Bethel Church (Redding, California)

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Bethel Church in Redding

The Bethel Church is a charismatic Christian church of the Pentecostal movement in Redding in northern California . The church was founded in 1954, it was part of the Assemblies of God until 2006 , and since then it has become independent. It has 8,700 visitors a week, a budget of over 9 million US dollars per year and is known worldwide through the Bethel Music and the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry , a Bible and discipleship school that lasts one or three years and is 2,200 Includes students.

history

In 1952, Bethel Church started with a few families meeting in private homes. As the membership grew, the congregation moved to Eagle's Hall on Yuba Street. In 1954, the seven-day Adventist building became the new home of the church. In addition, the application was made to the Assemblies of God to be integrated as a Bethel Church. Under Pastor Doherty's leadership, the ward had the opportunity to purchase land on Bechelli Lane and in 1964 the building was dedicated to the ward. Pastor Doherty's vision was that the church on the mountain would overlook the city of Redding and be a light to the city.

In 1966, Reverend Vic Trimer, an evangelist from Wichita, Kansas, became the new pastor of Bethel Church. He left the ward in 1968 when the local office assigned him to a mission in Malaysia.

In 1968, Earl Johnson moved from Downey, California to Redding to become the new pastor of Bethel Church. During his 14 years as a pastor, Bethel grew to more than 1,000 churchgoers and expanded the ministries of the congregation. After Pastor Earl Johnson was called to serve as assistant to the Superintendent of Northern California and Nevada District of the Assemblies of God in 1982 , Val Munson became the new pastor.

In 1984 the Sacramento , California, community invited Ray and Rebecca Larson to take over the leadership of the community. Under their leadership, the congregation grew to almost 2,000 members and relocated the congregation to today's 71-acre (0.29 km 2 ) square.

In February 1996, the Weaverville, Calif., Ward invited Bill Johnson to lead the ward. Johnson, the son of former Pastor Earl Johnson, had one condition: that the message would always be the revival , and that the theme of the revival would never change. It received almost unanimous approval from the congregation and the church council. What believers believed to be a supernatural resuscitation began shortly after Bill's arrival. The people in the church began to laugh uncontrollably and fell and rolled on the floor while believing they were under the power of God. Then a mass exodus took place. An estimated 1,000 people left the church and the two services were reduced to one. From 1996 to 1997 the Bethel Church grew very little.

In January 2006, the leadership of the Bethel Church of Redding voted to disband the congregation from the Assemblies of God and become an independent, non-denominational church. In a letter, Johnson points out that this action was not a reaction to a conflict, but an answer to a call ( "... not a reaction to conflict but a response to a call ... we feel called to create a network that helps other networks thrive - to be one of many ongoing catalysts in this continuing revival. Our call feels unique enough theologically and practically from the call on the Assemblies of God that this change is appropriate " ).

The creed of the Bethel Church is As in heaven so on earth (English: On earth as it is in heaven ), because the kingdom of God should be visible and tangible on earth like heaven. That is why the church is also involved in legal and political issues in the city and region.

Board members

  • Bill and Beni Johnson (1996 - present)
  • Ray Larson (1984-1996)
  • Val Munson (1982-1984)
  • M. Earl Johnson (1968-1982)
  • Vic Trimer (1966-1968)
  • Robert Doherty (1952-1966)

Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry

In 1998 the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM) was founded. The school's normal program is an academic year (September to May), but there is also a more comprehensive program that runs for three years. In 2017, the school year costs 4,550 US dollars, and classes are held in the Reddings town hall (English: Civic Center ). In this school, the focus is not on imparting theological knowledge, but on personal transformation towards becoming a revivalist . Student identity and character are to be forged by listening to God and living a lifestyle of love, integrity, and honor. The presence and supernatural work of God are always reckoned with. About 15% of students stay for the full three years. The second year is dedicated to leadership training, while in the third year an internship is done to find one's calling. While the school started out with just 36 students, by 2010 it had over 1,200 students annually from around the world.

Their involvement in various Christian television stations in the Anglo-American region is relevant, such as Word of Faith and also with contributions in the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) and the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN).

Bethel Music

Numerous musicians and musical groups belong to the community, including Brian & Jenn Johnson , Jeremy Riddle , Steffany Gretzinger , William Matthews and Jesus Culture . Publications from the community appear regularly under the name Bethel Music , which is the second largest producer of modern Christian music with worldwide publications after Hillsong United .

criticism

Bethel Church has received a great deal of approval and strong criticism worldwide, especially from conservative evangelicals in America and Germany.

Bart McCurdy, an evangelical from Redding, complains that there is no call to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ , but that only experience, signs and miracles count.

Pastor and Bible teacher John MacArthur accuses Bethel Church of not preaching biblical Christianity , avoiding truth and not proclaiming the gospel .

Other critics include Bethel Church for the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement around C. Peter Wagner , which would represent a theology that is too triumphant.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Martyn Wendell Jones: Cover Story: Inside the Popular, Controversial Bethel Church. Some visitors claim to be healed. Others claim to receive direct words from God. Is it 'real' or dangerous? . Christianity Today , April 24, 2016.
  2. ^ Ulrich Eggers : Bethel Church in Redding. Background information on a modern place of pilgrimage , AufAtmen, Witten 3/2017, p. 62
  3. ↑ Kerstin Hack : Connecting heaven and earth. An experience report , AufAtmen 3/2017, pp. 66–68
  4. ↑ : Günter Oehrlich experienced Bethel live. Travel report of a Baptist pastor , AufAtmen, Witten 3/2017, pp. 63–65
  5. ↑ Bethel and the Assemblies of God | Bethel Church ( English ) Ibethel.org. Archived from the original on July 1, 2011. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved May 1, 2011. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.ibethel.org
  6. ↑ Amanda Winters: Bethel burgeons under pastor's visions of prosperity (English) . In: Record Searchlight , January 16, 2010. Archived from the original on September 24, 2010 Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Retrieved April 2, 2014. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.redding.com 
  7. ↑ Manfred Pagel: Bethel from the perspective of parents. A father about his children's studies at the BSSM , AufAtmen, Witten 3/2017, pp. 69–71
  8. ↑ Living a Life of Miracles - CBN TV - Video ( English ) Cbn.com. April 7, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  9. ↑ Miracles Outside the Church Walls - CBN TV - Video ( English ) Cbn.com. April 7, 2011. Retrieved April 14, 2011.

Coordinates: 40 ° 36 ′ 35 ″  N , 122 ° 21 ′ 29 ″  W.