History of Lake Community Bible Church
In the summer of 1990 a small group of people started meeting in the basement of an unfurnished Habitat house - no windows, but plenty of flies. Within a year the original Pastor of the small nondenominational church, Martin Crosthwaite, purchased the "Nook in the Woods" shop and cabin, and services were held in the current nursery building.
In 1993/94, Rev. Dick Gordon and The Independent Bible Mission in Grand Rapids came to help the struggling church. Pastor Gordon led in the building of the first portion of the church and it was dedicated in 1998. IBM funded the original building, and at that time the church became a member of the Independent Fundamental Churches of America.
In August of 1998, the church extended a call to Rev. Bill Dobson. He and his wife, Juanita, accepted the call and the church grew under their leadership. A few years later, a large addition was put on the back of the church to hold the summer congregations - holiday weekends were in excess of 200 people. Many attendees stood under the porch or sat in the foyer prior to the construction of the addition. To the surprise of many, the church was completely debt free when the addition was built. Pastor Dobson retired in 2012.
In June of 2013, Rev. Robert Sponable became the Pastor. He and his wife Nancy are currently serving the church.
The congregation has always been primarily retired persons along with a few younger families with children. God has abundantly blessed the efforts of the original members. Most of them are with the Lord but the fruit of their labor continues to be enjoyed by the Lake Community Bible Church family.
In the summer of 1990 a small group of people started meeting in the basement of an unfurnished Habitat house - no windows, but plenty of flies. Within a year the original Pastor of the small nondenominational church, Martin Crosthwaite, purchased the "Nook in the Woods" shop and cabin, and services were held in the current nursery building.
In 1993/94, Rev. Dick Gordon and The Independent Bible Mission in Grand Rapids came to help the struggling church. Pastor Gordon led in the building of the first portion of the church and it was dedicated in 1998. IBM funded the original building, and at that time the church became a member of the Independent Fundamental Churches of America.
In August of 1998, the church extended a call to Rev. Bill Dobson. He and his wife, Juanita, accepted the call and the church grew under their leadership. A few years later, a large addition was put on the back of the church to hold the summer congregations - holiday weekends were in excess of 200 people. Many attendees stood under the porch or sat in the foyer prior to the construction of the addition. To the surprise of many, the church was completely debt free when the addition was built. Pastor Dobson retired in 2012.
In June of 2013, Rev. Robert Sponable became the Pastor. He and his wife Nancy are currently serving the church.
The congregation has always been primarily retired persons along with a few younger families with children. God has abundantly blessed the efforts of the original members. Most of them are with the Lord but the fruit of their labor continues to be enjoyed by the Lake Community Bible Church family.
Hillside Chapel
