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We see Bethlehem Lutheran Church as a vibrant, joyful, and growing Christ-Centered community of believers and seekers. We actively reach people of all backgrounds and intentionally help them follow a spiritual path toward maturity in the Christian faith. Our love of God and each other is evident in our community, and in joyful and relevant programs and worship experiences. We are known for our passion and commitment in responding to the physical and spiritual needs of those in our community and the world beyond it.
are the four most important characteristics of our Church.
We believe in the authority and inspiration of Scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit through prayer. The bible is the source and the norm for our belief and conduct.
We maintain the traditional structure of the historic liturgy while the pushing towards a more contemporary expression of Lutheran worship. We strive to communicate the Gospel in new and compelling ways.
BLC is like a friend who you know you can trust, a safe place where you will be accepted regardless of the state of your spiritual or personal life. It is a friend who listens, is not pushy, but who when appropriate offers insightful and helpful thoughts about life and spirituality. This friend understands that there is a complexity and depth to the Christian faith, and that to wrestle deeply with doubt or profound questions is more than simply ok it is incredibly important.
A value that should appeal to both the Christian who understands that Christ charged us with loving to the unlovely and/or needy, and to the non-Christian who has some God-given sense that serving the needy is the right thing to do. We want to be transformative -- a Church that is making a difference in the world. This includes physical, spiritual, emotional and relational needs among our members and friends, within our neighboring community, and beyond.
In
1962, Pastor Gene Fogt and a dozen pioneering families from
nearby Hope Lutheran Church in Annandale organized a new Church
community just outside the beltway in what was then considered
sparsely developed land. They had $100,000 to buy land, build
the Church and pay the pastor. On September 16, 1962 Bethlehem
began its first worship service and purchased property on
Little River Turnpike for the Church.By the 1970's, Bethlehem was a vibrant and growing ministry that focused on meeting the needs in the community and beyond. The fellowship hall was built as a multi-purpose room. Lots of young families joined, bringing worship attendance up to four hundred a Sunday.
In the 1980's contention arose over the use of charismatic spiritual gifts and other issues. Some families left the church. Worship attendance and membership began to decline.
The 1990's began a season of rebuilding in an atmosphere of unity and stability. The congregation fulfilled a vision of building a new sanctuary and renovating the entire facility. The congregation began to grow again by the grace of God. This growth and new vitality has continued into a new century.
In 2000, Bethlehem called a new pastor (Rev. Philip C. Hirsch) and embraced a new inspired vision for our congregation. We invite you to be a part of what God is doing in the ministries of Bethlehem.
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