BetHelinWillMar.org
Title
Bethel Address
Description
Back row (left to right): Sharon Peterson, Office; Ione Pillard, Office Coordinator, Ron Hagemeyer, Director of Music Ministries; Doreen Mages, Director of Maintenance Ministries; Carrie Peterson, Director of Youth Ministry; Beverly Baseman, Director of Christian Education.
And those words from the large banner framing our south entrance are true. Today Bethel Lutheran is a congregation that welcomes people of all races, ethnic backgrounds, and ages. We strive to serve the very diverse population of Willmar, especially downtown. While the beautiful, Tudor Revival structure (1927) may seem formal and cold, you will receive a warm welcome when you enter, whether for worship or one of the many community meetings we host.
Swedish Roots: Like most religious communities, Bethel was started by a specific ethnic group, Swedish immigrants. After Willmar became an important stop on the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, the growing Swedish language population expressed desire for a ‘Swedish Lutheran Church.’ Although strong Swedish congregations –Tripolis, Atwater, Svea, Mamrelund and Lebanon—the rapidly growing Swedish population in Willmar was not served. This was remedied in 1891 when Bethel Lutheran was formed.
