History of The Cross Bible Church of St Claire Shores, Michigan
Our church began in November, 1954 when three families decided to meet together to worship the Lord. Our church was first called Shores Community Church. It was organized and incorporated by three families: Pastor George and Gertie Crosbie, Mr. and Mrs. Bugay, and Mr. and Mrs. Bodertcher.
Our first meeting place was Pastor Crosbie’s basement. Within a month, property the size of three lots were purchased on Greater Mack, north of 11 Mile Road. With the permission of Wheat School administration staff, Shores Community Church held its first service at the school in January, 1955. Thirty-two worshippers attended Sunday School.
After three years, the three lots on Greater Mack were sold, and in August 1958, one lot on Brookdale was purchased. This is the current location of our church. A two-story brick home on the Brookdale lot would serve as our church facility for a while. The first floor was made into a sanctuary, with folding chairs and theater seats that were recovered with vinyl by the women in the congregation. The upstairs of the house was turned into classrooms and a nursery. The basement had more classrooms, with burlap hung up to divide the rooms. In 1960, the property increased in size by the purchase of two more lots just east of the house. One was improved to become a parking lot. The house on the second lot became the parsonage.
After Pastor Crosbie was called to serve in a church in Trenton, New Jersey, Leslie Howell was called as the next pastor in December, 1961. In the same year, Redeemer Baptist and Grosse Pointe Baptist urged our church to become a member of the North American Baptist Conference, a group of churches whose goal is to support missions. At this time our name was changed to Community Baptist Church.
Under the motivating leadership of Pastor Howell, the ground-breaking ceremony for the new church building took place in June, 1962. In July of that year, the actual building process began. In the meantime, the old house had to be brought up to code with fire escapes and exits.
Even without a loan from the bank, the building of this new church continued. The Lord provided the funds. He also gave us skilled carpenters and builders from Redeemer Baptist Church to survey and assist the men who were working on the site. Building continued because devoted families wholeheartedly gave of their skill, time, and even vacation time. Saturdays were a family project, with the women preparing the meals for the men while they worked on building the church.
Finally, a bank agreed on a loan, provided that ten families co-signed for the loan. In December of 1962, opening services were held in the sanctuary of the two-story house, after which Herb Williams, the Sunday School Superintendent, walked the whole congregation outside and into the new church for the very first time.
The new church building was dedicated in May,1963. The leadership of our church was passed to Pastor Chester Dundas in 1965. Approximately three years later, there were more changes at Community Baptist Church. The old house was removed, educational units were added, a lot on Allor was purchased to provide additional parking, and the church took on the appearance that it has today.
Pastor Dundas lovingly served our Lord and his growing flock for the next twenty-five years, before his retirement from Community Baptist Church in June, 1990.
In June, 1991 Pastor Lyle Ihde began his faithful ministry which continued until his retirement in June, 2018.
In March, 2019, Pastor Makarios Darawi was invited to serve our church as a guest preacher. Pastor Mak continued to preach weekly until he was called to serve as the interim pastor in August, 2019. In December, 2019, the congregation elected to call Pastor Mak as the pastor of the church.
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the church temporarily stopped gathering in the building in March, 2020. Worship services and Bible studies immediately began to be offered online through virtual technology. In June 2020, the congregation began to gather in person again as well as continuing to offer online participation opportunities.
On August 21, 2022 the church voted to change its name to The Cross Bible Church.
God has been faithful to sustain our church since its inception. We are grateful for the love and dedication of the pastors and congregation that has made this local church a lighthouse of hope to our community based on God and His Word.
History Timeline
Nov. 1954 Organized and incorporated into a church with three families.
Dec. 1954 Purchased property on Greater Mack, North of Eleven Mile Road
Jan. 1955 Held first service in the Wheat School on Harper at Yale
Aug. 1958 Church sold lots on Greater Mack and purchased the house and property west of building
Dec. 1958 Held first service in house on present property
Jan. 1960 Purchased parsonage and vacant lot
April 1961 Held Kick-Off Banquet to launch building fund bond drive
June 1962 Ground-breaking ceremony
July 1962 Excavating done and building begun
Dec. 1962 Moved into new church building
May 5, 1963 Dedication of new church building
Aug. 1968 Added on new addition to church building
Nov. 1979 25th Anniversary Celebration
Oct. 1993 Addition and remodeling of parsonage
Nov. 1994 Handicap Ramp, parking lot, and restroom added
Dec. 1994 40th Anniversary Celebration
Pastors:
Nov. 1954 – Oct. 1961 Pastor George Crosbie
Dec. 1961 – Dec. 1965 Pastor Leslie Howell
Jan. 1966 – June 1990 Pastor Chester Dundas
July, 1990 – June 1991 Pastor Norman Vernon (Interim Pastor)
June 1991 –June 2018 Pastor Lyle Ihde
Dec. 2019- Present Pastor Makarios Darawi