Our Church History

During the summer of 1941, a tent meeting was held at the Assemblies of God campgrounds in Grass Lake, Michigan, where G. Raymond Carlson was the speaker. Inspired at the camp meeting, Mr. & Mrs. A.L. Moyer contacted Rev. Scott of the Michigan District Assemblies of God to discuss starting an Assembly of God church in Hillsdale. Rev. Scott, Rev. Cooley, and Rev. Foote talked about the need for a church in Hillsdale, and Brother Cooley was appointed the first Pastor. Until proper housing could be found, the Cooleys resided with the Moyers at 141 S. West Street, a house now owned by the church and used as its parsonage.

The church was first located in the storefront at 76 S. Howell Street that in presently the Broad Street Market. By 1943, the congregation outgrew this storefront and began renting the Lakeview School on Griswold Street. In 1944, they were finally able to purchase land on the corner of West and Hallet street, next to the Moyer residence, and a basement was built to house the church.

The church met in the basement for some time. In 1952, the congregation helped plant an Assembly of God church in Reading. To accommodate a growing church, the basement was enlarged in 1953, and a sanctuary was finally built on top. In the years to come, the church went through many more building projects and improvements. A parsonage was built at 15 Armstrong Street in 1958, the basement was remodeled in 1965, and the sanctuary underwent a major remodeling transformation in 1968. The exterior was also bricked.

In 1974, the congregation voted to change it's name to Maranatha Temple. The word Maranatha is found in the King James Bible and means 'Our Lord Come.' While the name stuck for a while, it was eventually changed back to Hillsdale Assembly of God.

In 1986, the church underwent another building project, this time erecting a new church building between Hillsdale and Jonesville, just off of M-99 on Beck Road. This is the facility where we hold our services today. It is a beautiful building with two stories, offices, many class rooms, and a large fellowship hall and sanctuary. We are blessed to enjoy all God has given us. We sit under the incredible ministry of Pastor Dennis Haarer.

Since it's inception, Hillsdale Assembly of God has had a grand total of ninteen (19) senior pastors, as well as many associate pastors. Those who have served as Senior Pastors of our church are:

Over the years, God has repeatedly given prophecy concerning the purpose of Hillsdale Assembly of God. We are called to be a lighthouse to our community. This prophecy has been confirmed many times over as we continue to reach out to the needy, preach the good news to the lost, and see many healed, saved, and touched by the power of God. God is using the people of Hillsdale Assembly to be 'the light of the world' and 'a city on a hill.'