Bethany Lutheran Church was organized in 1919 by several families who wanted a solid Lutheran church in the area.
In 1920, a former Methodist church building was purchased and moved to a site in rural Story City, Iowa. The congregation joined the Evangelical Lutheran Synod the same year.
From 1926-1938, Bethany operated a Lutheran elementary school.
In 1968, Bethany relocated to Ames, first meeting in the basement of the parsonage. A split foyer parsonage was built that housed a chapel in the basement. The present church building, located in a residential neighborhood, is on the south side of Ames. The church building was dedicated to the glory of God on June 26, 1977. The church offering plates were fashioned from the original oaks at Kishkonong under which the Rev. J.W.C. Dietrichson conducted the communion service on September 2, 1844.
Educational, fellowship, and workshop facilities were constructed on the corner of Jewell Drive and Diamond Street. Rev. Roger Dale of Thornton, Iowa, served as pastor for 17 months. On July 5, 1969, Rev. Fred Theiste was ordained and installed. He served the congregation until August 1973. After that, until Pastor Christian Morales was called in August 1975, we were served by pastors and students from Bethany Seminary at Mankato, Minnesota.
The congregation actively ministers to students of Iowa State University through its worship services and an on-campus Bible study.
Pastor Michael K. Smith was installed as pastor on July 11, 2021.
Pastors Who have served at Bethany
|
J. Hendrix 1919-1920 |
H. Zagel 1943-1952 P. Petersen 1952-1956 T. Aaberg 1956-1962 Richard Newgard 1962-1965 Paul Madson 1965-1966 Paul Petersen 1967-1969 Fred Theiste 1969-1973 Christian Morales 1975-1978 |
R. Yount 1978-1979 Roger Dale 1978-1979 W. Dobratz 1981-1983 Thomas Fox 1984-1987 R. Huehn 1988-1991 David Meyer 1992-1995 Ron Pederson 1995-1997 Martin Hoesch 1997-2021 Michael Smith 2021-Present |
