Bethel Church (Redding, California)
Encyclopedia
Bethel Church is a church that was established in Redding, California
as an Assemblies of God
congregation in 1954, and has since grown to an estimated weekly attendance of over 3,000 people. The Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry was founded by the church in 1998.
In 1966, Reverend Vic Trimer, an evangelist from Wichita, Kansas, became the pastor of Bethel Church. He left in 1968, when the district office assigned him to the mission field in Malaysia.
In 1968, Earl Johnson moved from Downey, California
to become the pastor of Bethel Church. During his 14 years of pastoring the church, Bethel grew to over 1,000 in attendance and expanded its ministries. In 1982, after Pastor Earl Johnson was called to serve as the Assistant Superintendent of the Northern California/Nevada District of the Assemblies of God, Val Munson became the pastor.
In 1984, the congregation invited Ray and Rebecca Larson from Sacramento, California to lead the congregation. Under their leadership, the church grew to nearly 2,000 in attendance and relocated to the present 71 acre (0.28732706 km²) site.
In February 1996, the congregation invited Bill Johnson from Weaverville, California
to lead the congregation. Johnson only had one stipulation before he was voted in; that the message would always be about revival and that the subject of revival would never change. He received nearly unanimous approval by the congregation and the church board. What believers consider to be a supernatural revival began to break out shortly after Bill's arrival. People in the congregation began laughing uncontrollably and falling and rolling on the floor, believing themselves to be under the power of God during church services. A mass exodus took place shortly after manifestations began happening. An estimated 1,000 people left the church and the two Sunday services were reduced to one. From 1996-1997, Bethel Church saw very little church growth.
In January 2006, the membership of Bethel Church of Redding voted to withdraw the church's affiliation with the Assemblies of God. In a letter Johnson points out that this action was "...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."
Bethel Church and Bill Johnson have been featured in video segments by Christian Broadcasting Network
(CBN) and Trinity Broadcasting Network
(TBN). The segments reviewed the church's approach to outreach.
.
Redding, California
Redding is a city in far-Northern California. It is the county seat of Shasta County, California, USA. With a population of 89,861, according to the 2010 Census...
as an Assemblies of God
Assemblies of God
The Assemblies of God , officially the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a group of over 140 autonomous but loosely-associated national groupings of churches which together form the world's largest Pentecostal denomination...
congregation in 1954, and has since grown to an estimated weekly attendance of over 3,000 people. The Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry was founded by the church in 1998.
Church leaders
- Bill and Beni JohnsonBill Johnson (pastor)Bill Johnson and his wife Brenda Johnson are the Senior Pastors of Bethel Church in Redding, California. Johnson is a fifth generation pastor.- Personal background :...
(1996 – current) - Ray Larson (1984–1996)
- Val Munson (1982–1984)
- M. Earl Johnson (1968–1982)
- Vic Trimer (1966–1968)
- Robert Doherty (1952–1966)
History
Bethel Church began in 1952, with several families meeting in a private home. As the number of members grew, the church moved to the Eagle's Hall on Yuba Street. In 1954, the Seventh Day Adventist Church building became their home and it was then that the application was made with the Assemblies of God to become incorporated as Bethel Church. Under Pastor Doherty's ministry, the church was able to purchase property on Bechelli Lane and the facility there was dedicated in 1964. Pastor Doherty's vision was that Bethel Church, being on a hill overlooking Redding, would be a light to the city.In 1966, Reverend Vic Trimer, an evangelist from Wichita, Kansas, became the pastor of Bethel Church. He left in 1968, when the district office assigned him to the mission field in Malaysia.
In 1968, Earl Johnson moved from Downey, California
Downey, California
Downey is a city located in southeast Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city is best known as the birthplace of the Apollo space program, and is the city where folk singer Karen Carpenter lived and died...
to become the pastor of Bethel Church. During his 14 years of pastoring the church, Bethel grew to over 1,000 in attendance and expanded its ministries. In 1982, after Pastor Earl Johnson was called to serve as the Assistant Superintendent of the Northern California/Nevada District of the Assemblies of God, Val Munson became the pastor.
In 1984, the congregation invited Ray and Rebecca Larson from Sacramento, California to lead the congregation. Under their leadership, the church grew to nearly 2,000 in attendance and relocated to the present 71 acre (0.28732706 km²) site.
In February 1996, the congregation invited Bill Johnson from Weaverville, California
Weaverville, California
Weaverville is a census-designated place and the county seat of Trinity County, California. The population was 3,600 at the 2010 census, up from 3,554 at the 2000 census.-History:Founded in 1850, Weaverville is a historic California Gold Rush town...
to lead the congregation. Johnson only had one stipulation before he was voted in; that the message would always be about revival and that the subject of revival would never change. He received nearly unanimous approval by the congregation and the church board. What believers consider to be a supernatural revival began to break out shortly after Bill's arrival. People in the congregation began laughing uncontrollably and falling and rolling on the floor, believing themselves to be under the power of God during church services. A mass exodus took place shortly after manifestations began happening. An estimated 1,000 people left the church and the two Sunday services were reduced to one. From 1996-1997, Bethel Church saw very little church growth.
In January 2006, the membership of Bethel Church of Redding voted to withdraw the church's affiliation with the Assemblies of God. In a letter Johnson points out that this action was "...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."
Bethel Church and Bill Johnson have been featured in video segments by Christian Broadcasting Network
Christian Broadcasting Network
The Christian Broadcasting Network, or CBN, is a fundamentalist Christian television broadcasting network in the United States. Its headquarters and main studios are in Virginia Beach, Virginia.-Background:...
(CBN) and Trinity Broadcasting Network
Trinity Broadcasting Network
The Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
(TBN). The segments reviewed the church's approach to outreach.
Church ministries
Bethel Church offers a variety of ministries including: nursery, children's church, junior high group, senior high group, deliverance, counseling, and Sozo (Greek for saved, healed, and delivered). The church hosts a variety of conferences and schools each year including: School of Supernatural Ministry, School of the Prophets, School of Worship, Bethel Christian School (PK-8), Open Heavens Conference, Kingdom Culture Conference, Piercing the Darkness Prophetic Conference, and Jesus CultureJesus Culture
Jesus Culture is a Christian youth outreach ministry that hosts three conferences in Redding, California every year, as well as in Atlanta, Las Vegas, Dallas, Cleveland, as well as Australia and England...
.