Bethesda began as a loving outreach to children in 1906, so loving the least of these and evangelism have always part of our DNA. We officially gathered to worship on a Sunday morning as a local church for the first time in June, 1907, as Bethesda German Evangelical Church, comprised mostly of German immigrants. Since these humble beginnings rooted in German immigrants and children, we have exploded into a multi-cultural, multi-generational congregation.

With Bethesda becoming more-and-more diverse, it only made sense that it was part of a diverse movement. After a bunch of mergers of a bunch of churches into the United Church of Christ in 1957, Bethesda partnered with more and more evangelical churches, missions agencies like Group and Samaritan's Purse, and local ministries like the Pregnancy Help Center and Feed My People. This irenic spirit has always been part of our DNA.

With the departure of the United Church of Christ from orthodoxy, Bethesda made the Spirit-led and conviction-led decision in the 90s to formally leave the denomination and align ourselves with associations that are still evangelical and irenic, including the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA), the Evangelical Association of Reformed & Congregational Churches (EA), and the Gospel Coalition (TGC).

Where we worship, how we worship, and how we're governed has changed many times since 1907, but who we are hasn't. We've always loved the vulnerable, preached the gospel, held to evangelical convictions, and pursued unity as we worship together. This longevity as a church (over 100 years) and pastors (3 pastors over 72 years, and our current, young pastor was called in 2025) can only be a work of the Spirit, and by the grace of God, He will continue to work through us for decades to come, unless the Lord returns first.