Short History
Bethel Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church was founded on February 4, 1914, with a grand total of 24 members signing the roster, and the church building was dedicated 3 years later, in November 1917. The church’s mission: To minister to Danish immigrants and their descendants in the Fresno area in their native language.
But change has been a constant in the life of the congregation. So in 1941, English became the language for worship, and the church dropped Danish from its name. The mortgage was paid off, and a pipe organ was installed, reflecting the importance of music in congregational worship.
Bethel Lutheran Church 