Bethel Church (Redding, California)

Bethel Church (Redding, California)
Location Redding, California
Country United States
Denomination Non-denominational charismatic, Pentecostal
Previous denomination Assemblies of God
Website www.bethel.com, www.bethelredding.com
History
Founded 1952
Clergy
Senior pastor(s) Bill Johnson (pastor)
Pastor(s) Eric Johnson, Beni Johnson, Danny Silk, Kris Vallotton

Bethel Church is a non-denominational charismatic megachurch that was established in 1954 in Redding, California. The church, which is currently being led by Bill Johnson, is notable for their music label Bethel Music. There have been many articles, both in print publications and online, written about Bethel and their ministry, including in the Record Searchlight, Christianity Today, and Charisma magazine.[1][2][3]

Senior Church leaders[4]

  • Bill and Beni Johnson - Senior Leaders (1996–current)
  • Kris and Kathy Vallotton - Senior Associate Leaders (1998–current)
  • Eric and Candace Johnson - Senior Pastors of Bethel Redding (2015–current)

History

Robert Doherty began the church in 1952 and the congregation was an affiliate of the Assemblies of God beginning in 1954.[5] In February 1996, the congregation invited Bill Johnson from Weaverville, California, to lead the congregation. Johnson, the son of former pastor Earl 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.[6]

In November 2005, the membership of Bethel Church voted unanimously to withdraw the church's affiliation with the Assemblies of God and become a non-denominational church. However, the Assemblies of God's bylaws required Bethel to invite the leadership of the Northern California-Nevada District to speak to the congregation. On January 15, 2006, Bethel's membership voted to rescind the withdrawal and invited the district leadership to Redding. The district leadership met with the congregation in January 17, but the result was a near-unanimous vote to withdraw. 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."[7] Since that time, the church has grown to nearly 9,000 attendees a week.[1]

Bethel Church and Bill Johnson have been featured in video segments by Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN)[8][9] and Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN).

Church ministries

Bethel Church provides a variety of ministries to congregants and the general public that include weekly services for adults, teenagers, and children, a form of inner-healing ministry known as Sozo (based on the Greek word sózó which can mean saved, delivered, healed, rescued, or made whole), various forms of community service, and street ministry. The church hosts a variety of conferences and schools each year. The church also runs a preschool through 8th grade school.

Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry

In the fall of 1998, Bethel Church began Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, under the direction of Kris Vallotton, Bethel's senior associate pastor.[5] The normal program is one academic year and students have the opportunity to return for a second and third year. Approximately 15% of the students stay for the full three years. The school was founded with 36 students, and in 2010 and 2016 the school enrollment numbered over 1,200 and 2,000 students, respectively.[2][5] They are an unaccredited program and do not offer a degree or credits but a certificate.[10]

Bethel Music

Bethel Music is a record label and publishing company associated with Bethel Church, led by Bill Johnson's son Brian Johnson.[11]

Criticism

Since Bill Johnson took over as head pastor in 1996, Bethel has received criticism in both the local community and by other Christian organizations for their beliefs, practices, and usage of church funds.

Claims of healing and other miracles

People associated with Bethel, including the pastor, have made many statements about miracles and healing that have taken place at the church, including gold dust appearing in the auditorium [1] and people being brought back from the dead.[12]

Usage of funds

In April 2017, Bethel offered to donate $500,000 to the city of Redding to assist in funding the salary for police officers. Some in the community thought the church was trying to pay off the city for future building permits, an assertion Pastor Kris Vallotton refuted at a city council meeting. The city ultimately voted to receive the donation.[13] Seven months after receiving the donation, Redding City Council unanimously approved a $96 million new Bethel campus, despite dozens of formally submitted citizen concerns. The city councilperson who is a member of Bethel recused herself from voting.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Jones, Martyn. Inside the Popular, Controversial Bethel Church. Christianity Today, April 2016
  2. 1 2 Winters, Amanda. Bethel burgeons under pastor's visions of prosperity. Record Searchlight, January 16, 2010
  3. ↑ Vallotton, Kris. Bethel Beliefs on Signs, Wonders and Miracles. Charisma Magazine, April 2016.
  4. ↑ "Leadership Archive | Bethel Church". www.bethel.com. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  5. 1 2 3 Jones, Martin Wendell (14 April 2016). "Inside the Popular, Controversial Bethel Church". Christianity Today. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  6. ↑ Biography. Bill Johnson Ministries Retrieved on April 12, 2017
  7. ↑ Johnson, Bill. Bethel and the Assemblies of God. Bethel Church, 2006
  8. ↑ Living a Life of Miracles. Christian Broadcasting Network, April 7, 2011
  9. ↑ Miracles Outside the Church Walls. Christian Broadcasting Network, April 7, 2011
  10. ↑ Structure. Retrieved on Oct 21, 2017.
  11. ↑ "About - Bethel Music". bethelmusic.com. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
  12. ↑ Winters, Amanda. Faith healings, dead raising teams part of Bethel experience. Record Searchlight, January 18, 2010.
  13. ↑ Longoria, Sean. Bethel, city officials defend $500,000 donation. Record Spotlight, April 2017.
  14. ↑ Redding council backs Bethel's new campus. Record Searchlight, December 6, 2017

Coordinates: 40°36′35″N 122°21′29″W / 40.60972°N 122.35806°W / 40.60972; -122.35806

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