How it all started...
Bethel had its beginnings in the 1930s through a simple community Bible study. Meeting in Gary, Indiana, this small group grew and soon became an established church. In March of 1969, the congregation moved into a new location in Merrillville.
Thirty years later, in the summer of 1997, Bethel called its current pastor, Steve DeWitt. One year later the church property was sold, and the congregation met in Merrillville High School for a year and a half while a new building was constructed. Then, in the spring of 2000, Bethel celebrated its first worship service in a new facility on Broadway Avenue in Crown Point, and has been worshiping there ever since.
In the summer of 2012, Bethel was blessed with its first multisite campus, merging with Community Bible Church in Cedar Lake, now known as Bethel Cedar Lake.
In 2013, Bethel purchased the former Boys & Girls Club in Gary (located right next door to where Bethel originated!), which is now the location of our third multisite, Bethel Gary.
Just months after the Gary campus was established, Bethel then merged with Central Baptist Church in Hobart to become Bethel Hobart/Portage.
June 9, 2019 marked the genesis of the Bethel Chinese Congregation, a first-of-its-kind initiative to provide Mandarin language worship, discipleship, and evangelism to the population of nearly 3,000 Chinese people in Lake and Porter Counties.
Over the past several years the church has grown rapidly. With the addition of campuses, Bethel’s staff has expanded to include over 50 people. Numerous ministries have been started so that people from every background and stage of life can mature in their Christian walk.
Although Bethel’s ministry has constantly evolved over the decades, the purpose remains the same – to glorify God and enjoy Him forever by developing followers of Jesus Christ who strive to make their lives “All About Him.” We encourage you to come and be part of the next chapter in the story that God has for Bethel Church.
Thirty years later, in the summer of 1997, Bethel called its current pastor, Steve DeWitt. One year later the church property was sold, and the congregation met in Merrillville High School for a year and a half while a new building was constructed. Then, in the spring of 2000, Bethel celebrated its first worship service in a new facility on Broadway Avenue in Crown Point, and has been worshiping there ever since.
In the summer of 2012, Bethel was blessed with its first multisite campus, merging with Community Bible Church in Cedar Lake, now known as Bethel Cedar Lake.
In 2013, Bethel purchased the former Boys & Girls Club in Gary (located right next door to where Bethel originated!), which is now the location of our third multisite, Bethel Gary.
Just months after the Gary campus was established, Bethel then merged with Central Baptist Church in Hobart to become Bethel Hobart/Portage.
June 9, 2019 marked the genesis of the Bethel Chinese Congregation, a first-of-its-kind initiative to provide Mandarin language worship, discipleship, and evangelism to the population of nearly 3,000 Chinese people in Lake and Porter Counties.
Over the past several years the church has grown rapidly. With the addition of campuses, Bethel’s staff has expanded to include over 50 people. Numerous ministries have been started so that people from every background and stage of life can mature in their Christian walk.
Although Bethel’s ministry has constantly evolved over the decades, the purpose remains the same – to glorify God and enjoy Him forever by developing followers of Jesus Christ who strive to make their lives “All About Him.” We encourage you to come and be part of the next chapter in the story that God has for Bethel Church.
