What Bethany Believes

 We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  He is the light and hope for a dark and troubled world and the only way to eternal life.  We must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ to be saved.  We believe the Bible is the Word of God and the final authority for faith and life.  We believe that God, through the Holy Spirit, calls believers into the church, which is empowered by the Spirit to be a sign of God’s reign in the world.

Bethany is committed to helping people experience renewal and hope through the transforming power of the Spirit of the Lord.  Bethany welcomes all who come to our open door.

Bethany’s Mission

To Live By Faith

To Be Known By Love

To Be A Voice of Hope

 

 

 

 

Bethany’s History

Bethany Reformed Church was organized in March 1958 as the daughter of Hope Reformed Church in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

The first service was held at James Madison School on May 4, 1958, and after 5 weeks moved to the YMCA until September 18, 1960.  The church at that time had 34 Charter member families, 65 communicant members and 66 non-communicant members.

A 10-acre parcel of land on the south side of Sheboygan was donated by Hope Reformed church and ground was broken for the education wing on July 28, 1959.  The building was dedicated on September 18, 1960. 

Rev. Harold Lenters was installed as Bethany’s first pastor on June 22, 1959.  Rev. Lenters served Bethany during the construction of the original building until November 1964.

Rev. Bruce Laverman was ordained and installed as pastor of Bethany on June 16, 1965, and served during a period of rapid expansion and growth.  He left Bethany in 1969.   

On October 2, 1969, Rev. Delmar Thiesse was installed as the 3^rd pastor of Bethany.  In December of 1969 an architect was hired to design an addition including a larger sanctuary, additional Sunday school rooms, a study, a choir room and a spacious reception area.  The addition totaled 12,460 square feet and a total cost of $204,600.00.  The addition was dedicated in 1971.

Rev. Larry Izenbart was installed as Bethany’s 4^th pastor in 1975.  While Rev. Izenbart was at Bethany many Bible study groups were formed and met in member’s homes.  There was great emphasis on spiritual growth and a more solid membership base was established.  Rev. Izenbart was Pastor until 1991.

In 1992 Rev. Al Pruis came to Bethany.  Ground was broken in 1998 for the addition of a new kitchen and fellowship hall.  Also part of the project was the remodeling of the old facilities for a total of $890,000.  The Saturday Night outreach service and Daybreak praise service were added.  In addition, several other outreach ministries were created.  The membership at Bethany nearly doubled during Pastor Al’s ministry.  Rev. Pruis was pastor until 2001.

In 1996, Rev. John Kenny was appointed Associate Pastor at Bethany.  Pastor John had served as an intern at Bethany from Princeton Theological Seminary in the previous summer.  A community wide youth ministry, Flood, was created in 2002 under Pastor John’s leadership.  In 2001, Bethany launched its fourth weekend service, Triumph.  Triumph is a 21^st Century multi-sensory worship experience.  Rev. Kenny was Associate Pastor until 2003.

Following Rev. Pruis’ departure in 2001, Bethany was blessed with interim pastor Rev. Ted Lindman.  A prayer ministry was started in 2001 that included early morning prayer meetings, adult prayer pals for youth, prayer hotlines, prayer requests available in weekly bulletins, and a monthly prayer newsletter.  Rev. Lindman was interim pastor until 2002.

In late 2002, Rev. Lyle Zumdahl became Sr. Pastor of Bethany.  A married couples ministry was started in 2003 along with several other ministries including blended families, head-injury support, prison outreach, and a New Day meal ministry.