Welcome to the Bethany website! Sharing this welcome reminds me of the members of Bethany Church welcoming me and my family over 14 years ago. My children had no memory of any church other than the one they were leaving in order to come to Bethany. They were not eager for the move. Yet after one day with members of this church my 10 year old son told me, “Dad, this is a good church.” In the years that followed that has proven true for me and my family in countless ways. Bethany is a good church. That is why my family and I have stayed and that is why I count the opportunity to be a pastor here as a blessing.

Bethany is a good church because we try to understand that as a church we belong to Christ and not ourselves. The church is always Christ’s church, not ours. By our baptism we belong to Christ.

We are the church as we seek to serve him by living in joyful gratitude for his graciousness and by witnessing to his love. We are the church as we recognize, nurture, and share the unique gifts of the Spirit with which he has blessed each of us. We are the church as we live in the faithful and forgiving covenant to which he calls us. We are the church, as we live for Christ and for others, rather than for ourselves.

I’m thankful for all the ways Bethany lives as Christ’s church. We welcome you in his name and invite you to join us in the joyful, challenging, transforming journey of living as children of God, disciples of Christ, and members of the church. We hope you will join us in finding ever-new ways to respond to Christ’s call to go out in ministry and mission to all the world around us. We trust that you too will find blessings of joy and hope, strength and peace as you serve Christ in these ways.

I hope that this web-site will help you understand the many ways in which we are seeking to be Christ’s church together. If you have any questions or concerns about any aspect of our ministry or mission please feel free to E-mail me at pastor@bethany.ald.net, or call me at 330-923-5277.

Grace and Peace,
Steve Gehlert, Senior Pastor
Pastor@bethany.ald.net