Maranatha Baptist Church

In the early months of 1994, six men, under God's leading, saw the need for new church to be started in their community. At a time when many churches began to depart from preaching sound doctrine, these men had a vision of a church that would stand for truth and preach the Word. On June 5 of that same year, these men and their families stepped out on faith believing that God would bless their stand for the truth. From the beginning their intent was to have a traditional, fundamental, family church.

God provided several young men from a neighboring church to fill in speaking until a pastor could be found. In the late part of the summer, Tim Spitsbergen answered the call and became the first pastor of Maranatha Baptist. For the next two years the church continued to grow. In 1996, Pastor Spitsbergen departed Maranatha to begin another church in a neighboring community.

Church 1994 Maranatha again needed a pastor and began to pray. God answered the prayers of the people and brought Pastor LeVene Shattuck to fill the void of the pastor that same year. He faithfully preached as an interim pastor until a new pastor was found in June of 1997. From time to time Pastor Shattuck filled in on Sundays to preach when the new pastor was not able until God called him home in October of 2004.

Church 1994 In June of 1997, God sent Pastor Gene Haymaker to Maranatha to become the new pastor. Prior to his coming to Maranatha, Gene Haymaker had served as the Youth Pastor at Prairie Baptist Church in Scotts, MI. He is a man that boldly preaches the Word of God and is a defender of the faith. Pastor Haymaker has faithfully served this ministry for 10 years. He continues to lead the church and under him, the ministry continues to grow.

In 2001, it became apparent that a new building may soon be needed. Plans began to get underway for the construction of a new auditorium. In the spring of 2003 the ground breaking began and a new facility was completed in early 2004.

If you were to ask any of the people who began with us in that first year if we would have nearly 150 people and a new building, they would more than likely tell you that it was a nice dream. God has truly blessed Maranatha Baptist Church beyond measure. Since 1994, many have come and some have gone, but the vision of Maranatha Baptist Church never strayed.