His Word, Our Mission
Who we are
Christ Our King is a member of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. We are a community of Christians striving to grow in the knowledge and the love of Jesus, our Savior, and to spread the Good News of salvation to the world around us.
Our Mission Statement
Activated by the Holy Spirit, we will glorify God through
WORSHIP WORD WITNESS WORK
so that all people can be transformed into devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
Engaging in his worship
We receive from God the forgiveness of sins won by Jesus Christ through Word and Sacrament, the encouragement and strength we enjoy as a fellowship of believers, and the ability to respond to God in praise and thanksgiving.
growing in his word
We receive from God the life-giving truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and are enabled to always be growing in it, beginning on a Sunday morning, but also continuing in Bible Studies, small groups, and personal devotions.
sharing his witness
We receive from God opportunities to share the reason for the hope that is in us and a defense for the faith we have been given in Jesus Christ, as well as inviting people to join us at church.
Joining his work
We receive from God particular vocations and areas of responsibility where we love and serve others as Jesus Christ calls us to do, as well as to faithfully steward the time, talent, and treasure God has given us, both at church and in our community.
our History
In the fall of 1978, Pastor Dan Wurster began the Lord's work in Saline by accepting the call as a missionary-at-large. The first church service was conducted in February 1979, at the local U.A.W. hall.
Christ Our King was chosen as the official name in March 1979. A 5.45-acre parcel of land was purchased in June of that year. This piece of property would become our current church site. In September 1981, Pastor Kenneth Huner was installed as Christ Our King's first pastor.
A milestone in the congregation's life was the ground-breaking ceremony for the church building in August 1984. The sanctuary was dedicated to the glory of God in April, 1985. On Sunday, September 21, 1986, the congregation broke ground for the education wing addition.
On January 31, 1993, the congregation called Thomas L. Schroeder of St. John’s Lutheran Church in New Boston, Michigan to be its pastor. The call documents were signed by then President Steve Mueller and Vice President Jim Heinold. Rev. Randall Shields was the interim pastor at the time, a professor at Concordia, Ann Arbor.
On February 24, 1993 Pastor Tom accepted the call to Christ Our King, his installation took place on May 16, 1993. He was installed by Rev. Parke Frederick of St. Paul Ann Arbor and the proclamation that day was Rev. Barry Sommerfield from Trinity, Sturgis, Michigan.
In March 2001 we kicked off a major building addition entitled "A Hope and A Future" and on February 23, 2003 the congregation dedicated 8 classrooms, a gymnasium (FLC), offices, youth room, and expanded Sanctuary.
Pastor Dean Wachholz (retired) and Pastor Don Kirchhoff have served as Associate Pastors under Pastor Tom. Pastor Tom served faithfully as our Senior Pastor until his retirement in December 2020.
In February, 2021 the congregation called Joseph Polzin, who served in a dual-parish (Trinity Lutheran Church in Gaylord, MI and Mt. Hope Lutheran Church in Grayling, MI) to be our Senior Pastor. The call documents were signed by President Steve Frederick, Vice President Chris Chapin and Secretary Haley Buckmaster.
In March 2021, Pastor Polzin accepted the call to Christ Our King and his installation took place on May 23, 2021. He was installed by Pastor Thomas Schroeder of Christ Our King Lutheran Church in Saline and the sermon that day was given by his brother, Pastor Lewis Polzin from St. Peter–Immanuel Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, WI.
When Christ Our King was established in 1979, it served 47 members with an average Sunday attendance of 44. Today, the total baptized membership is 529 with an average attendance of 182.
