St. John Evangelical-Lutheran Church can trace is origin back to The Rev. Car. Lohrman, Pastor of St. Peter of Lenox, Michigan, who canvassed the area of New Haven, Michigan. In 1884, a small group of Lutherans were found, and services were started in the house of Henry Daberkow. In the same year, sixteen men formed a congregation calling their new church family, “St. John Lutheran of New Haven, Macomb County, Michigan.” The congregation began to grow and flourish through the work of the Holy Spirit. On January 9, 1885, it was decided to build a church building. The white frame church was dedicated on the Fifth Sunday after Trinity the same year, with Pastor Lohrman and The Rev. Schroeder officiating.
From July 1885 until the fall of 1887, the congregation was served by two Candidates, W. Boritzki and Leanghenning, students at the Concordia Theological Seminary at Springfield, Illinois. October of 1887 became a month of rejoicing as The Rev. W. Boritzki, after graduating, accepted a permanent call from the congregation to be their first resident Pastor, as a teacher and preacher. In August 1887 he was installed by Pastor Lohrman. Pastor Boritzki served the congregation until September 1890, when he accepted a call to Leland, Michigan.
In October 1890, The Rev. H. Torney of Montague, Michigan, was called as the new Pastor of the congregation. He was installed on the last Sunday of the year by The Rev. C. Merkel. During the ministry of Pastor Torney, great blessings descended upon this young congregation. Pastor Torney continued to conduct a Christian Day School. The congregation bought property and built a nine-room parsonage the following year, costing $848. In 1900, the congregation resolved to join the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States (now known as the The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod).
By the year 1910, the congregation had outgrown its first church building. It was decided to enlarge the building six feet in the front, and fourteen feet in the rear of the building. Also, a church tower was erected in the front, a furnace was installed, and the young people purchased a bell for the tower. On July 17, 1910, the church and its new additions were rededicated. Dedication services were held, with The Rev. Otte of Detroit and The Rev. Wilson of Utica officiating. Four years later, in December 1914, it was decided to enhance the worship service by purchasing a Pipe Organ at the cost of $840. In 1914, after 24-years of faithful service, Pastor Torney was forced to resign his pastorate due to failing health. Four years later he was called to his Eternal rest and was laid to rest in New Haven Centennial Cemetery.
On Augst 29, 1915, The Rev. Frederick W. Bublitz was installed as the new Pastor. During his pastorate, English services were introduced in addition to the German services. Between the years 1917 and 1921, a number of improvements were added to the parsonage: a basement, electric lighting, steam furnace, and internal and external alterations. The Christian Day School continued under Pastor Bublitz until 1927, when the school building was sold. Under God’s blessings the congregation continued to grow, until again they had outgrown their church building. Three men were selected to serve on a committee to study and implement progress on a new church building. A contract was signed with Henry Beier, and the new church was under way. The members of the congregation were called upon to assist the contractor. Many donated hours kept the price down and helped speed up construction. The Cornerstone was laid on October 9, 1927, with Pastor Bublitz officiating. The congregation was able to celebrate its Dedication on Sunday, December 11, 1927. Speakers for the day included the Rev. J. Schinnerer, President of the Michigan District, and the Rev. F.A. Hartwig, Vice-President of the District. The brick building was located on a 1.5-acre campus at 30844 Clark Street and would serve as home for the congregation for 75 years.
During the following years, as the congregation continued to grow, and the idea of having education for their children increased, a Sunday School was suggested. There had always been an instruction class called “Christenlehre” for teenagers prior to church membership. However, the importance of instruction for children of all ages was felt to be a necessity. Therefore, on February 16, 1930, a Sunday School was started. Immediately 45 children enrolled in the classes.
In 1934, September 23rd through the 30th, St. John’s congregation celebrated its Golden Jubilee, the 50th Anniversary of its founding. Anniversary services opened on Sunday, September 23rd with The Rev. J. Schinnerer delivering the welcome address in German. The service was followed by a country style chicken dinner serving 720 persons. For this great milestone, the church was redecorated; and the altar, pulpit, lectern, and baptismal font were rebuilt. The floor and the pews were also refinished. During the time of this Golden Anniversary, the congregation numbered 230 communicants.
On February 11, 1944, an explosion and fire destroyed part of the church building, which was caused by an overheated chimney. Along with repairing the extensive damage, additional space was added for the Pipe Organ, and an office room was added on the back for the pastor. A Re-Dedication Service was held on December 10, 1944.
The dream of many members was to start a Christian Day School, and in a special meeting held on Mary 21, 1947, it was resolved to establish one. The school opened in the fall of 1947, with grades one through eight, and an enrollment of 39 pupils. The school met in the church basement which was slightly remodeled for the use of classes. During the first years, Pastor Bublitz often served as a teacher. The first called teacher was Mr. Paul Bachman. After two years, the enrollment had increased to 56, so a second teacher was hired. For twelve years the school was conducted in the basement quarters.
Pastor Bublitz faithfully served in the Office of the Holy Ministry for a total of 45 years, with 38 years leading the people of St. John. His work had certainly been blessed by God. After announcing his retirement, Pastor Bublitz was honored with a farewell gathering at the New Haven Community School on Oct. 25, 1953. On July 26, 1957, the Lord called home this beloved servant at the age of 73.
The Rev. George Sebald, retired from Immanuel Waldenburg (now Macomb Township), Michigan, came and faithfully ministered to St. John during the vacancy following Pastor Bublitz's retirement. Pastor Seabald served the congregation for a little over a year, from 1953 to 1954. A call was sent to The Rev. Clinton Koch who came to New Haven; but after serving almost one year, from 1954 to 1955, he was granted a release to return to his former congregation in Hannibal, Missouri. The Rev. Eugene Vetter served as Pastor from 1955 to 1958. It was under his leadership that the congregation decided to build a new school. After a site was approved, and planning started, the retirement of Teacher Mr. Paul Bachman slowed down the project. Pastor Vetter accepted the additional duties of teaching the upper grades at the school from 1957 to 1958. In the fall of 1958, he accepted a call to Wisconsin.
The Rev. William Schilling was installed as Pastor on February 1, 1959. Under his leadership, the congregation resolved to proceed with the school building program in April of that same year, with plans to erect a building on Havenridge Road with four classrooms and a large multi-purpose room at an approximate cost of $115,000. Ground was broken on Sunday, April 19, 1959. The cornerstone of the new school was laid on Sunday, May 24, 1959, with The Rev. Frederick E. Kipp, Pastor of St. Paul Church, Sterling Township, preaching the sermon, and Pastor Schilling performing the rite of laying the stone. On Sunday, September 13, 1959 the new St. John Lutheran School was dedicated to the service of God. The Rev. Edward G. Oermann of Trinity, Mt. Clemens, delivered the dedication sermon. The Rev. Albert P. Knoll, Circuit Counselor, served as liturgist for the service. The act of dedication was performed by Pastor Schilling. This was a day of rejoicing in the Lord for the members of St. John as they saw the realization of their long cherished hopes for a new school.
The new school was a source of great joy and pride for the members of St. John, however in the years ahead, the financial obligations of the church and school became difficult to maintain. During the years 1961 to 1971, St. John was faced with troubled times. Attendance dropped off and congregational contributions dwindled until, in 1964, a heart-rendering decision was made to rent two of the classrooms in the school to the New Haven Community Schools as an extra source of income. Even with the drastic decline in attendance and the decreasing funds, the people of St. John continued to hold together with their faith and trust in the Lord's providence. With increasing interest in a kindergarten program, Pastor Schilling's wife became its first teacher. Eventually enrollment growth at the school would result in reclamation of the entire school building for Lutheran education.
In 1969, the church took on a new appearance, with the donation of stained-glass windows, which added much warmth and beauty to the building. It was in 1970 that a new change came to the voters of St. John. The Missouri Synod voted to permit women's suffrage. The proposal was taken to the voters and the decision was made to permit women the right to vote for the first time in the Church's history.
In February 1970, it came as a shock to many with Pastor Schilling resigned because of failing health. However, four months later he requested to be reinstated, and the congregation voted for his reinstatement. Pastor Schilling served the congregation for four additional years, totaling 16 years of service, until his retirement on December 8, 1974.
The Rev. Vernon Schwartz was installed in August of 1975. Attendance picked up and so did much of the hopes of the congregation. A new parsonage was built next to the church for Pastor Schwartz and his family. A new organ was purchased and placed in the balcony of the church. Chimes were also added as a memorial donation. In May of 1980 the Sunday School celebrated its 50th Anniversary, with The Rev. Calvin Harm serving as Guest Speaker. In 1981 Pastor Schwartz accepted a call to White Cloud, Michigan.
Following Pastor Schwartz's departure, The Rev. Paul M. Foust was asked to sere as vacancy pastor. During the vacancy the congregation voted to extend a call to Pastor Foust to be their shepherd. He was installed on Thanksgiving Eve, November 24, 1982. Under Pastor Foust the congregation continued to grow and so did the attendance and family spirit of the congregation. The thought of celebrating their 100th anniversary helped spur the congregation to new heights. In the summer of 1983 new steps and a full length ramp leading up to the entrance way was installed to meet the city code. In October of 1983 it was decided to replace the old pews in honor of the Centennial Anniversary. By July 1984 the new pews and a new floor were installed and all memorialized by the time of installation. Another joy in the centennial year was to see the school grow to the record enrollment of 104 students. But the greatest joy was felt when it was learned that the Lord blessed St. John in such a way that the $40,000 accumulated budget deficit was paid off. In the late 1980s, a preschool was added to the school. In 1988, Pastor Foust departed for a call in Ohio after six years of service.
From 1990 to 1995, The Rev. Antonin Troup served as our Pastor, departing for a call in Illinois after five years.
The Rev. Edward Steeh became Pastor of St. John in November 1998. Originally of Mt. Clemens, Michigan, Pastor Steeh served the dual parish of St. Paul, Scotland and St. John, Kaylor, South Dakota prior to his call to St. John in 1998. During his pastorate, the congregation once more began to offer the Sacrament of the Altar at every Divine Service and to offer the Sacrament of Individual Confession and Absolution.
In 2000, Mr. Erwin Aufdemberge came to St. John as Organist and Choir Director after retirement from St. Peter, Macomb. Under his able and gracious direction, the congregational choir grew considerably. Also that year, the congregation made the painful decision to close the school, since declining enrollment and financial difficulties made it impossible to continue.
As part of a long term planning project, the congregation purchased a ten acre parcel on North Avenue in nearby Ray Township. A Groundbreaking Service was held on Sunday, July 21, 2002 commencing construction of a new church building. The existing altar (now the altar of repose), church bell, and pulpit were all moved to the new building, and the congregation bid a fond farewell to its building of 75 years in New Haven.
The congregation celebrated its first service in the new building on Easter Sunday 2003 and dedicated the new building on Sunday, July 27, 2003. The building was later expanded in the congregation's 125th Anniversary year of 2009. Pastor Steeh retired in 2017, after 19 years of faithful service.
In July of 2017, The Rev. Joshua Ball was called and installed as Senior Pastor, where he continues to this day. In 2024, The Rev. Anthony Keilani, a son of St. John, was called as Assistant Pastor and installed in July of that year.