Anaheim (German for “House near Santa Ana River”) was at that time a real German Colony, 40 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
~ German Congregation 1902 - 1942 ~
In the sixtieth year of our denomination, the North American Baptist Conference, the forty-fifth year of Anaheim, and the 126th year of our national independence, in the year the telephone and the radio were invented, and one year before
the invention of the airplane, on Thursday the 23rd of October, 1902, sixteen Baptists gathered in the home of S. Hemmerling on Lincoln Avenue at Villa Place for the purpose of organizing a church. John Berg opened the meeting with a hymn, the reading of Psalm 1, a talk, and a prayer. Then the group proceeded to organize the church and decided to call it “The Bethel Baptist Church of Anaheim.” The following became charter members: Rev. Hemmerling, Mr. Schneider, Mr. Wedel, Mr. L. Bressel, Mr. P. Berg, Mr. Wedel. Of these, S. Hemmerling was the last to pass to his heavenly reward on March 27, 1952. Rev. John Berg, a former pastor of the First German Baptist Church of Anaheim, was unanimously elected pastor of the new church; M. Hemmerling, clerk; J. Berg, J. Wedel, P. Berg, G. Schneider. S. Hemmerling, trustees; J. Wedel, G. Schneider, deacons; J. Wedel, treasurer. On October 25, 1902, the Articles of Incorporation were signed at the Court House in Santa Ana. The purpose of church was declared to be “the promotion of the moral and religious nature of its members and the worship of God.”
On November 19, 1902, Lord’s Supper was celebrated for the first time at Bethel. Soon after, it was decided to build a house of worship. Two lots were purchased on Lemon Street at Broadway for $350 and a building committee was appointed, consisting of J. Wedel, and G. They began working and on December 25, 1902, the congregation celebrated Christmas in a new building, though the walls were not yet plastered and the windows were not installed
On April 12, 1903, the new church building valued at $2,200 was dedicated. On June 7, 1903, the first baptismal service took place at Bethel, with 13 persons following their Lord in baptism and total of 16 people joining the church. The Baptism service was held at Cornwall Reservoir because the church had no baptistery. On October 19, 1903, the Young People’s Society was organized with 24 members. Its purpose was to train its members in the presentation of literary programs. Wedel was president, S. Hemmerling, vice-president, D. A. Wedel, secretary, M. Hemmerling, treasurer. A choir begins with Dan Wedel calling together a dozen people who love to sing. During those early years, the membership of the church was recruited from laborers and farmers, most of whom had large families and supported the church at considerable sacrifice to themselves. A warm and homelike spirit prevailed among them. Bethel was a family of families, hospitality abounded, and every member endeavored to be a missionary. The members, having been converted from a worldly life, gave convincing testimony to the saving grace of God in Christ. Grouping by ages was unknown at that time. Father, mother, and children sat together in church. In 1926 a project was started for the building of a new sanctuary. The Women’s Union had already started building a fund. The church responded to the challenge and pledged $25,000. On September 12, 1926, the cornerstone was laid of our present beautiful edifice at the corner of Brodway and Lemon. The dedication of the completed structure was held on February 27, 1927. The value of the new church was placed at $41,000. That year, Bethel also celebrated its 25th anniversary in conjunction with the California Association. Membership had grown to 220 people. In 1927, the church adopts a resolution granting the pastor an annual vacation of one month. On September 21, 1930, the church dedicates a beautiful Estey pipe organ at a cost of $2,000. In 1931, for the first time the question of language arises. The younger generation has difficulty following the sermon in German. In 1932, baptismal candidates are addressed in English for the first time, and in 1936 the baptismal service becomes the first service conducted entirely in English at Bethel. The same year, the church decides to hold an English service on the fourth Sunday of every month. In 1938, the church decides to hold all Sunday evening services in English and to add a brief English message to the German Sunday morning service. After May 1942, the church holds a German worship service prior to the Sunday School period. All the other services are now entirely in English.
