to present to the community. The result, "Mary: A Mother’s Story," drew more than 2,500 people every year and helped the congregation move forward.
In 2018, the congregation withdrew from the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference and Mennonite Church USA and joined the newly formed Evana Network. In 2023, the congregation changed its name from Locust Grove Mennonite Church to Locust Grove Church.
Bibliography
"Our history." Locust Grove Mennonite Church. 2024. Web. 17 June 2024. https://lgmchurch.org/about-locust-grove-2/.
Preheim, Rich. In Pursuit of Faithfulness: Conviction, Conflict, and Compromise in Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. Harrisonburg, Va.: Herald Press, 2016: 219, 259, 310.
Wenger, John Christian. The Mennonites in Indiana and Michigan. Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 1961: 243-244.
Additional Information
Address: 29525 Findley Road, Burr Oak, Michigan 49030
Telephone: 269-489-5041
Website: https://lgmchurch.org/
Denominational Affiliations:
Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference (Until 2018)
Mennonite Church USA (Until 2018)
Evana Network (2018- )
Pastoral Leaders at Locust Grove Mennonite Church
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Shore Ministers | 1940-1941 |
| Leonard A. Haarer (1918-2001) | 1941-1950 |
| Orvin H. Hooley (1910-1998) (Bishop) |
1945-1957 1957-1964 |
| William D. Hooley (1928-2019) | 1963-1966 |
| Dean M. Brubaker (1925-2020) | 1966-1985 |
| James J. Carpenter (Nurture) |
1967-1986 2004-2008 |
| Orville G. Miller | 1987-1991 |
| Jay Miller (Assistant) | 1990-1991 |
| Leon D. Kaufman (Interim) | 1991-1993 |
| Jay Ulrich | 1994-1996 |
| Gerald Sims (Interim) | 1998-2001 |
| John M. Troyer | 2001-2007 |
| Faith Carpenter (Nurture) | 2004-2008? |
| Bill Beck | 2008-2021 |
| Matt Yoder | 2021- |
Locust Grove Mennonite Church Membership
| Year | Members |
|---|---|
| 1945 | 61 |
| 1950 | 150 |
| 1960 | 168 |
| 1970 | 237 |
| 1980 | 302 |
| 1990 | 397 |
| 2000 | 239 |
| 2009 | 206 |
Original Mennonite Encyclopedia Article
By Orvin H. Hooley. Copied by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 384. All rights reserved.
Locust Grove Mennonite Church (Mennonite Church (MC)), located five miles northwest of Burr Oak, St. Joseph County, Michigan, is a member of the Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference. It was started as a mission station by the Shore congregation near Shipshewana, Indiana, about 1940. On 18 November 1945, the church was organized with 61 charter members, and Orvin H. Hooley was ordained as pastor. Lee J. Miller, bishop of the Shore congregation, served as bishop. The 1954 membership was 190. The first meetinghouse was built in 1941 and enlarged in 1950.
| Author(s) | Samuel J Steiner |
|---|---|
| Date Published | June 2024 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Steiner, Samuel J. "Locust Grove Church (Burr Oak, Michigan, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. June 2024. Web. 21 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Locust_Grove_Church_(Burr_Oak,_Michigan,_USA)&oldid=179178.
APA style
Steiner, Samuel J. (June 2024). Locust Grove Church (Burr Oak, Michigan, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 21 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Locust_Grove_Church_(Burr_Oak,_Michigan,_USA)&oldid=179178.
©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.