Pastors that Served Emmanuel
Ordained Son's of Emmanuel
History of Emmanuel Lutheran Church
1884 – 2025
The lumbering industry in northern Michigan began to boom in the early pioneering days of the 1880’s. This industry attracted many workers. Soon a small village called Clam Lake was formed, which grew rapidly into a city and was renamed Cadillac.
It was at this time that nearby pastors saw the great possibilities for mission work and evangelism in the area. Therefore, on August 17, 1884, Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized under the direction of the Rev. W. Bekemeier, pastor of Trinity, Traverse City. Services were held in member’s homes and, eventually, in the Presbyterian Church building.
In 1899 Rev. Paul Noffze came to Emmanuel immediately after his graduation from the Lutheran Seminary in Springfield, Illinois. He served until 1903.
During Rev. Noffze’s four year ministry the congregation voted to build a church and parsonage. The City of Cadillac donated the land for the buildings. The parsonage was built first and church services were held there for several years.
In 1903 Rev. M.L. Luecke accepted a call to serve Emmanuel. He served until 1911. During his early pastorate, the church building was completed and dedication services were held on September 4, 1904. W. M. Mitchell, one of the lumber magnates of the area, facilitated completion of the facility by making large contributions of construction materials. The church bell was purchased in 1909 and is inscribed with the names of the members who provided funds for its purchase.
Rev. H.G. Voltz served Emmanuel from 1911 to 1915. Ill health necessitated his departure.
Rev. A.H. Griep served Emmanuel from 1915 to 1954. When Pastor Griep arrived in 1915 his salary was $35 a month with a parsonage provided. His salary rose to $65 a month by 1924. Travel at that time was by horse and buggy, but Rev. Griep usually traveled by foot and frequently walked over six miles a day to make calls. Rev. Griep established four mission churches during his tenure. These mission churches had very little money and compensated the pastor with farm goods.
By 1939 Emmanuel had 143 baptized members and 99 communicant members.
Rev. Griep facilitated Emmanuel’s first Vacation Bible School in 1946.
In 1951 members voted to build a new church facility on the corner of North and Park Streets. The church had become too crowded. The church was filled to capacity necessitating some members to sit outside under open windows to hear the message. Funds were borrowed from the Michigan District Extension Board. Ground breaking was held on April 27, 1952. The cornerstone was laid on June 29, 1952.
Rev. Arthur G. Beall served Emmanuel from 1954 to 1956. It was during his ministry that the LWML was organized in 1955.
Rev. Herbert J. Hafner served Emmanuel from 1956 to 1964. During his ministry the Altar Guild was established in 1958. In 1961 the loan for the building of the church was paid in full.
Rev. Raymond Essig served Emmanuel from 1964 to 1975. Rev. Essig presented many “Meditations” on the local TV station in Cadillac. A new parsonage was constructed in 1967. By 1969 average weekly worship was 210 and the annual budget was $20,515. In 1975 voting rights were granted to women.
Rev. John A. Klemp served Emmanuel from 1976 to 1993. Rev. Klemp established mission churches in Mesick, Wellston and Kingsley. There was extensive remodeling of the church in 1983. The debt for the parsonage was paid off in 1984. A special Centennial Celebration was held in 1984. In 1989 Emmanuel purchased 15.4 acres of land on Highway 55 with the intent of future building.
Rev. Paul A. Lauer served Emmanuel from 1994 to 2005. In 1999 the parsonage was sold and plans were made to begin building a new facility on the property on Highway 55. A capital fund drive, “Generation to Generation”, was held. Members pledged $450,000 towards the construction of a new church facility. In 2000 Emmanuel added its first DCE intern, Jim Roberts to the staff. Subsequent interns were Andy Kroemer and Will Smith.
On February 10, 2002 construction of a new 1.2 million dollar facility was completed and the dedication service was held.
Rev. Robert Allmann served Emmanuel as a part time non-tenured associate pastor from 2002 to 2004.
In 2003 average weekly worship was 205.
Joyful Hearts Early Learning Center was established in 2004 under the direction of Jayne Foster.
Rev. Dr. Bryan Salminen served Emmanuel from 2006 to 2011. During this time Rev. Salminen established a counseling center in the ministry house and initiated Grief Share.
Rev. Kelly Bedard served Emmanuel as Outreach and Youth Pastor from 2007 to 2008.
Andrew P. Menz, a son of the congregation, was ordained at Emmanuel on July 27, 2008. Rev. Paul A. Lauer was the officiant.
In 2008 Emmanuel purchased the neighboring home and property, now known as the “Ministry House”, for $176,000.
In September of 2008 a newly constructed pavilion located behind the church building was dedicated.
Rev. Joel A. Hess accepted the position of associate pastor serving as pastor of Youth and Education in the fall of 2008. He was installed on November 2nd.
Emmanuel celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2009.
Rev. Hess was called to be Emmanuel’s sole pastor in 2011. He served until September 2018. During his time at Emmanuel Rev. Hess expanded community outreach. He established the Blessing of the Boats and the Community Worship Service held during Cadillac’s Freedom Festival.
In the fall of 2016 a capital fund drive, Build to Bless” was held to enable future expansion. $290,000 was pledged.
Andrew Belt, a son of the congregation was ordained at Emmanuel on June 17, 2018. Rev. Joel Hess was the officiant.
On September 2, 2018, Rev. Joel Hess took a call to St. James Lutheran church in Chicago ILL.
September 2018 Rev. John Bookshaw filled in as the vacancy Pastor until the end of June of 2019.
July 2019 Rev. Mark Latham served as vacancy pastor. Pastor Latham was with us during the Covid-19 pandemic and stayed with us until August 14, 2022. Office Staff during the four year vacancy included Bekki Koehn, Cindy Belt and Jim Foster. (Pastor Woell would begin the following Sunday)
The Ministry House sold in July of 2021. A storage facility was built in October of 2021, that would accommodate our needs better.
On February 8, a Voters Meeting took place, and voters agreed to Call Rev. Brennan Woell.
Pastor Woell Returned the Call.
On May 24, a Voters Meeting once again took place to Call Rev. Brennan Woell for a second time.
On June 15, after almost 4 years in a vacancy, Rev. Brennan Woell accepted the Call to Emmanuel Lutheran Church.
Rev. Woell’s Installation took place at Emmanuel on August 20, 2022 at 3:00pm.Twenty pastors from the surrounding areas including Pastor Andrew Menz and Pastor Andrew Belt(sons of the congregation) attended the Installation Celebration.
Pastor’s first Sunday was August 21, 2022.
