We at Lake Center Bible Church enjoy a rich heritage as our roots have been planted deeply by those who have gone before us.  Each one has responded to the call of God on their life, as bricks were laid on the foundation that has given us the strength and vision for the future God continues to unfold before us.

In the Fall of 1937, Mr. & Mrs. Peter Gerlofs, Mr. & Mrs. Elton Mills and Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Daniels met at the Daniels’ home for prayer and to consider the possibility of starting a Sunday School to minister to the spiritual needs of the children and families in the community of Portage Township.  These couples canvassed the entire community around the four lakes in the area with fliers.  As a result, on October 17, 1937, 42 people attended the first Sunday School Service that was held at 506 Bacon Rd. – which was a 2-room schoolhouse.

Mrs. Lavina Daniels taught Sunday School and was the school teacher for these same children during the week, as she served as a guiding light for this young church for the first 40 years.

The church began to grow and in 1946 they were incorporated and legally established as Lake Center Bible Church.  That same year they began an evening service and voted to support their first missionary.  In 1947, Mr. Elton Mills (Mrs. Daniels’ brother-in-law) was invited to become Lake Center’s first pastor, and by October of 1947, Lake Center was ready to move to its first brand new building on the corner of Bacon Rd. and Portage Rd.  Their first morning worship service, and first service in their new building was in July of 1948.

In 1954, Pastor Kent Wray became Lake Center’s second pastor, and in June of 1956, under the direction of Pastor Wray, a “Drive-In” evening service was started that met at 8715 Portage Rd.  It was a small building with a platform that opened and closed with weights.  When closed, the platform became the side of the building, and there were 100 parking spots.  The Drive-In continued through September and became a regular Summer ministry for the church until it ended the Summer of 1964 – at which time the building was dismantled and the rental of the property was terminated.

In November of 1958, Pastor Grant Schrauger became the third pastor.  What began as that little church in the 2-room schoolhouse continued to experience growing pains and in March of 1962, construction began at the current site of Lake Center Bible Church, 805 E. Osterhout – on land that had been owned by Mr. & Mrs. Earl Osterhout and Miss Lurene Osterhout.  In November of 1962, regular services began, and on April 14, 1963 they held their first Baptism Service in the new building.

On January 21, 1968, Pastor Carl Holwerda became the fourth pastor.  The very next month, a Women’s Morning Prayer Group began that met each Tuesday morning for one hour, and on Palm Sunday, a new Sunday School attendance record was set at 350 people.  In January of 1969, Pastor Holwerda and the adult choir were on the radio, another first for Lake Center.  Later that year a used bus was purchased to bring children to Sunday School, followed by a second bus in 1970, and a third was added in 1971, which would serve to provide transportation for the very same children Lake Center was founded to reach.

Pastor Terry Puett began his ministry on July 27, 1975 as the fifth pastor, and on April 27, 1977, Gordon Daam was called as Associate Pastor to follow up with the children who came on those buses.  During the late 70’s and 80’s, Lake Center and its bus ministry grew and brought thousands of children to hear about Jesus, but times were changing…

By the time we reached the 90’s, the growth and increasing attendance were pushing at the walls of the building and talk of an addition began, and in 1992 the addition was complete that we now know as the current sanctuary and the rooms below it.

In 1995, Lake Center called Pastor Don Urey to be its sixth pastor.  Pastor Urey, a stately, scholarly and professional man of God was instrumental to the church we are today.  He began the transition from a traditional personality to a more contemporary one.  He started with our infrastructure, getting policies and roles in place, and partnered that with a focus toward training and mentoring younger men, while standing strongly on the Biblical and spiritual foundations that were laid before him.

In the Fall of 2001, Lake Center called Pastor Joe Lombardi as its seventh pastor, as he continued to support the new direction. Pastor Joe transitioned us to live music during his short tenure, as well as beginning LifeStage Biblical ministries that helped people connect with those of their own generation while learning the Word of God.   

In December of 2004, Pastor Greg Stewart became our eighth and current pastor.  As one of Pastor Urey’s mentees who he hired in 1995 as a youth pastor, Pastor Greg had seen and been involved in many of the changes and transitions that prepared him for this new adventure.  With a vision and passion on his heart to reach beyond the walls of the building to meet the needs of people, we are rolling up our sleeves and getting involved in the transformation of lives, as our door to the future opens wider and wider and we follow the path God empowers us to walk.