Living Water received a charter from the Michigan District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and became an independent congregation on April 17, 2016.  We began as a multi-site partner with St. Luke Lutheran Church and University Lutheran Chapel expanding their impact from Ann Arbor as a mission to Whitmore Lake in 2004.  We are grateful for that founding partnership! This adventure was led by our first pastor, Rev. Dan Flynn.   Living Water held contemporary, sacramental worship at Whitmore Lake High School starting in September, 2006.

On July 19, 2016, Living Water closed on the purchase of 200 Barker Road, a former retail space in downtown Whitmore Lake.  Over the next several months, with the help of architects, contractors and Northfield Township, we transformed the building into a multi-purpose facility, in which we started worshiping on February 24, 2018 and dedicated on May 5, 2018.

Our building is not only used for ourselves (e.g. worship, Bible Study, meetings) but we also opened it up to the Whitmore Lake community to serve our neighbors (e.g. prayer gatherings, Girl Scouts, warming shelter, food distribution and baby showers).

We strive to grow our members and regular attenders into a mature faith walk centered on God’s Word. We are focused on building faith-based relationships with one another and those we interact with on a daily basis, especially the family. We are intentional in supporting the family with a variety of resources and experiences.

Since our founding we have also been served by Rev. Harrison Parker (2017-2020), Rev. Todd Jones (2020-21) and our Intentional Interim Pastor, Rev. Scott Sommerfeld (2021-present) as God continues to move us toward a relational ministry model with the following mission:

We cultivate thriving relationships with God, one another and our neighbors.

That’s “our story” and we invite you to join us on this mission!

Our Mission Statement—What do we do?

We cultivate thriving relationships with God, one another, and our neighbors.

Our Vision Statement—Where is God taking us?

Propelled by the deepening relationship we have with Jesus, we are saturating Whitmore Lake with God's love and joyfully meeting the needs of our neighbors.

Our Core Values—Why do we do it?

We are CHRIST-CENTERED

God calls us into a deepening relationship with Him through salvation in Christ.  With the Holy Spirit’s direction, we follow Jesus’ loving example in our everyday lives and share the gospel with anyone ready to receive it.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.    Philippians 2:5-7

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.    1 John 4:9

We Cultivate a WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE

Our church embodies a caring, supportive family.  Everyone experiences the warm and welcoming connection that Christ shows all His loved ones.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Practice Hospitality.    Romans 12:10,13b

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.    Philippians 2:1-2

We are COMMUNITY ACTIVE

We make a difference and make friends as we meet the needs of others in our neighborhoods and in Whitmore Lake.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.    Philippians 2:3-4