Saint Joseph
Michigan
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Oakridge Baptist Church
The roots of our Church goes back to around 1845 in Germany. Germany was in much turmoil at that time and an example of those who were hounded by police for their faith and preaching activity was William Edward Grimm. Ten times he was dragged before the Magistrates of Memel, a town in East Prussia, near the border of Lithuania.
He and 14 of his flock decided to immigrate to America. They arrived in 1847 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After years of hardship, 4 families sailed across Lake Michigan to come to St Joseph. Later, they invited their former pastor, W.E. Grimm, to come to St Joseph. After he arrived, they all lived in one house and held religious services there every Sunday. In January of 1856, the St Joseph City Council gave them lot number 384; on what now is the corner of Church and Broad Streets. Here they organized the "First German Baptist Church" with 21 members and built a 'house of worship'. In 1881, a larger brick church was built right next to the first chapel; membership at that time was 150. (The name of this church was changed to "First Baptist Church" of St Joseph in 1933).
Many members lived across the river in or near Benton Harbor and so the church in St Joseph started in 1908 to build a chapel on Clay Street in Benton Harbor. After completion in 1909, 112 members were released to form a new congregation and they named it the "First German Baptist Church". In 1917, this church started a new building right on the corner of Clay and Pavonne in Benton Harbor and was dedicated on August 18, 1918. In 1948, the name was changed to "Clay Street Baptist Church". The members of the Clay Street Church voted to build a new and larger church. In May, 1957, the new church building was started and the first worship service was help on June 8, 1958. The name of the church was changed to Napier Parkview Baptist Church.
A group in the German Sunday School class decided to buy the old church property and form a new German church. On May 7, 1958, a special meeting was held and the new church formally organized. The church was once again named the "First German Baptist Church". On June 1, 1958, 60 members were released from Napier Parkview Baptist Church and held their first service on June 8, 1958. The first paster, Rev. Willy W. Knauf, came to the church in June, 1959. Rev. Knauf went to the Lord on November 24, 1963. Rev. Henry Smith served the church from June 1964 to January 25, 1967. Rev. Herman A. Pohl came to the church on October 15, 1967 and served the church through August 15, 1969.
In 1969, the old parsonage in Benton Harbor was sold and a new one was built on a tract of land south of St Joseph. Then in March of 1971, the church building on Clay Street in Benton Harbor was sold and the groundbreaking for the new church was held in April, 1971. The official dedication of the new church was held on November 14, 1971. With this relocation of the church to south St Joseph, the name of the church was changed to "Oakridge Baptist Church". Brother Richard Kalmbach, after finishing his study at the Seminary, came to us on June 27, 1971 and served Oakridge Baptist Church until March 31, 1974. The church extended a call to Rev. Oscar Fritzke and he became our pastor on June 1, 1974. Rev. Fritzke faithfully served Oakridge Baptist Church until June 30, 1981. On November 15, 1981, Rev. Jack Whitehead became our pastor. After Rev. Whitehead moved on, Pastor Floyd Robinson came to us and served our church until 1993. Steve Donoghue served as our pastor until October 2001.
Dave Broome became our pastor in September, 2002 and retired from ministry in 2008. Pastor Nick Jackson became our pastor, having served 4 years as our youth/associate pastor. He and his wife Stephanie and their two children have brought youth, energy, and a new enthusiasm to our church.
As you have found in reading about our church, a lot has transpired over the years. So much, that there's still much history that has been left out. Please come and join us sometime and we'll be glad to tell you more!
He and 14 of his flock decided to immigrate to America. They arrived in 1847 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After years of hardship, 4 families sailed across Lake Michigan to come to St Joseph. Later, they invited their former pastor, W.E. Grimm, to come to St Joseph. After he arrived, they all lived in one house and held religious services there every Sunday. In January of 1856, the St Joseph City Council gave them lot number 384; on what now is the corner of Church and Broad Streets. Here they organized the "First German Baptist Church" with 21 members and built a 'house of worship'. In 1881, a larger brick church was built right next to the first chapel; membership at that time was 150. (The name of this church was changed to "First Baptist Church" of St Joseph in 1933).
Many members lived across the river in or near Benton Harbor and so the church in St Joseph started in 1908 to build a chapel on Clay Street in Benton Harbor. After completion in 1909, 112 members were released to form a new congregation and they named it the "First German Baptist Church". In 1917, this church started a new building right on the corner of Clay and Pavonne in Benton Harbor and was dedicated on August 18, 1918. In 1948, the name was changed to "Clay Street Baptist Church". The members of the Clay Street Church voted to build a new and larger church. In May, 1957, the new church building was started and the first worship service was help on June 8, 1958. The name of the church was changed to Napier Parkview Baptist Church.
A group in the German Sunday School class decided to buy the old church property and form a new German church. On May 7, 1958, a special meeting was held and the new church formally organized. The church was once again named the "First German Baptist Church". On June 1, 1958, 60 members were released from Napier Parkview Baptist Church and held their first service on June 8, 1958. The first paster, Rev. Willy W. Knauf, came to the church in June, 1959. Rev. Knauf went to the Lord on November 24, 1963. Rev. Henry Smith served the church from June 1964 to January 25, 1967. Rev. Herman A. Pohl came to the church on October 15, 1967 and served the church through August 15, 1969.
In 1969, the old parsonage in Benton Harbor was sold and a new one was built on a tract of land south of St Joseph. Then in March of 1971, the church building on Clay Street in Benton Harbor was sold and the groundbreaking for the new church was held in April, 1971. The official dedication of the new church was held on November 14, 1971. With this relocation of the church to south St Joseph, the name of the church was changed to "Oakridge Baptist Church". Brother Richard Kalmbach, after finishing his study at the Seminary, came to us on June 27, 1971 and served Oakridge Baptist Church until March 31, 1974. The church extended a call to Rev. Oscar Fritzke and he became our pastor on June 1, 1974. Rev. Fritzke faithfully served Oakridge Baptist Church until June 30, 1981. On November 15, 1981, Rev. Jack Whitehead became our pastor. After Rev. Whitehead moved on, Pastor Floyd Robinson came to us and served our church until 1993. Steve Donoghue served as our pastor until October 2001.
Dave Broome became our pastor in September, 2002 and retired from ministry in 2008. Pastor Nick Jackson became our pastor, having served 4 years as our youth/associate pastor. He and his wife Stephanie and their two children have brought youth, energy, and a new enthusiasm to our church.
As you have found in reading about our church, a lot has transpired over the years. So much, that there's still much history that has been left out. Please come and join us sometime and we'll be glad to tell you more!