Our Hope Our Mission Our History Our Pastor Home
Our Hope
Jesus said in John chapter 14, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going...I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Only
Jesus could prepare the way to heaven. He was the only person ever to
live who was able to meet all of God’s demands without fail. When
he offered his life on the cross, God accepted Jesus’ perfect sacrifice
as the ultimate payment for the sins of the entire world. If Jesus had
not given his life as a substitute for ours we would all face eternal
death in hell. Because Jesus did, sinners are clothed in a robe of perfection.
God no longer sees the stains of sin, but he sees Jesus’ holiness.
He sees people he wants to have live with him forever in heaven. This
is our certain hope. This is what brings us peace. This is the hope we
at Crown of Life desire to share with one another and our community.
Crown of Life Lutheran Church is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). For more information about the WELS please click on the icon below:
If you'd like to read a summary of our church's beliefs and teachings, visit "This We Believe" from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
If you would like to learn more about our Savior Jesus please visit www.whataboutJesus.com.
The mission of Crown of Life is to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ among our members and our surrounding community so that through the Gospel's proclamation the Holy Spirit may nurture life saving faith in the hearts of believers and create this faith in the hearts of those who do not have it.
In association with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod it is also our mission to cooperate with our synod in carrying out this Gospel ministry throughout the entire world.
The mission of our congregation is divided into five areas of ministry. Each area of ministry is designed to support the proclamation of the Gospel among our members, community and the world.
Crown of Life's current ministry plan is available here.Crown of Life Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cadillac, MI was founded in the summer of 2004 when a small group of families gathered in a Cadillac home to discuss the possibility of starting a Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cadillac.
This group of families was too small to fund a congregation on their own so they sought the help, support and advice of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Traverse City, Faith Lutheran Church in Mt. Pleasant and other congregations in southern Michigan. Pastor Brent Brutlag of Traverse City and Pastor Mike Biedenbender of Mt. Pleasant attended the initial planning meetings. At these meetings the group decided to give themselves the name Crown of Life Lutheran Church and continue researching the possibility of starting a new congregation.
That summer, events transpired that made it possible for that group of families to make their dream a reality. A one year grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans allowed Michigan Lutheran Seminary of Saginaw to free up one of their professors, Pastor James Getka, to serve as a temporary pastor until Crown of Life was able to afford their own. Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and Faith Lutheran Church also agreed to lend their support by offering the services of their pastors and additional finances. Also, in June of 2004 the Michigan District of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod met for their bi-annual convention. There, Pastor Mike Biedenbender presented the idea of a new congregation in Cadillac. The churches of the Michigan District were excited by the idea and committed their financial support for two years.
Because
of this financial support Crown of Life Lutheran Church was able to purchase
a previously used church building at 403 E North Street. On January 16,
2005 over 200 worshipers participated in the dedication service of this
facility. At the time the church building was for sale the house next
door also went up for sale, so Crown of Life purchased it as a parsonage.
With their new facilities the families of Crown of Life worked with Pastors
Getka, Brutlag, and Biedenbender to introduce themselves to the community
and offer a church home to those who did not have one.
Realizing that Pastor Getka would only be with the congregation for one year and Pastors Brutlag and Biedenbender’s first commitment was to their own congregations, Crown of Life decided to request a graduate from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary of Mequon, WI to serve as their first full time pastor. In May their request was granted and James Hoogervorst was assigned to be their pastor. Pastor Hoogervorst was ordained into the public ministry and installed as pastor of Crown of Life in June of 2005.
From its small beginnings the Lord has greatly blessed Crown of Life Lutheran Church over the past six years. The small group of 18 has grown to over 70. The members of Crown of Life look forward to watching the Lord’s hand continue to do great things through the ministry of their new congregation.
Any questions or comments about Crown of Life can be directed to Pastor James Hoogervorst by using the information on the contact page. If you would like more information about the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), Michigan Lutheran Seminary or Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary please visit www.wels.net.
Our Pastor
Our
pastor, James Hoogervorst was born on June 7, 1979 to John and Patricia
Hoogervorst in Neenah, WI. He was born again through Holy Baptism on July
8, 1979 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Neenah. Pastor Hoogervorst attended
worship and elementary school at Trinity Lutheran Church and School. He
was confirmed on Palm Sunday, 1993. His Lutheran education continued at
Fox Valley Lutheran High School in Appleton, WI. His home pastors and
high school teachers by their example and words of encouragement where
helpful in leading Pastor Hoogervorst to pursue the pastoral ministry.
Pastor Hoogervorst began his formal ministerial education in the fall of 1997 at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota and received a Bachelor of Art degree from the college in the spring of 2001. On May 20, 2005 he completed the course of study required to become a candidate for the public ministry when he graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI with a Master's in Divinity. On May 19, 2005 he received and accepted the divine call extended to him through the assignment committee of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod to be pastor of Crown of Life Lutheran Church in Cadillac, MI. Pastor Hoogervorst was ordained into the public ministry on June 19, 2005 at Crown of Life.
Having been prepared in one of the most extensive ministerial educations systems in the world, Pastor Hoogervorst is well equipped to properly handle God's Word and administer his Sacraments. He has a working knowledge of the original languages of the Bible, Greek and Hebrew. He has training in church history, the Lutheran confessions, public speaking, music, Christian worship, church leadership and administration, counseling and teaching.
Pastor Hoogervorst gladly welcomes visits from members and visitors alike. No question or concern is too trivial or unimportant for him to take the time to listen to. He is eager to offer spiritual care and counsel from God's Word to anyone in the community. Give him a call anytime at 231-775-8842. You may stop in too, but to be sure you are able to meet with him you may want to call ahead to make an appointment.
Pastor Hoogervorst is married to Kate and they have two boys, Adam and Daniel. They have enjoyed living in Cadillac, enjoying especially the summer walks around Lake Cadillac, trips to the Lake Missaukee beach, sledding on Diggin's Hill, ice cream cones and coffees at their favorite downtown Cadillac stores, and growing very close to their family in faith at Crown of Life.
Our Hope Our Mission Our History Home