The History of Lakeside Baptist Church

A French explorer, Jean Nicolett, was the first recorded white visitor to Muskegon County in 1634. The first fur trading post was established in 1810. Settlers came to Muskegon in the 1830s to farm especially fruits: apples grapes and peaches. The magnificent forests soon gave them other ideas: and lumbering logging booming mills boat building and shipping developed to make Muskegon an important and prosperous town. In the 1880 when Muskegon was known as the Lumber Queen of the world there were 40 millionaires living in Muskegon.

The beginning of the Swedish Baptist work in Muskegon seems rather providential. On the 10th of June 1879 there arrived in Muskegon three Baptists August Larson, P. Olson, and C. Carlson who came from Tunadal near Sundsvall in northern Sweden. They were on their way to Manistee and had never heard of Muskegon. Later in the year other Baptists from Tunadal joined the three pioneers. They secured work in the lumber mills and worshiped in the American Baptist Church even though they did not understand a word of English.

Unexpectedly and to the great joy of the little group of Swedish immigrants P.
Jentoft of Manistee visited them in November of 1879. He advised them to join the American Baptist Church for the time being which they did. They rejoiced in having found a spiritual home and spiritual friends; but deep down in their hearts they longed for the day when they could form a Swedish Baptist Church.

On November 16 1880 these same people decided to organize as Swedish Baptist church and sent a call to Rev. J. P. Forsell of Tunada Sweden. The Swedish Elim Church was organized on August 14 1881 with a charter membership of 32. J. P. Forsell was the first pastor. At first the church met for worship in private homes and in a room at the Muskegon Baptist Church on Sunday afternoons. Steps were immediately taken to build a place for them to worship.

Aid in the support of the pastor was obtained from the State Board in the amount of $300 for each of the first two years. The News Reporter writes on November 30 1881 – The Swedish Baptists of Lakeside are about to build a chapel costing upward of $700 Mann and Moon have given a lot and the mill owners in that vicinity are making liberal donations of lumber. Rev. Jennoft of Manistee is assisting Rev. J. P. Forsell here in the work.22 January 7 1882 – Members of the Swedish Elm Baptist Church held their first annual meeting.

It was at this meeting that Sunday School was organized. Then as now efforts in this branch of the church work were invaluable. The Swedish language was spoken until 1915 when an English was introduced and in 1923 the church was incorporated under the name of Lakeside Baptist Church.

The Muskegon Chronicle reports in 1931 that Lakeside Baptist Church is Michigan’s largest Swedish church in the state. Its membership grew from 32 to 283 and Sunday School enrollment was 400. Sunday morning worship service averaged about 300.

The current Sunday School wing was dedicated in 1948 and the current sanctuary dedicated in 1958. In 1963 Lakeside grew to the largest membership in the church history at 511.

Currently Lakeside Baptist Church stands on the same corner as in 1881. Scores attended services and meeting to keep this legacy alive. We look forward to the challenges the Lord has for us and strive to build relations within the church family and be a lighthouse with the message of Jesus Christ Lord and Savior to those lost.