Peace Lutheran Church was begun as a mission of Trinity Lutheran Church of Conklin--LCMS in 1958. The Rev. Richard Riess conducted the first service in the Sparta Civic Center on October 12, 1958. The Rev. Roy Schroeder was installed in February of 1959 and served as pastor until August of 1971 when he accepted a call to Ascension Lutheran Church in East Lansing, Michigan. The years of Pr. Schroeder and Joy's ministry were highlighted by the annual Christian Art Show during Holy Week when thousands of spectators from all over West Michigan flocked to Peace to view the art work. Some of the works from those days still are displayed in the church today. During the years in which Pr. Schroeder took a leave of absence to complete his Doctor of Theology degree, Peace was served by Vicar Everett Schleef.

The Rev. Arthur Wilde was installed as Pastor of Peace on January 30, 1972. Peace was blessed with the ministry of Word and Sacrament of Art and Carolyn Wilde until February 1, 1987 when Pr. Wilde accepted a call to Good Hope Lutheran Church in Garden City, Michigan. The years of Pr. Wilde's ministry were years of growth and excitement for the congregation. Among the many outreach ministries of Peace during these years were the sponsorships of two Vietnamese refugee families, the beginning of participation in the community CROP Walks for hunger, the opening of the food pantry, the dedication of a new organ, and the institution of the monthly Chicago Folk Service.

Despite the excitement of the years, disappointment and sadness also existed as Peace struggled with the question of synodical affiliation. The congregation voted to leave the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod and became associated with the English Synod of the AELC in 1977. With that decision made, Peace forged ahead in its ministry by adopting a new Constitution and beginning its use of the Lutheran Book of Worship as the 10th anniversary of the first service was observed in 1978.

The congregation took a giant leap forward in faith in 1981 by approving an expansion of the church building. Through the strong financial support of the Program of Progress and the Elderberry Jubilee, the congregation was able to dedicate a new sanctuary on May 9, 1982. Peace celebrated again in 1985 when Kenneth Jacobs was ordained at and began his voluntary service as Assistant Pastor.

Rev. Tom Zollman of Zion-Comstock Park served as an interim Pastor from February through August of 1987 until the Rev. John Hitzeroth was installed as Peace's third pastor on August 30. On January 1, 1988, Peace became a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at its inception.

Since 1988, several new ministry programs such as the Stephen Ministers and Commitment Sunday were added. Our social ministry has been blessed through a more active involvement in the All County Churches Emergency Support System which expanded our food pantry and linked Peace as a site for distribution of Holiday baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

In keeping with Peace's desire to meet the changing needs of a changing membership, the contemporary liturgy, "Now the Feast and Celebration" was introduced in the spring of 1992. In the Fall of 1992, The Senior Choir was honored to lead the Greater Grand Rapids Conference's Reformation worship service using that liturgy. In February of 1993, a new Constitution, following ELCA guidelines, was approved by the congregation, thus changing the governing structure to a Congregation Council and Committees.

The 1990's have also been a time of spiritual blessing for Peace as two of its members, Timothy Perrin and Del Preston, both entered the Ordained Ministry of the ELCA. They were supported spiritually and financially by Peace during their studies at Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa. Tim was ordained on July 31, 1994, while Del was ordained on February 11, 1996. Tim has served Hope Lutheran Church in Marlette, Michigan and Zion in Woodland, Michigan. Del has served Faith-Eldridge and Hope-Dixon in Iowa, and Zion in Davenport, Iowa.

In 1996, the congregation again added to its worship repertoire with the purchase of the resource With One Voice. This publication of the ELCA provides three new settings for the Holy Communion liturgy, a new Service of Word and Prayer, and many contemporary songs and hymns. The congregation also decided to expand its ministry by adding the full-time staff position of Director of Youth, Education, and Congregational Life. In September, 1996, Joel Christensen of Ann Arbor was installed to serve in that position.

In 1997, Peace decided to "Grow in Peace and Serve The Lord" by expanding its facilities with a new addition, the Family Outreach Center. The FOC was dedicated on the occasion of Peace's 40th Anniversary on October 18, 1998. Pastors Schroeder, Wilde, Jacobs and Perrin were able to join us in this celebration.

The Music Ministry at Peace went through an "interesting" transition in 1999, when Carole Kaufman, Peace's Music Director for over five years, left with her family for Florida, due to her husband, Ryan's job relocation. Then in October, Carole and family returned when Ryan's job returned him to the Grand Rapids area.

Pastor Hitzeroth went on a three-month sabbatical from April to July, 1999. During that time, he traveled to mission sites in Oaxaca, Mexico, was Pastor-in-Residence at Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio, attended the Christ Seminary-Seminex Reunion in St. Louis, Missouri, and attended a continuing education class at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago. Pastor Don Johnson, now retired, who was pastor at Mamrelund, Kent City for 18 years, provided interim ministry during Pr. Hitzeroth's leave.

In August, 1999, Joel Christensen left his position as Director of Youth, Education, and Congregational Life to return to school and finish his education degree. On October 17, 1999, Dana Hendershot was installed as Director of Youth and Education. Beginning in 1999, the congregation's summer camping ministry has expanded through Family Camp Weekend at Camp Concordia in June, Confirmation and Elementary Camp in July, Bass Lake, Leadership Training School (LTS), and Advanced LTS in August; and, there's our annual "active" week of learning ministry cenetered in DayCamp and Vacation Bible School with the help of the touring group, Captive Free.

In March, 2002, Pastor Hitzeroth was honored by the Sparta Chamber of Commerce and Rotary with their 3rd Annual Pillar Award as Distinguished Volunteer. Peace's support of his ministry in the whole community is a testament to our congregation's mission to bring Christ's love to everyone.