History of Bethany Lutheran Church

Bethany Lutheran Church originated on September 8, 1917 when sixty persons who had been holding meetings in homes in the area, held their first church service at the Friends Church on Talbott Street, with thirty-six attending the first church school classes. The month following, on October 28th, the Rev. Paul Gerberding of Des Moines officiated at the formal organization of the English Evangelical Lutheran congregation of 50 charter members. In December of that same year, the congregation purchased a lot at Iowa and Stevens streets with a duplex located at the west end of the lot. One of the duplex apartments was used as parsonage, and the other was converted into a chapel, which was dedicated on April 28, 1918. 

On January 29, 1922, the congregation voted to build a new church. The duplex was moved to the rear of the lot, and continued to be used as the parsonage until 1955. A corner stone was laid, and on December 31st, the English Evangelical Church was dedicated. On June 1, 1945, a mortgage burning service was held when the total debt of $22,800 was paid off. 

The name of the church was changed to Bethany Lutheran at a special congregational meeting following a Thanksgiving dinner on November 21, 1954. In 1962, Bethany Lutheran joined other Lutheran Church bodies as part of the Lutheran Church of America, and the Iowa Synod of the LCA. A celebration of the church’s 50th Anniversary was celebrated on October 22, 1967, with Rev. Roden and Rev. Lesher as speakers. 

Many changes were made through the years in both the church and the duplex. In 1975, there was a property exchange in which the duplex (the original chapel and parsonage) and the property upon which it was located east of the church were traded for the property and apartment house south of the church. The downstairs of the apartment house was remodeled for use as an office and church school rooms.

In 1979, groundwork was laid for the development of a new addition to the present structure (multi-purpose room, kitchen, offices), replacing the apartment house. In April of 1980, Dora Leerberg, one of the oldest members, turned over the first spade at the ground breaking service for the structure, with Bethany acting as its own contractor. On January 11, 1981, a celebration dedicated the new facility was held, with Bishop Werger officiating. On January 26, 1986, a mortgage-burning ceremony was celebrated with the end of the building debt for the new addition.

On January 1st 1988, the Lutheran Church in America merged with the American Lutheran Church and the Association of the Evangelical Lutheran Churches to form the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Bethany Lutheran is now part of the Northeastern Iowa Synod of the E.L.C.A.

The undercroft of the church was remodeled in 1991 and 1992, into a Fellowship Room, Nursery and Church School rooms to accommodate larger classes. 

The 75th Anniversary was celebrated in 1992 with a Choir and Organ Recital and Tea on October 25th, the Bethany Bazaar and dinner on the 31st, a Festival Anniversary Worship service with Rev. Richard Thompson giving the meditation, a catered dinner at the High School and an afternoon Celebration Program and fellowship hour on the 1st of November. A senior choir anthem, “Bethany Anniversary Song”, which was written and directed by Glenn Johnson, was featured at both the Recital and Celebration Program. 

A new bell tower was erected on the south side of Martin Luther Hall in 1998, to display and use the Bethany church bell, which was removed several years previously because of structural damage to the church bell tower. 

In 1999, the Bethany Women (WELCA) adopted a cabin at Riverside Bible Camp to help with repairs and upkeep. In 2000, an after school program, K.I.C.K. (Kids in Christ’s Kingdom) was begun, and in 2003, a school bus was purchased for use as a shuttle for K.I.C.K., transporting members at the Care centers to Services and for trips for other groups. Pastor King began supervision for the Intern serving at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Ackley and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in rural Wellsburg in 2002.

With the continued growth in the church, in 2001, a building committee was formed, a Congregational decision was made to build a new church at a new site, and the architectural firm of VGI of Des Moines was hired. At a congregational meeting on May 4h, 2003, it was voted to purchase the Miller property, across from the Legion Field on River Oaks Road for the site of the new church, and on Palm Sunday, April 4th of 2004 a Groundbreaking Service was held with Building Committee Member, Brian Sauerbrei turning over the first spade of dirt. Construction was to begin shortly thereafter, with Smith-Gehrls of Iowa Falls as the General contractor. The new church building was dedicated on Pentecost, Sunday, May 15, 2005.

In 2017, we celebrated our 100th Anniversary with special events, including a Bethany 100 fair, inviting our former pastors to preach, and an evening dinner celebration. We topped off this milestone with the burning of our current mortgage and opening the 1922 cornerstone. God is good!

As we move forward in faith and mission, the members of Bethany Lutheran Church will continue to live out our vision statement of “Making Christ Known…Welcoming! Growing! Serving!

Pastors who have led Bethany Lutheran through its years of progress and their installation dates: