We are here to live the way of Jesus, inspire hope and affect life-change by reaching out and developing Christ-followers in our community.

Core Values

As we pursue this mission we will value above all else…

Grace is the infinite love, mercy, favor, and goodwill shown to us by God. It is the foundation of our relationship with God and others. We are saved by faith in God’s grace though Jesus and we grow spiritually, and learn to live by grace. Grace is also the capacity to forgive, accommodate and love people in our community.

Discipleship is the process by which Christ-followers grow in likeness, attitude and behavior of Jesus and are equipped by the Holy Spirit to overcome the pressure and trials of this present life and become more like Jesus.

Worship is the physical and spiritual exercise of giving God our attention, praise and body.  Worship is an experience that we practice daily in private and publicly in cooperation with other Christ-followers.  God is not as interested in our style of worship as he is our heart for worshiping Him.

Outreach is the God-given mandate to share the relationship we have with Jesus to those who have no relationship with Him yet.  We are intentional about removing cultural, spiritual, physical and social barriers between Jesus and our community.

Family is a group whose members are related in origin, characteristics, or beliefs and is the foundation of our local church body.  We truly are a family whether married, single or single again. Our family includes our children, youth and young adults and our focus on their discipleship must be a priority as we grow to be more like Jesus.

Community means caring about and addressing the needs of those in our fellowship and the society at large. Our ministry must include providing spiritual, material and physical assistance when practical and beneficial realizing that the ultimate need of all people is a personal relationship with Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Leadership is a key factor in developing and maintaining a healthy church. The need to develop leaders is an ongoing challenge. Effective leaders have three things in common: a sense of call from God for their task, an exhibition of Christian character in their lifestyle and a demonstration of competence in their ability to lead and do their ministry. Spiritual leadership is moving people onto God’s agenda.”


 

History of Trinity Wesleyan Church

In answer to many years of prayer by one of God's saints, Mrs. Hattie Frontz, the Ecorse Pilgrim Holiness Church was organized in 1935. Services were held for several months, prior to the organizing of the church, in the home of Rev. and Mrs. J. N. Walker.

Rev. Frink, district superintendent of the Michigan District, organized the church on September 6, 1935 with seven senior charter members, Rev. and Mrs. J.N. Walker, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Walker, Mr. David Damron, Mrs. Ethyl Wilder, and Mrs. Hattie Frontz, plus one junior member, Miss Luramae Walker, now Luramae Safron. Mrs. Hattie Frontz was the first Sunday school superintendent. There are now no living charter members.

A store building was rented on Alliotte Road in Ecorse and Rev. Ralph E. Hart was called as the first pastor. Services were held in this building for several months until space became inadequate. A larger hall was rented under a store building at Applewood on Southfield Road in Lincoln Park.

As the church continued to grow, the hall on Southfield became inadequate and an empty bank building on the corner of Jefferson and Southfield Road in Ecorse was rented. Worship services were held there for several months until word was received that this building was to be moved to make way for the widening of Southfield Road. Services were then held for some time at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Thomas.

After much earnest prayer, and many hard months, lots were purchased on Eighth Street in Ecorse. Few of the members were making much money at this time as the country was going through the depression. Due to the very generous giving of God's people, some of whom took out personal loans, turning the money over to the building fund, and paying the loans off themselves in monthly payments, a church building was started.

After the walls were up money ran out. As the snow began falling, the sub-floor swelled causing the walls to crack. The pastor, Rev. Leroy Bruce, mortgaged his car to get money to put the roof on the building.

Services were held in this building until it was destroyed by fire on Sunday, March 8, 1953. God apparently saw the work was finished in that neighborhood. By the mercy of God, only the morning service was missed as a hall was secured in Lincoln Park for the evening service. Rev. T.M. Fast was pastor at that time.

After much prayer for the "mind of God" and searching through the area, lots were purchased on Coolidge Avenue in Lincoln Park. Due to the untiring efforts of Rev. and Mrs. T.M. Fast and a group of faithful workers, the congregation was able to move into a new building in 13 months time. The first service was held with the congregation sitting on rock wood while others were standing.

On April 25, 1956, the Ecorse Pilgrim Holiness Church officially became the Lincoln Park Pilgrim Holiness Church. Dedication of the new church was held on April 22, 1956.

Another milestone was reached on October 1, 1967, at which time the mortgage was burned. The happy occasion was a reality because the people had a mind to work and they prayed and trusted God's divine leading.

The church board under the leadership of Rev. Eldon Nelson, then began to make a careful evaluation of the Lincoln Park property in terms of the possibility of growth for the congregation. The need for larger and more adequate facilities for future generations was placed before the church membership. With a vision for the future, the congregation voted to relocate and build again.

Trinity Wesleyan Church became the name of the congregation after the merger of the Pilgrim Holiness Church and the Wesleyan Methodist Church in June 1968.

A tremendous task faced the board to find acreage. After prayer and searching, five acres were purchased on a land contract at 14250 Reeck Road on March 14, 1969. Through the generous donations of the people, the land was paid for in April 1973.

In July 1973, the church in Lincoln Park was sold. The new owners agreed to share the building until the new church was ready for occupancy.

Ground breaking ceremonies were held on July 29, 1973. Construction of the new church and educational unit began in September.

The first service was held in the church on August 25, 1974. The people moved in before its completion to a concrete floor and folding chairs, but this was far better than the rock wood of 1954. Constant improvements have been made to give the people adequate place to worship and facilities to provide for Christian education as well as fellowship.

The building in which we now worship was dedicated on April 24, 1977. By May 19, 1991, we had paid our debts and a mortgage burning service was held on that day.

Sensing the need for having more seating space, a balcony was finished and pews bought. The balcony was dedicated on March 29, 1992. Although we needed a few member loans to complete the balcony and expansion and refinishing of the parking lot, the projects were finished in a timely manner. Currently there are 143 members.


 

History of our Pastors

Rev. Ralph E. Hart	1935 - 1937
Rev. George Sears	1937
Rev. Leroy Bruce	1938 - 1941
Rev. Thomas Meyers	1941 - 1943
Rev. H.B. Kreider	1943 - 1945
Rev. B.A. Kraatz	1945 - 1950
Rev. T.M. Fast	1950 - 1958
Rev. Melvin Straight	1958 - 1959
Rev. E.K. Purcell	1959 - 1963
Rev. Eldon Nelson	1963 - 1979
Rev. Vernon Lefeber	1979 - 1988
Rev. W.C. Jones	1988 - 1997
Rev. Mark Griffith	1997 - 2005
Rev. Daniel Smith	2005 - Present