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About Us
Thanks for checking out Bethany! Below you'll find our story, beliefs and values.
Our Mission
Make disciples by connecting people to God, to each other, and to the world.
Purpose
Love God and love others.
Our Story
Bethany's journey began over 100 years ago when a group of 14 people began to meet for worship in a home that is now the site of the 7-11 store adjacent to the Puyallup fairgrounds. In 1920, these believers formed the Swedish Baptist Church. They conducted their services in Swedish and by the next year they had constructed a building close to the Meeker Mansion in downtown Puyallup. They did some innovative things in those days, including a ministry to Japanese speaking children in nearby Alderton.
During the 1930's these Swedes sensed a need to expand their ministry, so they began conducting their services in English and changed their name to Pioneer Avenue Baptist Church. Over the next two decades the church grew and eventually moved to a location on 3rd Street Northeast in 1962. They changed the name to Bethany Baptist Church.
In the early 1990's we felt that the Lord was leading us on our journey to another new home. Property was purchased in 1993 and eight years later we moved into our current facility.
Today you would hardly recognize our Swedish roots. We've been moving and changing for over 100 years. The one constant in our journey has been to understand what God has in store for us. We believe it involves loving Jesus and the people of this city. We'd love to have you join us on this journey!
Beliefs
The word of god
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
The trinity
We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence and redemption.
God The Father
We believe in God, the Father, an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of each person, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ
We believe in Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher and guide.
Regeneration
We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
The Church
We believe in the universal church, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task of giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.
Christian Conduct
We believe that Christians should live for the glory of God and the well-being of others; that their conduct should be blameless before the world; that they should be faithful stewards of their possessions; and that they should seek to realize for themselves and others the full stature of maturity in Christ.
The Ordinances
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has committed two ordinances to the local church: baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water into the name of the triune God. We believe that the Lord's Supper was instituted by Christ for commemoration of His death. We believe that these two ordinances should be observed and administered until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Religious Liberty
We believe that every human being has direct relations with God, and is responsible to God alone in all matters of faith; that each church is independent and must be free from interference by any ecclesiastical or political authority; that therefore Church and State must be kept separate as having different functions, each fulfilling its duties free from dictation or patronage of the other.
Church Cooperation
We believe that local churches can best promote the cause of Jesus Christ by cooperating with one another in a denominational organization. Such an organization, whether it is the Conference or a district conference, exists and functions by the will of the churches. Cooperation in a conference is voluntary and may be terminated at any time. Churches may likewise cooperate with interdenominational fellowships on a voluntary independent basis.
The Last Things
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, and the final judgement.
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Marriage
We believe that marriage has been instituted and ordained by God, and that marriage is defined in the Bible as the exclusive covenant union of one man and one woman. We believe the church should faithfully follow this definition of marriage in the teachings and practices of the church.
Core Values
Following
I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and trust Him for my salvation.
(Galatians 2:20; Luke 5:11; Matthew 16:24-25, I Peter 2:24)
I have been baptized as a public acknowledgement of my faith and personally identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
(Acts 19:5)
Growing
I will strive, by God’s grace, to:
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Serve by investing my time and energy into the mission of Jesus at Bethany.
(Romans 15:13; 2 Corinthians 8:24; Ephesians 2:10)
Serve with a Christ-like attitude in both our church and community.
(John 13; Luke 9:48)
Serving
I will strive, by God’s grace, to:
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Serve by investing my time and energy into the mission of Jesus at Bethany.
(Romans 15:13; 2 Corinthians 8:24; Ephesians 2:10)
Serve with a Christ-like attitude in both our church and community.
(John 13; Luke 9:48)
Giving
I will strive, by God’s grace, to manage the resources God has given me, by generously giving my:
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Time and Talent: Discovering my God given gifts and abilities and using them to serve the mission of Jesus at Bethany.
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Treasure: Through regular giving to the mission of Jesus at Bethany that is sacrificial and cheerful.
(2 Corinthians 8-9, Luke 6:38)
Testimony: I will share my faith story to help others find and follow Jesus.
(I Thessalonians 2:8, Ephesians 4:1-16, 5:15-18; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 5:22-26; Proverbs 3:9-10)
The Flood The Sound movement is a tightly knit family of churches working as one to flood the Puget Sound area with the Gospel of Jesus by making disciples, shaping leaders, and planting churches.
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