Established in 1950
Purple Bible titled "The Word of God"
White texture

Connecting People to Jesus & Each Other

It starts with Community

Bear Lake Christian Church is an Independent, Non-Denominational Christian Church. We are completely autonomous, self-supporting, and self-governing. We are committed to following the Word of God as laid out in the Bible, our pastor's leading, and the duly elected members of our church board according to our by-laws.
White texture

Mission

Bear Lake Christian Church exists to "connect people to Jesus and each other".

Vision

God has placed us here as a center for Christian renewal, penetrating the local counties of Antrim, Crawford, Kalkaska, and the surrounding area with a transforming relationship with Jesus while renewing and transforming the lives of individuals, families, and communities in this region. Simply put, we want to become a family of believers who truly make a difference in the lives of our members, their families and friends, this community, and throughout the world. We want such an atmosphere of welcome and community and belonging to characterize this family of believers that outsiders are drawn to want more—not just to learn more, but to be more involved and to understand more about our faith, our joy, and our peace of mind. Although we will never have all the answers, we will put those answers we do have into action. That action will be clothed in grace and compassion and a sincere desire for unity and peace. Unity in Christ will prevail over the diversity of gender, age, race, economic status, education level, or any other artificial barrier that would hinder God's plan for this family of believers. We will be family—authentic people with love and compassion for one another. We will remain so awestruck by our redemption that tradition and opinion and personal comfort will never get in the way of our true calling—to share the story, to share the grace, to share the salvation, to share The Christ.

Core Values

  • Sense of Family
  • Compassion, Love, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation
  • Spiritual Development of Adults, of Youth, and of Children—Intentional Faith Development, to Grow in Christ and to Mature the Family
  • Inclusive and Inspiring Worship—Passionate Worship, Regardless of Style

Missions

Risk-taking missions and service, to give financially, but more importantly, to send people.
  • Generosity: Extravagant Generosity, to give as God gave, He gave the very best and held nothing back
  • Freedom to create ministries
  • Truth: As embodied in Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our Faith
  • Harmony
  • Hospitality: Radical Hospitality, a culture of invitation and welcome.

Our Practice of Faith

We meet regularly for worship, in order to strengthen, encourage, and support one another. While many in our church family come from a variety of different church affiliations, our practice of faith in not governed by any one practice from any certain tradition.
Bear Lake Christian Church's spiritual vitality is evidenced most in our worship on Sunday—the Lord's Day. In our worship, with passion, joy, and reverence, we praise our majestic and awesome God.

Worship Style

Our worship is a blended style. We really love to sing, and we sing everything from the traditional hymns of the church to contemporary praise and worship songs. We feel that both are relevant and have much to contribute to our praise of Jesus. The reason for our enthusiasm stems from a desire that everyone be not merely observers but participants. God is seeking out worshipers, and the joy of His people gathering together before Him with reverence, awe, and celebration is what we desire to give to Him.

Communion

The BLCC Family celebrates the sacrament of Communion/The Lord's Supper on the second Sunday of each month, and at other special times throughout the year. We place no boundaries on our celebration of Communion, except that those who participate call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. We allow parents to decide whether to allow their children to participate in this sacrament. Our practice is to partake together once everyone has received the Communion Elements.

Baptism

Bear Lake Christian Church practices Believers Baptism. We hold that everyone who has been "Born Again" should then be baptized as soon as practical. Our practice is to Baptize by immersion in water into Jesus Christ in the Name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. We schedule Baptismal Services regularly throughout the year. This is always a joyous time for the Church Family as we celebrate with those who are being baptized.

Baby and Child Dedication

The Church Family at BLCC places a high value on the lives of young people. To this end, we encourage families to dedicate their children to the Lord at one of our regularly scheduled Baby/Child Dedication Services. This is an extremely important time in the life of our Church Family, as not only the child's family is dedicating their child unto Almighty God, committing to rear them in the fear and admonition of the Lord, and to have them involved in the various children's and youth ministries of BLCC; but the entire Church Family is making a covenant to devote themselves in helping in this process.
White texture

Bear Lake Christian Church Covenant

Having given ourselves to God by faith in Christ and adopted the Word of God as our rule and practice, we now give ourselves to one another by the will of God. We will everywhere hold Christian principles sacred and Christian enterprises and obligations supreme; counting it our chief business in life to extend the influence of Christ in society; constantly praying and toiling that the Kingdom of God may come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. To this end, we pledge our allegiance to Christ and His Kingdom; one brotherhood, endeavoring to unite all mankind in service and love.

Bear Lake Christian Church Statement of Faith

We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
We believe that there is One God, eternally existent in three persons: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in his virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and in glory.
We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful man, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling, the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life.
We believe that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is given to believers who ask for it.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto resurrection of life, and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
Soft, undulating textures in pale blue

About Church Membership: Connecting People to Jesus and to Each Other

It doesn't matter where you are in life; what matters is what God wants to do in and through you. You may have little or no experience with Jesus or a church. Or, you may have decades of following Jesus in your past. Perhaps you have given up on church a long time ago. Regardless of your background and experience, there are people here who can relate because they have been where you are themselves. Bear Lake Christian Church is a place where you can spiritually find your way, nurture a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, and foster deep, meaningful relationships with the members of your church family. We will welcome the opportunity to do what we can to help you grow in your spiritual journey and to understand what you may desire to know about Bear Lake Christian Church. Contact the Bear Lake Christian Church office at (231) 258-1607 and ask to speak to the pastor.