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

Author(s)	Samuel J Steiner
Date Published	June 2024

"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

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.

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=179179.

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=179179.

Locust Grove Church (Burr Oak, Michigan, USA)

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