AboutUs - Reformed Baptist Church of Lenawee

Committed to Biblical Truth Through Preaching & Practice

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

Reformed Baptist Church of Lenawee, formerly known as Deming's Lake Memorial Church, had its first service August 24, 1983. After meeting in private homes for approximately 9 months the Lord graciously provided a building to meet in. This building was in the middle of the country, did not have indoor plumbing and had set empty for years. Most people in the area were quite familiar with the building and where it was located. The entire church body came together to help clean and remodel. After remodeling, there was indoor plumbing, a nursery for the soon to be baby boom and a wonderful place to worship the Lord.

With a place to worship came the challenge of calling our first pastor. The Lord was pleased to send many godly men who came to fill the pulpit, but we realized if we were to grow and be established as a church we needed someone to come and live among us. On September 9, 1985 we officially issued a call to Calvin Walden to come and be our pastor. January 5, 1986 the church was constituted with 12 charter members.

We stayed in our building out in the country for several years. We began having many students from Hillsdale College come and worship with us. That ministry blossomed and we soon began to run out of room. With that realization, we began the search for a rented facility. We worshipped in rented facilities for about seven years. Such building consisted of Ogden Community Church building in Blissfield and the 7th Day Adventist Church building in Adrian. For a period of approximately 3 months, we were able to worship at Christ's Episcopal Church in Adrian where we had our service after theirs. As we began to move out of the Clayton area, we changed our name to Reformed Baptist Church of Lenawee. No longer was the Deming's Lake Memorial Church building of name recognized by the new sphere of ministry we were working in.

While we were still in our little building, the Lord graciously brought to us another elder to come along side Pastor Walden and work in the ministry with him. Pastor Ron Henry moved from Big Rapids, MI and was recognized as an elder in the church in 1993. Because the church was so young and unable to support two pastors, he took a job at Lenawee Stamping in Tecumseh. Pastor Henry taught us how to live and die well. He served as our Pastor until the Lord took him home in 2003.

One of the young men that grew up in our church, Aaron Deline, came back to the area after getting a degree in Physical Therapy and completing ministerial training at Knox Seminary in Florida. The church recognized him as an elder in 2004. Still a small church, Pastor Deline has worked at Carter Rehabilitation Center as well as assuming pastoral responsibilities in the church since that time. He has had an impact not only in our congregation, but in the community as well.

Realizing that we were a people without a home, we began looking for a building suitable for worship. God has graciously provided us that building and we had our first service on November 1, 2007. Our new building is an historical sight in Adrian, the former St. John’s Lutheran Church building, and well known to the community. We are located at 121 S. Locust which is right across the street from the Post Office.

The Lord has been pleased to bless us as a congregation, as well as lead us through some difficult circumstances. We are thankful that most of our charter members are still with us…one has gone on to glory and one family relocated with their job. Although a small church, God has given us a great love for His Word and a desire to live holy lives. The fellowship is intimate and the people are very warm and loving.

As 2009 approaches, we begin our 23^rd year as a church. There is yet much to be done in the kingdom. The fields are white unto harvest. May God use us to advance His kingdom in our community and throughout the world.

To God be the glory!