A Brief History of our Church
In the early 1990’s, Michael Spencer, youth pastor at Aboite Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and his friend, Lon Diehl, began to talk about the idea of someday starting a new church body in the Fort Wayne area. Their musings eventually led to long hours in front of a computer screen over the course of the next few years as they planned and charted the direction for a church that existed only in their wildest dreams. Michael, the leader of a successful youth ministry, longed to step into a more senior role, preaching and discipling adults. Finally, in July 1993, Church of the Lamb began as a daughter church of the Aboite Missionary Church with a membership consisting of the Spencer family, the Diehl family, and Doug and Barbara Dayton.
From its inception, Church of the Lamb had as its trademarks an unwavering view of Scripture, a heart for ministry (especially to the mentally challenged), and social activism, particularly in the pro-life defense of the unborn.
As time passed, Church of the Lamb grew numerically, eventually outgrowing its first meeting place, the home of Doug and Barb Dayton. For nearly a year, the Southwest Conservation Club became home to the growing congregation as each Sunday was shared with deer and elk heads on the wall and the bingo machine stored behind the bar.
In December 1994, the congregation moved to 247 Pearl Street. The building was originally a Cadillac dealership in the 1920’s and prior to the extensive remodeling done by many volunteers, it housed a Christian-themed coffee house used as an outreach by Broadway Christian Church. With its central location and affordable rent, the two-story brick building served Church of The Lamb quite well.
In early 2001, Michael Spencer announced his resignation, as he believed that God was leading him in a different direction and that his time at Church of The Lamb had served its purpose. Later that year he would be diagnosed with an aggressive form of throat cancer that would threaten his life. Fortunately, with God’s grace, prayers by people all over the country, and the skill of many doctors in Fort Wayne and Chicago, the cancer was successfully treated and today Michael is cancer-free. He is currently serving as a speaker for the pro-life organization, Project Life Voice, which he founded.
Meanwhile, Church of the Lamb embraced a new leader, one of its own elders, Wendell Brane. Brane was a former pastor and had led a local pro-life organization. Under his leadership, the church has continued to grow due to its fine biblical studies in theology, hermeneutics, and apologetics. The church also been fortunate to host several fine guest speakers over the last several years, including William Lane Craig of Reasonable Faith, Greg Koukl of Stand To Reason, Scott Klusendorf of Life Training Institute, New Testament scholars Craig Blomberg of Denver Seminary, Ben Witherington III of Asbury Theological Seminary, Mike Licona of Houston Baptist University, Paul Copan of Palm Beach Atlantic University, and D. A. Carson of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
As the weekly attendance grew, the Pearl Street location began getting cramped, with nursery and Sunday School space in short supply. As a result, in the spring of 2006 a building was purchased at 2715 American Way on the south side of the city. Previously home to a vending machine company, the facility was completely gutted and remodeled throughout the next year and a half, with the vast majority of the work performed by volunteer labor. Countless hours were logged by members and non-members alike, transforming a cold, stark warehouse into a warm and inviting church building that provides more space than the previous one. September 23, 2007 marked Church of The Lamb’s first Sunday in the new facility.
The year 2007 also brought about several other changes to Church of The Lamb, the most obvious of which was a name change. Church of The Lamb became Trinity Evangelical Church: a name that we believe is a more accurate reflection of our core beliefs and values.
Trinity Evangelical Church continues to aspire to provide its congregation with solid biblical training in order that each member may personally mature in his or her faith and be prepared to defend and discuss his or her beliefs with those they meet in school, the workplace, or the public square.
– Lon Diehl (founding member)