BRIEF BETHEL HISTORY
Click below for the video from DCE Randy Moerbe and the link below that is the pictures only of slide show presentation that was given at the latest Long Term Planning Services November 2024
| 1938 | First services were conducted at the Carnegie Library in downtown Bryan by Rev. Henry A. Traugott, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Kurten. |
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| 1940 | Bethel Lutheran Church was organized on March 19 with the signing of the constitution. |
| 1942 | With the assistance of the Texas District Mission Board, a site for a church was purchased at Bittle Lane and College Avenue. The church was dedicated on June 28. |
| 1945 | Rev. H. A. Traugott accepted a call to LaGrange, Texas, and Rev. A. F. Droegemueller succeeded him as pastor of Bethel and Zion. |
| 1946 | A parsonage was purchased at 115 Highland Street in Bryan. (or was it Highland Drive?) |
| 1947 | A dwelling on Bittle Lane and Washington Street was purchased with the help of the Texas District Mission Board. It was subsequently remodeled to serve as a parish hall and student meeting place. |
| 1950 | Rev. Droegemueller accepted a call to Galveston, Texas, and Rev. William C. Petersen succeeded him as pastor of Bethel and Zion. A new parsonage at 511 Southern Lane was purchased. |
| 1952 | The church building was enlarged. |
| 1956 | Double services were introduced on Sunday morning. A 12-acre tract of land on East 29th Street was purchased for a new church site. |
| 1961 | The Kurten ministry slowly merged into Bryan’s ministry and Bethel became the sole congregation for the area. |
| 1962 | A 4.5-acre site was purchased on East Lane and the property on East 29th Street was put up for sale. |
| 1963 | On July 7, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the construction of a new church, education building, and parish hall. |
| 1964 | On February 23, closing services were held at the old church and the new buildings were dedicated. |
| 1966 | Rev. Petersen accepted a call to Abilene, Texas, and Rev. Gordon Albers became the fourth pastor of Bethel. |
| 1968 | Bethel began a kindergarten program, with Mrs. Bobbie Proctor as the first teacher. The program continued for five years, with Mrs. Ruth Schultz and Mrs. Becky Sundbeck serving as subsequent teachers. |
| 1972 | The education wing was enlarged with the addition of eleven classrooms. A vicar, Kent Wendorf, was received in September. |
| 1973 | Vicar Walter Gustav came to serve the school year in Bryan and the summer at Lake Somerville. |
| 1974 | Joel Janzow served as vicar at Bethel. |
| 1975 | Due to the growing needs of the church, the position of Director of Christian Education was created and Randy Kerkmann became Bethel’s first DCE. |
| 1976 | Pastor Albers accepted a call to Houston, Texas. |
| 1977 | Rev. Duane Florschuetz became the fifth pastor at Bethel. |
| 1979 | DCE Kerkmann accepted a call to Houston, Texas. |
| 1980 | Kim Hille Davis became Bethel’s second DCE. |
| 1982 | Work commenced on a new LC-MS mission congregation in College Station. |
| 1983 | A new hymnal – Lutheran Worship – was introduced in worship services at Bethel. The first computer system was purchased for use in the church office. |
| 1984 | Kim Davis moved from DCE to the position of parish associate. Randy Moerbe accepted a call to be Bethel’s third DCE. |
| 1985 | The mission congregation in College Station – Holy Cross Lutheran – became a member of Synod at the District Convention in Galveston. |
| 1987 | The church office and education wing underwent extensive renovation, which included expanding the office space and creating a larger nursery area. Mrs. Davis stepped down as parish associate. |
| 1988 | Rev. Florschuetz accepted a call to become chaplain at Trinity Lutheran Home in Round Rock, Texas. |
| 1989 | Rev. Neil Bockelmann of Kankakee, Illinois, became Bethel’s sixth pastor. |
| 1998 | In an effort to satisfy growing space needs, the first portable building was purchased. |
| 2001 | In November, a second portable building was purchased for additional classroom space. Malcolm Randig began serving as Director of Music. Bethel purchased 12 acres on FM 158 for the development of a new site for the church. |
| 2002 | Kathy Herwald became parish associate. |
| 2004 | In September, a third portable building was added to the church property. |
| 2006 | James Langford Architects of Dallas was hired to prepare a site plan and design phases for a new worship facility on the FM 158 property. |
| 2007 | The Lutheran Service Book was adopted by the congregation and introduced in worship services. |
| 2008 | Pastor Bockelmann retired after 18 years of faithful service as Bethel’s pastor. Mr. Randig resigned as music director. |
| 2008 | Rev. Randall Bard was installed as Bethel’s seventh pastor. |
| 2008 | Fran Beard became Director of Music. |
| 2010 | Construction was started on the new facility on Boonville Road. |
| 2011 | The Bethel Lane property was sold to Brazos School of Inquiry and Creativity as we moved to the new campus on Boonville Road. |
| 2012 | Bethel Lutheran Preschool was founded at the Boonville location with Debbie Sadler as the Director. |
| 2019 | In August 2019, Jeff Bellach accepted a call to be Bethel’s DCE. In September, Randy Moerbe retired from the position. |
| 2019 | Pastor Timothy Eden accepted the call to be Bethel’s Associate Pastor. |
| 2020 | Debbie Sadler retired from the position of Preschool Director. Carolyn Janac became the new director. |
| 2021 | In October, Tetsuya Sugita was called to be Bethel’s Director of Music Ministry. |
