Bethel Fellowship Church

How long does it take for a church to truly find its footing? For Bethel Fellowship Church here in Chicago, the answer might be a few decades, or perhaps a lifetime, depending on how you choose to measure it. You see, the Bethel Fellowship Church’s story is one of evolution and reaching out. Its roots go back to 2003, a time when a second service was initiated on the University of Chicago campus. This marked the birth of Bethel UC, a beacon meant to serve both the university and the wider Hyde Park community. This fledgling branch took a leap of faith in 2010, becoming a PCA mission church and embracing the name Living Hope Church. They continue to serve the south side of Chicago to this day. That spirit of expansion continued. In November 2006, Bethel Fellowship Church itself took a step towards solidifying its identity, forming a board of elders and becoming a particularized church. This signifies a deeper level of independence and self-governance within the Presbyterian Church structure. But the story doesn’t end there. In January 2021, both Bethel Wheeling and Bethel Chicago, two branches that had grown and flourished, became distinct, particularized churches within the PCA. It’s a testament to the church’s commitment to growth, adaptation, and serving its community in a meaningful way.