Senior Pastor
Steve DeWitt
It has been Pastor Steve’s joy to serve as Bethel Church’s senior pastor since 1997. His primary responsibilities are teaching at our weekend services, shepherding the people, leading the staff, serving as an elder, and providing overall vision for the church.
Steve’s passions include expository preaching, the doctrines of grace, helping the church engage its culture, and the beauty of God. He often speaks in contexts outside of Bethel, is a council member of The Gospel Coalition, and enjoys traveling as a part of Bethel’s global mission efforts. He also serves on the board of Global Action, an international missions organization providing theological training for church leaders across the world.
Steve’s passions include expository preaching, the doctrines of grace, helping the church engage its culture, and the beauty of God. He often speaks in contexts outside of Bethel, is a council member of The Gospel Coalition, and enjoys traveling as a part of Bethel’s global mission efforts. He also serves on the board of Global Action, an international missions organization providing theological training for church leaders across the world.
In addition to weekends at Bethel, Steve’s teaching ministry can be heard through Bethel’s media ministry, The Journey. This teaching ministry airs weekdays and weekends on stations across the country including Moody Radio. Steve is the author of Eyes Wide Open (2012) and Enjoying God in Everything (2022) and his most recent book, Loneliness: Don’t Hate it or Waste it. Redeem it.
A graduate of Cornerstone University and Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, Steve’s interests include reading, travel, sports of all kinds, and rooting for University of Iowa teams. You are likely to run into him at a golf course near you.
After serving as a single pastor for many years, Steve was married to Jennifer in August of 2012. You can read their story in this article featured by The Gospel Coalition. They rejoiced at the birth of their daughters Kiralee in 2013 and Madeline in 2015. The DeWitts live in Crown Point.
A graduate of Cornerstone University and Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, Steve’s interests include reading, travel, sports of all kinds, and rooting for University of Iowa teams. You are likely to run into him at a golf course near you.
After serving as a single pastor for many years, Steve was married to Jennifer in August of 2012. You can read their story in this article featured by The Gospel Coalition. They rejoiced at the birth of their daughters Kiralee in 2013 and Madeline in 2015. The DeWitts live in Crown Point.
PASTORS & MINISTRY DIRECTORS
Jared Bryant
Cedar Lake Campus Pastor
Tim Chen
Pastor of Chinese Congregation
Ben Hixson
Hobart/Portage Campus Pastor
PASTORS & MINISTRY DIRECTORS
Dr. Stephen Ganschow
Executive Pastor of Counseling & Family Ministry
Chris Whetstone
Pastor of Small Groups
Dustin Rouse
Executive Pastor of Creative Arts
PASTORS & MINISTRY DIRECTORS
Kim McCool
Director of Women's
Ministry & Connections
Ministry & Connections
Melissa Anderson
Director of Kids Ministry
Daniel Asher
Director of Worship Arts
PASTORS & MINISTRY DIRECTORS
Scott Erwin
Assistant Pastor of Students & Campus Life
Bill Hillegonds
Assistant Pastor of Students & Outreach
Foster Toft
Pastor of Student Ministry
PASTORS & MINISTRY DIRECTORS
Nathan Napier
Pastor of Men's Ministry & Mobilization
Brad Lagos
Executive Pastor of Ministry Development
Dave Harvey
Executive Director of Operations
CROWN POINT STAFF
Brianne Boggs
Counseling and Care Ministries Assistant
Sara Burgett
Student Ministries Assistant
Liz Cuozzo
Crown Point Kids Ministry Coordinator
CROWN POINT STAFF
Brittany Hnida
Missions Coordinator
Iris Perez
Women's Ministry Assistant
Mitch Pynakker
Worship Ministry Resident
CROWN POINT STAFF
Tami Reyna
Connections Ministries Assistant
Lindsay Rouse
Worship Ministries Assistant
Laura Sauerman
Assistant to the Senior Pastor
CROWN POINT STAFF
Robin Von Thaden
Assistant to the Executive Pastor
Payton Wiersema
Associate Director of Worship
CEDAR LAKE STAFF
Amanda Alsager
Cedar Lake Kids & Student Ministries Assistant
Anne DeYoung
Cedar Lake Campus Administrative Assistant
CEDAR LAKE STAFF
Ellyn Krusza
Cedar Lake Kids Ministry Coordinator
Amanda Vanderzee
Cedar Lake Women's Ministry Coordinator
HOBART/PORTAGE STAFF
Kari Corbin
Hobart/Portage Kids Coordinator
Laurie Rodriguez
Hobart/Portage Kids & Students Ministries Assistant
Denise Stewart
Hobart/Portage Campus Administrative Assistant
OPERATIONS STAFF
Ellen Anderson
Database Administrator
Jeff Anderson
Director of Ministry Support
OPERATIONS STAFF
Dana Behler
Director of Finance
Phoenix Bergner
Technical Production Assistant
OPERATIONS STAFF
Richard Bodden
Technical Production Assistant
Judy Huff
Accounting Clerk & Receptionist
Jon Heiniger
Communications Manager
OPERATIONS STAFF
Jason Peak
IT Director
Josh Spinks
Director of Facilities
Josh Stebnitz
Director of Communications
OPERATIONS STAFF
Rick Thompson
Security Coordinator
Chuck Vandever
Technical Director of Systems Integration
Pam Vroman
Director of Housekeeping
OPERATIONS STAFF
Jenn Uren
Ministry Support Specialist
Sandy Wood
Finance Assistant
Gina Wolst
Accounting Coordinator
ELDERS & DEACONS
Elders
Bethel is an elder-led congregation. This means that our Elder Team is ultimately responsible for the ministries and shepherding of the church.
Bethel is an elder-led congregation. This means that our Elder Team is ultimately responsible for the ministries and shepherding of the church.
Deacons
Bethel’s deacon team provides leadership and coordination to many practical expressions of church ministry.
Bethel’s deacon team provides leadership and coordination to many practical expressions of church ministry.
Lead Elders
Ben Boggs
Tyler Carter
Steve DeWitt
Dan Douglas
Raj Selladurai
Kurt Hand
John Von Thaden
Tyler Carter
Steve DeWitt
Dan Douglas
Raj Selladurai
Kurt Hand
John Von Thaden
Crown Point Campus Elders
Tom Hill
Jack Huls
John Mirabella
Craig Pratt
Josh Taber
Jack Huls
John Mirabella
Craig Pratt
Josh Taber
Cedar Lake Campus Elders
Harry Beamer
Jeremy Pena
Jeremy Pena
Hobart/Portage Campus Elders
Tim Krug
Dave Lucas
Dave Lucas
Crown Point Deacons
Dan Craig
Jon Dykstra
Jim Escott
Brian Jonkman
Keith Kilby
Fred Mooney
Andy Mulder
Jeremy Pugh
Mark Smith
Joe Suppes
John Terpstra
Jon Dykstra
Jim Escott
Brian Jonkman
Keith Kilby
Fred Mooney
Andy Mulder
Jeremy Pugh
Mark Smith
Joe Suppes
John Terpstra
Cedar Lake Deacons
Paul Diek
Tom Keithley
Phil Martin
Brent Mollema
Tom Keithley
Phil Martin
Brent Mollema
Hobart/Portage Deacons
Dave Carmein
Josh Dubach
Ben Fraley
Ray Ostrander
Rob Rodruigez
Dave Waechter
Charlie Ward
Bruce Wasko
Josh Dubach
Ben Fraley
Ray Ostrander
Rob Rodruigez
Dave Waechter
Charlie Ward
Bruce Wasko
