Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church has stood along Arsenal Road in Brownstown, Michigan for more than 130 years. The congregation, part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Southeast Michigan Synod, gathers each Sunday morning for a biblically based, liturgical worship service, and its members also run a long-standing food pantry that serves the surrounding community.
Sunday Morning at Faith Lutheran
Sunday School meets at 9:00 a.m. and the worship service follows at 10:00 a.m. The service is described by the congregation as liturgical and biblically based, with messages for both youth and adults that center on what the church calls God's life-changing Word. The service is broadcast on Facebook Live for those who cannot attend in person.
The church's mission, displayed across its materials, reads: Called by Christ ... Growing in Faith ... Sharing His Love. Worshipers gather around the proclamation of that Word and the celebration of the two sacraments central to Lutheran identity: Holy Baptism and Holy Communion.
What the Congregation Believes
Faith Lutheran states its beliefs plainly on its About page:
- Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, and sharing the Good News of salvation is the congregation's purpose.
- The Bible is the inspired Word of God and the source and norm for Christian living.
- The Church is a community of believers called to proclaim the Word and celebrate the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion.
- Human beings are in need of forgiveness that comes only through the grace of God.
- Christ has died, Christ is risen, and Christ will come again.
These statements place the congregation squarely within the teaching of the ELCA.
A History Going Back to 1889
The congregation's first called pastor, the Rev. Henry Wicke, was installed in 1889, and construction of the first church building began in 1890. That original structure, built of native lumber at a cost of $300, was intended as a temporary church until a permanent home could be erected. It would serve the congregation for nearly seven decades.
By 1905 the church had purchased an additional 9.5 acres of land from Mrs. Wicke, and the parish marked its Golden Jubilee in 1939. Ground was broken for a new 32-by-70-foot building in 1946, the cornerstone was laid that same year, and the new building was dedicated in 1950. A Moeller pipe organ was installed in 1953; the organ console was later given in memory of Paul Miller, a son of the former pastor Rev. Paul L. Miller who was missing in action in the Korean War. Bernadine Schaller served as organist from 1934 until her retirement in 1992, one of the longest tenures in the congregation's life.
The original 1890 building was razed on August 8, 1959. A Bell Memorial was dedicated in 1969 to mark the congregation's 80th anniversary. The biggest single change to the physical plant came in 1988, when a large addition brought a fellowship hall, kitchen, nursery, two classrooms, restrooms, pastor and secretary offices, a large narthex, and an elevator reaching all three levels. The basement was also renovated into five additional classrooms and a choir room.
Pastors Who Have Served
Over more than a century, Faith Lutheran has been served by a long line of pastors. Early in its history, the Rev. Henry Wicke shepherded the congregation from 1889 to 1904 and again from 1920 to 1922. He was followed by the Rev. Henry Rehn (1911 to 1920), the Rev. Henry Schuessler (1924 to 1936), and the Rev. H. W. Ellenberger (1936 to 1939). The congregation's 50th anniversary in 1939 came under the Rev. Jerome Kaufman, who served until 1945.
After the postwar years under the Rev. Paul L. Miller (1948 to 1957), the Rev. Dean Tyson shepherded the building of the new church in the late 1950s and 1960s. The Rev. E. Harold Hammer (1966 to 1976) was followed by the Rev. John Blakemore (1977 to 1982) and the Rev. Louis R. Forney (1982 to 1989), the latter leading the church through the 1988 building addition. The Rev. John Negele served for sixteen years (1989 to 2005), followed by the Rev. Ernest Hoffman (2006 to 2010) and the Rev. Richard Hogan (2011 to 2022). The current pastor, the Rev. Joshua Rinas, began his ministry at Faith Lutheran in 2022.
Children, Youth, and Learning
Sunday School for all ages meets at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday, an hour before worship. Children and youth are also included directly in the life of the congregation during the worship hour, with the church noting that the messages are shaped to touch hearts across generations. Vacation Bible School is a regular part of the summer rhythm; recent years have included themed programs such as "Rocky Railway" VBS.
The Food Pantry
Faith Lutheran's food pantry is one of the congregation's most visible outreach efforts. A dedicated food pantry page points neighbors in need to the church's location on Arsenal Road, and a separate contact email (faithelcb@att.net) is published for those seeking assistance or wishing to support the ministry. The pantry is sustained by the congregation and by community fundraisers such as the Souper Bowl Soup Drive and the Chiller Chili Cook-Off, which doubles as a Trunk or Treat event.
The Building Today
The present church building, dedicated in 1950 and expanded substantially in 1988, retains the Moeller pipe organ installed in 1953. The 1988 addition means visitors will find a fellowship hall, kitchen, nursery, multiple classrooms, and a choir room. An elevator serves all three levels, making the building accessible to those who cannot use the stairs. The large narthex, organ, and continuing Sunday rhythm give the space a settled, long-established feel that matches the congregation's age.
Practical Details for Visitors
The church office is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to noon and can be reached at (734) 782-9468 or faithlutheranbrownstown@gmail.com. The mailing address is 25402 Arsenal Road, Brownstown, MI 48134. Giving is available online through a dedicated giving page, and the Sunday service is livestreamed on the congregation's Facebook page for those who prefer to participate from home.