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The Beaverton Church of the Nazarene was started and sponsored by the NYPS (National Young People Society now known as Nazarene Youth International) of Midland Church of the Nazarene. The first evangelistic campaign was held December 9-22, 1939. Rev. C.A. Bearinger was the first pastor, commuting from Midland.
Rev. Lester Shepherd was appointed by Rev. R V. Starr, the Michigan District Superintendent, to begin pastoring September 29, 1940. He commuted from Saginaw.
The church was officially organized July 27, 1941 by Rev. R V Starr, District Superintendent. Rev. Eddie Patzsch had held a revival for two weeks prior to organization. The chuch was organized on the last day of that revival. Our first years report showed an average attendance of 30 and an enrollment of 68.
The District assembly appointed Rev. Harold Parkinson of Bay City to be the pastor for the next year. He lived at home, and drove back and forth for Sunday Services and Wednesday prayer meetings until able to find a place to live in Beaverton.
A Sunday School record was set on Mother’s Day in 1942. We had 90 in Sunday School attendance. The church met above the Ransom Burgess’s Store on West Brown Street from 1940-1945. Rev. Parkinson served until the summer of 1942. On June 14, 1942, our church organized its Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society. Mrs. Dorothy Hatter, District President presided. Our first officers were Mrs. Lucille Craft, President; Mrs. Mildred Montgomery, vice-president; Mrs. Olive Spicer, secretary-treasurer; Mrs. Fred Ashley, study secretary. Rev. Clarence Sanborn came in August of 1942 and served until December of 1944.
December 6 -17, 1944 a revival was held with Rev. And Mrs. George Bugbee as evangelists. Soon after the revival Rev. Bugbee was given a call to come and be the pastor. The Bugbees served the church as pastor from January 14, 1945 to March 9, 1947.
By February 14, 1945 the church had purchased property on Brown Street and was planning to build. Construction went on through the summer and fall. On January 7, 1946, the dedication of the Brown Street Church took place. Rev. William McGuire District Superintendent brought the message.
Rev. Charles Farmer served as pastor from June 8, 1947 to July 10, 1949; Rev. Miss Erma Pierce from July 17, 1949 until October 1 1953; and Rev. Allen Cobb Pastored from October 1 1953 until February 28, 1958. Under Rev. Cobb’s ministry the parsonage on Brown Street was purchased in 1954. It was sold in 1968. Rev. G. Howard Rowe pastored from March 2,1958 until May 31, 1960; Rev. Delmar Dravenstatt served from June 16, 1960 until January 1963; and Rev. Ray Huffman served as pastor from march of 1963 until May of 1964.
Rev. Francis Voller then came as pastor. He served from August of 1964 until August of 1971. Under his ministry in 1967 the property for the parsonage of North Branch Drive was acquired. Construction of the parsonage took place during the fall and winter of 1968 and was completed in the spring of 1969. In 1970 the property at the corner of Lang and Burgess Roads was purchased in anticipation of building a new, more adequate, church.
Rev. Warren Holcomb came as pastor in August of 1971. He served until January of 1973. Rev. Voller returned as pastor in February 1973 and served until October of the same year, when his health forced him to retire.
Rev. Mark Moore came as pastor on January 31, 1974, July 1975 the church voted to build its new church. April of 1976 construction began. There were several delays but the building progressed to completion in May of 1977. June 5, 1977 the first service was held in the new church of 540 Lang Rd. July 3, 1977 a public cornerstone laying service was held. August 28, 1977 the church was dedicated with Rev. Harry T. Stanley District Superintendent as the guest speaker.
July 16, 1987, a fire raged through our former church building at 115 E. Brown St. It was totally destroyed. The building is gone but many memories remain of God’s blessings there.
At the Annual meeting of the church, April 24, 1988, the church voted to build the education wing addition and pave the parking lot.
Sunday morning November 20, 1988 the church celebrated the burning of the mortgage on the parsonage at 3420 North Branch Drive and the present church building. It was paid off four years ahead of schedule.
The church received a generous memorial offering in June 1988 from Mrs. Ruth Stockton in memory of her late husband, Mr. Ralph Stockton. Mr. Stockton had been a charter member of the Beaverton Church of the Nazarene. The church board chose a steeple as a fitting memorial for Mr. Stockton. The steeple, along with the new building addition and paved parking lot were dedicated Sunday afternoon, November 29, 1988. Rev. Milton Hoose, District Superintendent of the Northern Michigan District and Rev. Warren Holcomb, former pastor, were present for this special occasion.
July 27, 1991, the 50th Anniversary Bell Tower was dedicated.. exactly 50 years to the day after our Beaverton Church was organized. The tower houses the bell that rang from our Brown Street church from December 16, 1945 to June 5, 1977. July 28, 1991, our Sunday Services were set to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the church. Rev. Allen Cobb and Rev. Warren Holcomb, former pastors; Rev. Milton Hoose, District Superintendent; and Mayor Bernard Allen, City of Beaverton were our guest.
On August 9, 1988 the dedication of our new “Family Life Center” was celebrated on Sunday afternoon, at 2:30 PM. Dr. Curtis Lewis, our district superintendent brought the message of dedication. Rev. Milton Hoose was the project manager for the building and had the opening prayer.
On October 5, 2008, the Church of the Nazarene as a denomination celebrated its 100 year Centennial. The Beaverton Church of the Nazarene celebrated with its morning worship under a tent provided by Rick Grove. It was a beautiful day with 120 in attendance. Pastor Moore preached the message and then led the congregation in a Hallelujah march around the entire church to the strains of “Amazing Grace” that he played on his trombone. Bill Rievert took a group picture, one of which is on display in the church.
March 29, 2009, the Beaverton Church of the Nazarene celebrated the burning of its mortgage on the Family Life Center addition. The church has been debt free ever since. Dr. Wayne Brown, our Northern Michigan District Superintendent brought the celebration sermon.
July 24, 2011 the church celebrated its 70th Anniversary. Rev. Mark Moore retired after 37 ½ years of ministry in Beaverton. Rev. Martin Hodge began his first Sunday as the pastor of Beaverton Nazarene.
Within the first two years of Pastor Martin Hodge’s ministry, the Beaverton Church saw the greatest growth in its 75-year history. In 2013, the Beaverton Church of the Nazarene was the fastest growing Nazarene church in the State of Michigan and was recognized as one of the top 100 fastest growing in USA and Canada
Pastor Hodge moved to Mackey, Indiana in June 2016. Pastor Jacob Salem was elected as the Pastor of the Beaverton Church and served for a year in this position.
December 25, 2017, Pastor Martin Hodge returned as the Beaverton Nazarene pastor.
In 2018, the church board voted to hire a children’s ministry director. Pastor Hodge hired Lisa Burgess. Lisa began her ministry assignment April 2019.
In 2020, the church board voted to hire a Youth Pastor. Pastor Hodge hired Rebecca Komlassan and she began her ministry assignment May 2021.
The church currently has just over 268 members. The church campus is valued at over $2,500,000 and is debt free.
Join us every Sunday as we gather to worship together a 9:30 am and 11 am.
Rev. Lester Shepherd was appointed by Rev. R V. Starr, the Michigan District Superintendent, to begin pastoring September 29, 1940. He commuted from Saginaw.
The church was officially organized July 27, 1941 by Rev. R V Starr, District Superintendent. Rev. Eddie Patzsch had held a revival for two weeks prior to organization. The chuch was organized on the last day of that revival. Our first years report showed an average attendance of 30 and an enrollment of 68.
The District assembly appointed Rev. Harold Parkinson of Bay City to be the pastor for the next year. He lived at home, and drove back and forth for Sunday Services and Wednesday prayer meetings until able to find a place to live in Beaverton.
A Sunday School record was set on Mother’s Day in 1942. We had 90 in Sunday School attendance. The church met above the Ransom Burgess’s Store on West Brown Street from 1940-1945. Rev. Parkinson served until the summer of 1942. On June 14, 1942, our church organized its Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society. Mrs. Dorothy Hatter, District President presided. Our first officers were Mrs. Lucille Craft, President; Mrs. Mildred Montgomery, vice-president; Mrs. Olive Spicer, secretary-treasurer; Mrs. Fred Ashley, study secretary. Rev. Clarence Sanborn came in August of 1942 and served until December of 1944.
December 6 -17, 1944 a revival was held with Rev. And Mrs. George Bugbee as evangelists. Soon after the revival Rev. Bugbee was given a call to come and be the pastor. The Bugbees served the church as pastor from January 14, 1945 to March 9, 1947.
By February 14, 1945 the church had purchased property on Brown Street and was planning to build. Construction went on through the summer and fall. On January 7, 1946, the dedication of the Brown Street Church took place. Rev. William McGuire District Superintendent brought the message.
Rev. Charles Farmer served as pastor from June 8, 1947 to July 10, 1949; Rev. Miss Erma Pierce from July 17, 1949 until October 1 1953; and Rev. Allen Cobb Pastored from October 1 1953 until February 28, 1958. Under Rev. Cobb’s ministry the parsonage on Brown Street was purchased in 1954. It was sold in 1968. Rev. G. Howard Rowe pastored from March 2,1958 until May 31, 1960; Rev. Delmar Dravenstatt served from June 16, 1960 until January 1963; and Rev. Ray Huffman served as pastor from march of 1963 until May of 1964.
Rev. Francis Voller then came as pastor. He served from August of 1964 until August of 1971. Under his ministry in 1967 the property for the parsonage of North Branch Drive was acquired. Construction of the parsonage took place during the fall and winter of 1968 and was completed in the spring of 1969. In 1970 the property at the corner of Lang and Burgess Roads was purchased in anticipation of building a new, more adequate, church.
Rev. Warren Holcomb came as pastor in August of 1971. He served until January of 1973. Rev. Voller returned as pastor in February 1973 and served until October of the same year, when his health forced him to retire.
Rev. Mark Moore came as pastor on January 31, 1974, July 1975 the church voted to build its new church. April of 1976 construction began. There were several delays but the building progressed to completion in May of 1977. June 5, 1977 the first service was held in the new church of 540 Lang Rd. July 3, 1977 a public cornerstone laying service was held. August 28, 1977 the church was dedicated with Rev. Harry T. Stanley District Superintendent as the guest speaker.
July 16, 1987, a fire raged through our former church building at 115 E. Brown St. It was totally destroyed. The building is gone but many memories remain of God’s blessings there.
At the Annual meeting of the church, April 24, 1988, the church voted to build the education wing addition and pave the parking lot.
Sunday morning November 20, 1988 the church celebrated the burning of the mortgage on the parsonage at 3420 North Branch Drive and the present church building. It was paid off four years ahead of schedule.
The church received a generous memorial offering in June 1988 from Mrs. Ruth Stockton in memory of her late husband, Mr. Ralph Stockton. Mr. Stockton had been a charter member of the Beaverton Church of the Nazarene. The church board chose a steeple as a fitting memorial for Mr. Stockton. The steeple, along with the new building addition and paved parking lot were dedicated Sunday afternoon, November 29, 1988. Rev. Milton Hoose, District Superintendent of the Northern Michigan District and Rev. Warren Holcomb, former pastor, were present for this special occasion.
July 27, 1991, the 50th Anniversary Bell Tower was dedicated.. exactly 50 years to the day after our Beaverton Church was organized. The tower houses the bell that rang from our Brown Street church from December 16, 1945 to June 5, 1977. July 28, 1991, our Sunday Services were set to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the church. Rev. Allen Cobb and Rev. Warren Holcomb, former pastors; Rev. Milton Hoose, District Superintendent; and Mayor Bernard Allen, City of Beaverton were our guest.
On August 9, 1988 the dedication of our new “Family Life Center” was celebrated on Sunday afternoon, at 2:30 PM. Dr. Curtis Lewis, our district superintendent brought the message of dedication. Rev. Milton Hoose was the project manager for the building and had the opening prayer.
On October 5, 2008, the Church of the Nazarene as a denomination celebrated its 100 year Centennial. The Beaverton Church of the Nazarene celebrated with its morning worship under a tent provided by Rick Grove. It was a beautiful day with 120 in attendance. Pastor Moore preached the message and then led the congregation in a Hallelujah march around the entire church to the strains of “Amazing Grace” that he played on his trombone. Bill Rievert took a group picture, one of which is on display in the church.
March 29, 2009, the Beaverton Church of the Nazarene celebrated the burning of its mortgage on the Family Life Center addition. The church has been debt free ever since. Dr. Wayne Brown, our Northern Michigan District Superintendent brought the celebration sermon.
July 24, 2011 the church celebrated its 70th Anniversary. Rev. Mark Moore retired after 37 ½ years of ministry in Beaverton. Rev. Martin Hodge began his first Sunday as the pastor of Beaverton Nazarene.
Within the first two years of Pastor Martin Hodge’s ministry, the Beaverton Church saw the greatest growth in its 75-year history. In 2013, the Beaverton Church of the Nazarene was the fastest growing Nazarene church in the State of Michigan and was recognized as one of the top 100 fastest growing in USA and Canada
Pastor Hodge moved to Mackey, Indiana in June 2016. Pastor Jacob Salem was elected as the Pastor of the Beaverton Church and served for a year in this position.
December 25, 2017, Pastor Martin Hodge returned as the Beaverton Nazarene pastor.
In 2018, the church board voted to hire a children’s ministry director. Pastor Hodge hired Lisa Burgess. Lisa began her ministry assignment April 2019.
In 2020, the church board voted to hire a Youth Pastor. Pastor Hodge hired Rebecca Komlassan and she began her ministry assignment May 2021.
The church currently has just over 268 members. The church campus is valued at over $2,500,000 and is debt free.
Join us every Sunday as we gather to worship together a 9:30 am and 11 am.