OUR COMMUNITY
Hessel Community
Nestled along the sheltered waters of the Les Cheneaux Islands in Michigan’s eastern Upper Peninsula, Hessel is a quiet waterfront village rich with history, maritime tradition, and small-town charm. Originally inhabited by the Ojibwa people for thousands of years, the area later drew French Jesuit explorers in the 1600s before becoming home to Swedish, Irish, and Italian settlers during the logging and commercial fishing boom of the 1880s. The community was eventually named after early settler “Honest John” Hessel, and by 1888, the establishment of a post office marked Hessel’s emergence as a permanent settlement along the northern Great Lakes shoreline.
Over the decades, Hessel evolved from a rugged lumbering and fishing village into one of northern Michigan’s most beloved summer destinations. Deeply tied to boating culture, the town became nationally known as the home of America’s first Chris-Craft dealership, established by Mertaugh Boat Works in 1923. Today, Hessel’s identity remains rooted in the water, with antique wooden boats, historic marinas, and the annual Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Wooden Boat Show drawing visitors from across the Midwest each August. Historic landmarks such as the restored 1937 Hessel School House — now home to the Avery Arts & Nature Learning Center — reflect the community’s commitment to preserving its heritage while embracing arts, education, and eco-tourism. From fishing and boating to culinary experiences and natural festivals, Hessel continues to offer a timeless glimpse into the character and beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Lighthouse Baptist Church
Lighthouse Baptist Church was originally known as Les Cheneaux Baptist Church, and began in 1949 as a mission work of the Hiawatha Land Independent Baptist Missions Organization. This organization was headquartered in Escanaba and was used of God to start numerous Baptist Churches in Northern Michigan and Wisconsin. Now known as Continental Baptist Missions, CBM is still alive and well, headquartered in Grand Rapids and assisting churches and their missionaries in planting, revitalizing and building churches across North America.
Rev. Ralph Hill was the original missionary pastor of the small group who began meeting in Hessel in February of 1949. After several months of labor, the work was turned over to Rev. Don Johnson who led the assembly for 10 years.
In 1959, Rev. Homer Baker became pastor. He was a builder of both buildings and souls. Pastor Baker and his wife Leona built the existing church building and parsonage during the first 3 years of his tenure, and on September 13, 1962, the building and grounds were officially dedicated.
In October of 1970, Pastor Baker moved on and Rev. John Henry became pastor. On August 29, 1976, the church officially graduated from its mission status and became independent of the Hiawatha Mission.
After Pastor Henry, there has been a succession of pastors including John Canfield (1979), Ron Horn, John Gleason, Bob Shaw (1999-2013), and Glen Shaw (2013-2026). Under the leadership of John Gleason in the late 90s, the church changed its name from Les Cheneaux Baptist to Lighthouse Baptist Church.
On July 12, 2026, Pastor Jack Powless and his wife Brianne became interim pastor and began working with the Lighthouse Baptist Church family to revitalize and build the church. They are excited to see what God will do in the coming days!