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History
Prince of Peace is defined by its friendly, family-like qualities.
When asked to describe Prince of Peace in a word or Phrase, members
responded with phrases like: “friendly” and “like a small family.”
Like any healthy family, the members of Prince of Peace demonstrate
a love and concern for one another.
Members shared personal testimonies to the love and support they
have received from their fellow believers.
That wonderful caring attitude extends to and includes your pastor
and his family. That’s
a real blessing!
Finally, Prince of Peace’s commitment to biblical truth is this
congregation’s most treasured heritage.
In a society that embraces tolerance, diversity, and denies objective
truth, Prince of Peace has been built on the truth of God’s Word.
The lesson of history is to thank God for his blessings
and build on those blessings, to appreciate your biblical heritage and
do what is necessary to hand that heritage on to succeeding generation
in a meaningful way.
A church’s history explains how it got to be what it is.
In that history we see blessings for which to thank God for and
strengths on which to build the future.
Knowing our roots allows us to learn from the past and plan wisely
for the future.
Keep
the following question in mind when reviewing Howell Prince of Peace’s
past:
“With God’s continued
blessing, how big of a future do you want?”
Prince of Peace’s history is defined by several significant facts
and characteristics. First,
it is defined by its pastorates.
Of your four previous resident pastors, three of them served for
more than six years providing the congregation with relative stability. Only one pastor served less than four years.
There were two longer vacancy periods, one lasting five months
and the other seven months.
Pastorates
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Pastor
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Dates of Service
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Duration
|
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Organizing
Pastor
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Pastor
Arthur Clement
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Fall,
1968 – July, 1969
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8
months
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1st
Pastor
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Pastor
Richard Warnke
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July,
1969 – December, 1975
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6
yrs, 5 mos
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2nd
Pastor
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Pastor
Lynn Wiedmann
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May,
1975 – December, 1985
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10
yrs, 7 mos
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3rd
Pastor
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Pastor
Paul Baldauf
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July,
1986 – June, 1994
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7
yrs, 11 mos
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4th
Pastor
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Pastor
Peter Snyder
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July,
1994 – May, 1998
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3
yrs, 10 mos
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5th
Pastor
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Pastor
Mark Franck
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July,
1998 – present
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Present
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Significant events that have shaped the congregation’s ministry:
- Fall,
1968 – Several families explored
the possibility of beginning an Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Howell
area by contacting Pastor Clement of Memorial Lutheran Church in Williamston.
- December
15, 1968 – First worship service was held in the gymnasium at Howell’s
Northwest School. Since
the first worship services were held during the Christmas season, the
name “Prince of Peace” was chosen as the name of the congregation.
- May
1, 1969 – Prince of Peace was granted mission status.
- 1969-1972
– The congregation met in the Howell Recreation Center.
- June,
1969 – Property and house were purchased on West Grand River Avenue.
- July
13, 1969 – Pastor Richard Warnke was ordained and installed as Prince
of Peace’s first resident pastor.
- November
23, 1969 – Thirty-four adults signed the charter, incorporating
as a congregation.
- April
9, 1972 – Groundbreaking was held for the new chapel.
- 1972
– The congregation became self-supporting.
- January
14, 1973 – The new chapel was dedicated.
- 1987
– A two-story addition and redesign of the church roof were completed.
- 1999
– The old parsonage was removed from the property and a different
parsonage purchased in Howell.
- 2001 - Started Parish
Assistance Program.
- 2002 - Paved and
expanded the church parking lot.
- Replaced
roofs at the parsonage and church.
- Painted church and
changed color of the church from dark brown to toupe.
- Moved church cross
closer to the church.
- Painted parsonage.
- 2003
- New Church Structure approved and Council Elections held.
- 2004
- Plans
were drawing and estimates for new church expansion.
- Replaced outside
doors at the back and front of the church.
- Installed
three new furnaces and replaced the hot water heater.
- Installed
new stove sink and kitchen cabinets in the fellowship area.
- 2005 - The trees have been removed from behind the church
- to allow for the expansion of the church
- April 30, 2006 new church expansion dedicated
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