The Bethel logo symbol was designed by Avis Benson.  BETH'EL means house of God--"Surely the Lord is in this place" (Genesis 28:16).  Bethel is the name Jacob gave to the place where he slept, alone and lonely, with his head resting on a rock.  He dreamed of angels ascending and descending a ladder.  The "rock" is housed in a double tent design, and from the "rock" are supporting beams in the form of a cross.  Symbol: Christ is the rock supporting the "House of God" or congregation of God's people.  The tent is symbolic of God's dwelling in the heart of man.
 
As God's children of Bethel, we make this covenant: We as a "Word and Sacrament" community gather to confess our faith in Christ as our Lord and Savior.  We will strive to proclaim and live in His grace and love through fellowship, worship and prayer with Him and our brothers and sisters in Christ.  We commit ourselves to providing good programs of religious education to all of our church family.  We commit ourselves to supporting the education for family life in the curriculum of the church school and the formal and informal educational offerings of the congregation.  We believe that as God's family, we are responsible to each other, to the larger community in which we live, and ultimately to people everywhere.  We will strive to accomplish this by being living examples of our faith through our caring, and serving needs of all of God's people.  We believe that each member should use his God-given gifts of time, talents, and treasures to the fullest, enabling Bethel Lutheran Church to fulfill its mission as a "Word and Sacrament" community.  Time, talent and treasure are of equal importance in fulfilling this commitment.  Continued growth by individual members in each of these areas should help us accomplish the Church's mission.  "I will bless you, so that you will be a blessing" (Genesis 12:2).
 
During 1982, the Land Search Committee reviewed and evaluated sites and recommended the Old Farm site be pursued for acquisition.  A Land Purchase Fund was started with substantial donations from churches in Byron and Johnson, Nebraska and elsewhere.
 
Bethel Lutheran moved from its original worship site, Rudy Elementary School, to LaPetite Academy and held its first service there on March 27, 1983.  During this period, progress was made with increased membership and the formation of choir, youth groups, the ALCW, and Bible study groups.
 
 A feasibility study was done in 1982-83 to consider some preliminary thoughts, ideas, and desires of how Bethel could function and what would be needed for a building to facilitate this ministry.  On October 28, 1984, an application for a loan was made to the Division for Service and Mission in America, Church Extension Fund of the American Lutheran Church.  Land was purchased at our present location in November, 1984.  The bid for construction of the new building was awarded to Murphy & Co., and ground was broken July 19, 1985.  On January 5, 1986, Bethel held its first worship service in the new building, with dedication on February 9, 1986.
 
Bethel had been organized with a membership of 67 baptized.  A membership of 254 began worship in the new building in January, 1986 and just one year later, had grown to 396.  By January 1989, members numbered 536.
 
In January 1990, the membership had grown to 488 and in the ensuing years the need for more space, especially educational rooms, was realized.  On February 21, 1993, eight new rooms and a gathering space were dedicated to help support the needs of the now 612 members. 
 
In the fall of 1994, Bethel welcomed an Intern, Steve Meysing, a 3rd year seminary student.  He was with us for 1 year.  On  November 12, 1994 Bethel added a 3rd service,  on Saturday evening at 5:30pm.  This was to help with the increased attendance at the Sunday morning services.  Bethel's membership had grown to 722.
 
We welcomed our second Intern, Janez Kutzke, in August 1995.  Janez was a third year seminary student from Wartburg Seminary.  A Prayer Chapel, located in Room 202, was dedicated in December 1995.  Membership had now grown to 751.
 
Our third intern, Rebecca Ninke, joined us in August 1996.  She was a third year student from Wartburg Seminary.  The Columbarium, located in the Memorial Garden, was dedicated in November 1996.  Membership continued to grow and was now at 817.
 
Bethel celebrated its Fifteenth Anniversary at an all congregation worship at Liberty High School on March 16, 1997.
 
On September 1, 1997 we added a Pastor to Bethel's staff.  Janez Kutzke (our intern in 1995/96) received her first "Letter of Call" from Bethel in April of 1997.  She graduated from Wartburg Seminary in May of 1997.  Pastor Janez was installed on October 12, 1997 with Bishop Alan Bjornberg of the Rocky Mountain Synod presiding over the service.  Our membership was 855.
 
In August of 1998 ground was broken for the third and largest phase of our building.   Construction was in full swing by December, 1998.  Our membership was now 824.  On September 12, 1999, dedication of the new building took place.  Bethel was joined by Bishop Alan Bjornberg of the Rocky Mountain Synod, along with several other Pastors from our area. Our membership had grown to 876.
 
Pastor Janez Kutzke left Bethel in October 2000 to accept a call in Wisconsin, her home state.  Bethel was fortunate to be able to issue a call to Mary Lou Petitjean, who was installed on January 21, 2001, with Rev. James Hytjan, Assistant to the Bishop, presiding.  Membership continued to grow and was at 980.
 
In February 2002, Bethel added to its staff a full time youth director, Kris Lettenmaier, who is an Associate in Ministry (AIM).  A celebration of Bethel's 20th anniversary was held in March, 2002.  A special offering was divided among two new churches and a Habitat for Humanity house built during 2001 by several Lutheran and Episcopal churches in Colorado Springs.  Membership is currently at 1010. Kris left Bethel in the summer of 2004.
 
Pastor John Sorenson resigned in February 2003 to take a church in his home state of Iowa. The church called Pastor Will Rinnert as Senior Interim Pastor on May 1, 2003. A Call Committee was elected in September 2003 to search for a new Senior Pastor. Working with Dr. Tom Chamberlain, the Bishop's assistant at the Synod level, the committee began the formal search in October 2003.
 
Pastor John M. Witkop was called to serve as the Senior Pastor of Bethel in April of 2004. Pastor John and his family arrived in July to begin ministry with the people of Bethel and the Colorado Springs community. He is a graduate of The Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, receiving his Master of Divinity in 1988 and his Doctorate in 2004.