Our Story

The history of the Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church now bridges three centuries. In 1863, E.P. Hart, a leader in the early Free Methodist movement, and his wife, Martha, were at a rural railroad station in Ida, Michigan. They were pioneer church planters for the growing denomination. The drooping spirits of the Reverend E. P. Hart were encouraged by this wife, Martha, on that cold January day as she emphatically said:

While there’s a track, I’ll never go back, But go on at the risk of my all.”

Those simple words were set to music as revival fires swept across Southern Michigan, reaching Spring Arbor during the winter of 1870-1871. A.V. Leonardson became the first pastor of the fledgling flock of members. An old stone schoolhouse a mile west of Spring Arbor was the first home of the little church. Then, it was on to the dilapidated buildings remaining from a Free Will Baptist School in Spring Arbor. The next home for the congregation was the Music Hall of a new Spring Arbor College and then on to the chapel of a boy’s dormitory.

The Early Years

In 1922, a lovely stone church just north of M-60 on Cottage St, was built under the leadership of the Rev. James G. Fortress. You can see the bell at the west entrance to our sanctuary and some of the original stonework in our Fellowship area immediately to the south of our sanctuary.

The stone church was outgrown within a few years, and in 1963 a new sanctuary was constructed under the leadership of the Rev. Herbert Sebree. Sixteen years later, in 1979, the sanctuary was decreased in size to become our current Chapel and was replaced by our present sanctuary under the ministry of the Rev. John Hendricks.

In 1993, a major facility update took place under the Rev. Darold Hill. The Community Family Center, our current offices and additional classrooms were constructed. Today, many years after Martha Hart gave those determined words in 1863, the same spirit remains among our people. “While there’s a track, we’ll never go back, but go on at the risk of [our] all.”

From This Day On

This past spring, we launched a campaign to renovate our building with some much needed upgrades to better accomplish our mission. Our “From This Day On” campaign consists of $1.6 million of projects that we intend to do on a cash basis over the next three years. What is more, we plan to give a dollar to Global Outreach (World Missions and Community Outreach) for every dollar we spend on our 3-year renovation.

We desire to match the renovation of our building with the renovation of our hearts and minds as followers of Jesus. In the coming year, we will engage our people in a church-wide emphasis on discipleship – knowing God intimately and helping others know him too. We have introduced a core “Encountering God” curriculum designed to lead every participant to experience the life-changing power of a life that we have been given in Christ Jesus. You can learn about our discipleship opportunities, for children through adults, on our web site under the “Family Ministries” tab.