| Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church |
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1-248-646-5041 |
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Our History Of Making Jesus Known At Beautiful Savior
In September 1954, the Mission Committee of the Michigan District of the American Lutheran Church and Grace Lutheran Church of Detroit reached the decision to found a mission congregation in Bloomfield Township. On April 25, 1955, the new congregation was incorporated with the name Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. The name was chosen by Grace congregation. In the spring of that year, four lots (4 1/2 acres) were purchased at the present site. Grace Church undertook the construction of the parsonage at 1260 Whitmore, providing worship facilities in the basement. It was completed and dedicated on August 26, 1956. The first service of worship was September 9, 1956. Pastor Herman J. Kuhlmann served this new congregation while also continuing hist pastorate at Grace Church. On January 6, 1957, the congregation was officially organized. The first members were received on February 24, 1957, and the first church council was elected on the same date. Groundbreaking for the first unit (Present Chapel) was on March 3, 1957, and dedication of this building was September 8, 1957. Making Jesus Known in our community was the mission from the beginning of this congregation.  The growing congregation was soon ready for a full-time pastor, and Pastor Donald G. Zill was installed as the first full-time pastor in November, 1958. Pastor Zill was a spirit-filled leader and the congregation grew rapidly. The congregation was growing and felt the need to expand its facilities in order to help develop disciples in Jesus Christ. As a result, ground was broken for a second building in October, 1961. This was for space that included a youth Center, kitchen and lower level classrooms, Dedication of this second unit was on October 7, 1962. The congregation continued to grow and soon ground was broken for a third unit on March 13, 1966. This unit included the secretary's office and everything north of that office including the present nave and chancel, the library area, and lower classrooms. The congregation celebrated its 10th Anniversary and dedicated this third unit on February 26, 1967. The congregation had grown to over 400 in weekly attendance, and the people continued to strive to Make Jesus Known. In the summer of 1968, Pastor Zill accepted a call to begin a new congregation at the University of Michigan. Pastor Fred W MacLean accepted the congregation's call to become our third Pastor. He was installed in January 1969. The congregation expanded its care for people both at home and around the world. The congregation began the Partner in Mission programs that supports other Lutheran Churches and the Matthew 25 program that supports soup kitchen and feeds the poor. The congregation adopted Vietnamese families and successfully established itself as an outreach church. In 1989 the congregation called Pastor Philip Hemke to become its fourth Senior Pastor. In the 1990's the congregation articulated its long standing mission in these words: Our Mission:
The congregation has focused its ministry in a variety of ways. The Helping Hand Ministry was established in 1989. This ministry focuses on lay people caring for our members and friends by using the Stephen Ministry and Prayer Teams. We have made it our business to welcome strangers and to seek the unchurched. In 1995, we developed a praise service to complement our dynamic traditional service. In 1997, we established our Early Childhood Center. In 2002, we completed and dedicated our new Welcome Center. We continue to strive to: pray daily, worship weekly, study the Bible daily, be in a Relationship-small group, serve others by giving of our time and a tithe. We continue to lift up the core beliefs that have been carried across time since our congregation was founded in 1955. |
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