Pastor Strelow had been called by the Texas District to organize a mission in northeast Dallas. Interested Lutherans, including members of Zion, Grace, and Trinity Lutheran congregations, canvassed the area to gather a list of prospects.

First services were conducted at Casa View Kindergarten on Gus Thomasson Road on September, 21, 1952. Initially, the gathering was known as Casa Linda Lutheran Church.

Shortly thereafter, on October 2, a group of 16 men and women held the first organizational meeting to make plans for the formal organization of a congregation.

On June 21, 1953, ground was broken for the first church building at 1156 Peavy Road on a 180- x 204-foot tract that had been bought by the Texas District Mission Board for $5,000. Construction costs of $38,000 were financed through a loan with the LCMS Church Extension Fund. The building was dedicated on December 13, 1953.

As a mission congregation, Bethel received a subsidy of $150 per month. It was declared self-sustaining on October 1, 1956.

The Reverend Marxen (Max) W. Dommer, a native of South Dakota, was installed as pastor on January 18, 1959. He was to serve Bethel for 18-1/2 years until June 30, 1977. During his tenure, communicant membership increased from about 100 to 475 members.

In Fall 1959, a Christian Day School program was begun with a morning kindergarten class. Naomi Strasburger was the teacher.

By 1960, the congregation already had outgrown its facilities. After an intensive search, a 6-1/2-acre tract was purchased at 11211 East Northwest Highway on April 3, 1960, for $20,500.

At the beginning of Bethel’s second decade, members excitedly pored over plans for a new worship sanctuary. Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new building were held on May 10, 1964. But before construction was complete, a fire forced the congregation to move its worship services from the Peavy Road location to the Big Town shopping mall. The $225,000 cost for the new church building was financed through a bond program supported by Bethel members and friends. The new sanctuary was dedicated on March 14, 1965.

In its new, more visible location on busy Northwest Highway, Bethel took advantage of opportunities for growth.

In Fall 1965, a first grade class was opened, along with an afternoon session of kindergarten. Grades 2 through 4 were added in succeeding years. An educational wing was added in 1971.

By the end of its second decade, baptized membership had nearly doubled, topping 600 souls.

By 1976, the CDS program included six grades, two sessions of kindergarten and a Day Care Center. Additional classrooms, a kitchen and a gymnasium were added in 1979.

The Reverend Paul G. Hoffmann was installed as pastor on January 15, 1978. During his tenure, a second worship service was added, the Stephen Ministry and Kennedy Evangelism programs were initiated and a pipe organ was installed. The congregation also adopted a Vietnamese refugee family.

With continued growth, the congregation saw the need for additional staff. Previously, a member of the teaching faculty generally had been assigned double-duty as youth director. In 1979, Bethel installed Jean Boese as its first full-time Director of Youth & Parish Education. The congregation also utilized the services of vicars from the seminary to assist the pastor with worship services and other duties.

The Reverend Don Berg was installed as senior pastor on May 20, 1984. On February 16, 1986, the Reverend Randall Haedge was installed as Associate Pastor for Outreach.

The decade was marked by the adoption of a number of small-group fellowship programs and expansion of outreach activities. Bethel began sponsoring two families of missionaries who are translating the Bible into previously-unwritten languages. In May 1990, members pledged more than $100,000 for a capital improvements program. FUN night (Families United for Nurture) was established on Wednesday nights to provide opportunities for spiritual growth, fellowship and service for all members of the family.

Because of low enrollment and an ongoing shortfall of funds, the grade school was discontinued in 1988. At the same time, the preschool program was expanded through the establishment of the Bethel Early Learning Center.

Early into the 1990's, Bethel faced the challenge that confronts most maturing institutions. It could stick solely with traditional ways of doing ministry to serve existing members and hopefully, attract like-minded newcomers. Or, it could experiment with new forms of ministry to attract new audiences, without diluting the pure Gospel message. Bethel decided it could do both.

In Summer 1994, a core of leaders was trained to lead small-group ministry--ChristCare groups composed of six to twelve members meeting in homes for Bible study, fellowship and spiritual care.

In September 1994, a third worship service was added featuring contemporary music and an informal style of worship. This was especially designed to try to reach young adults and families with little or no Lutheran tradition. Initial turnout was small, but by the end of the decade, attendance rivaled that of either of the two traditional worship services.

In November 1995, Bethel adopted Strategic Plan 2000 as its blueprint for expanding staff and facilities to meet changing needs. Plans were drawn and a campaign was initiated to raise funds to enlarge and improve the sanctuary. A narthex, choir transept and music suite were dedicated on April 18, 1999.

In 1996, Pam Swendig was added to the staff position in charge of Music Ministries. Under her leadership, the opportunities for member participation in the music ministry was greatly expanded to encompass six choirs or choral groups, three bell choirs and numerous instrumentalists and vocalists.

The Bethel Early Learning Center program was expanded in 1996 to include an infant/toddler program. The following year, Cathey Burgess was installed as fulltime BELC Director.

In February 1998, Vanita Hickman was installed as parish nurse to coordinate the health ministry to shut-ins, the hospitalized and an aging population. In February 2001, Les Zimmermann assumed the parttime position of Assimilation and Outreach Assistant.

In the late 1990's, Bethel adopted a small group of Ethiopian Christians who were conducting worship services in Bethel facilities. In 1998, this group officially became Emmanuel Ethiopian Lutheran Church.

In 2001, Cassie Schermbeck was installed as Director of Youth & Parish Education. Building on a solid foundation laid by her able predecessors, Cassie continues to build a strong program of Bible education, worship, fellowship and service for the youth with strong support from parents.

During the weekend of February 1-2, 2003, Bethel members celebrated the 50th anniversary of the congregation’s founding with a gala banquet and special services. Dr. Dale Meyer, LCMS Vice President, was guest preacher.

Entering its sixth decade, Bethel congregation continued to seek out more effective ways to serve its existing membership and to reach out into the community with the Gospel message.

Building projects included construction of a covered walkway connecting the sanctuary with the educational wing, plus a porte cochere and an extensive renovation and updating of the pipe organ.

In 2005, Bethel took a bold step by making a determined effort to become a more visible presence in the community with ministries designed to reach the unchurched, the underchurched and the growing number of minorities in its neighborhood.

First year’s activities included a Neighborhood Block Party, several Habitat for Humanity projects, and making a conscious effort to invite the community to Bethel worship services and other activities. A major project was development of an Upwards basketball program geared toward pre-teens and designed to promote Christian sportsmanship. Additional activities are planned.

God has richly blessed Bethel through the years. Its current membership consists of 854 baptized and 715 communicants. But over the past 50+ years, Bethel has touched the hearts and lives of hundreds of people, many of whom remain active Christians in congregations throughout the nation.

We give thanks to our Heavenly Father for blessings, both material and spiritual. We dedicate our time and energies to continue faithfully in His Word and in reaching out to those who are in need of His love.