How it all started...
Birthed as a small bible study in Oak Lawn in the 1940s, Bethel Baptist Church first started out in a building that was formerly Leppin’s Saloon on 95th and Kedzie. The bottom story was moved to the present location on 96th street, a brick front was added and services began with fifteen members. The present building used by Bethel was erected in two phases under the direction of pastor Rev. C.M. Beerethuis in 1955 and Rev. D. L. Allbaugh in 1960.
Grace Bible Church of 88th and Hermitage in Chicago merged with Bethel Baptist in 1966, keeping the Bethel name and the Bible Church affiliation to become Bethel Bible Church under Rev. Elwood Chipchase.
In the spring of 2007, Bethel merged with a church, Faith Ministries Community Church, who had lost it’s pastor and wife to a tragic accident, with Steve Worsham coming on as Pastor in 2008.
Bethel’s light has shown in the Evergreen Community for nearly 85 years, through the preaching of God’s Word, the ministry to youth and children, and it’s faithful work of loving our neighbors as ourselves.
Grace Bible Church of 88th and Hermitage in Chicago merged with Bethel Baptist in 1966, keeping the Bethel name and the Bible Church affiliation to become Bethel Bible Church under Rev. Elwood Chipchase.
In the spring of 2007, Bethel merged with a church, Faith Ministries Community Church, who had lost it’s pastor and wife to a tragic accident, with Steve Worsham coming on as Pastor in 2008.
Bethel’s light has shown in the Evergreen Community for nearly 85 years, through the preaching of God’s Word, the ministry to youth and children, and it’s faithful work of loving our neighbors as ourselves.
Where we are now...
Bethel remains committed to reaching it’s community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That although mankind is fallen and needs a Savior, God has shown His mercy by sending His Son the Lord Jesus Christ to earth to be a substitute for us, paying the price for our sin by His sacrificial death on the cross. The Good News is that “if we confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God has raised Him from the dead, we will be saved.” Romans 10:9.
Bethel continues to preach the Word of God, to train up others to do that work, and to show the love of Christ to our community through outreach such as our Awana program for elementary aged student, our youth group for middle and high school aged students, men’s and women’s bible studies and many other programs. We also support missionaries who reach out with the Gospel both here and internationally.
Bethel continues to preach the Word of God, to train up others to do that work, and to show the love of Christ to our community through outreach such as our Awana program for elementary aged student, our youth group for middle and high school aged students, men’s and women’s bible studies and many other programs. We also support missionaries who reach out with the Gospel both here and internationally.