I loved hearing all the stories during Bethany’s 100-year anniversary celebrations. In digging a little deeper, I discovered what I’ve always suspected—our church’s foundation was built on the principle of welcoming people of all walks of life.
The first meeting for the Lutheran congregation for the Swedish people of Crystal Lake, IL, was held in February 1923, and the sanctuary was completed by 1925. By the annual meeting in 1930, the congregation voted to hold all services in English. They could have remained a small Swedish congregation that kept to themselves, but it is no surprise to me that Bethany began opening its doors to people from different backgrounds, countries, lived experiences, and even languages—96 years ago.
During my family’s exploration of churches 20 years ago, we learned the rich history of Bethany’s commitment to welcoming diverse communities. This included PADS (starting in the 1980s), Head Start (early 1980s), Boy Scouts (I found a newspaper article about Bethany hosting Boy Scouts as early as 1931), Vacation Bible School, Global Ministries and our Tanzanian mission church, and the many local nonprofit programs supported over the years by the Social Action Committee.
When my family began attending church at Bethany, we felt the big embrace of the Bethany family. My young son with disabilities was not just invited into the youth programs; he felt accepted and loved for the child of God that he is. The friendships he made at Bethany were a lifeline during the drama of high school, which is a common story for all our children. Our policy of baptizing members and nonmembers alike and providing the opportunity for all children to grow up in a church that offers such unconditional love is perhaps one of our most godlike missions.
In our years at Bethany, we have seen the net get even bigger to include more communities in our church. Ministries such as The Good Samaritan Ministry, Food Pantry drives, the Giving Tree, the Blessing Box, the Ukraine School, the ministry supporting detained ICE immigrants, Neighbors of McHenry County (which supports an asylum-seeking family), “Bethany South,” and the Mexican Posada event are just a few examples. The list goes on and on.
I am so proud to be part of a church that not only looks for ways to bless and care for the most vulnerable among us but also strives to enrich our family with diversity. Committing to the Reconciling in Christ (RIC) certification is just one more way to continue this vital practice of loving and accepting all who are looking for God’s love and who want what a church like Bethany has to offer. An RIC certification publicly declares that persons who may have been excluded or even harmed by the church, such as communities of color, those with diverse heritages, and LGBTQ+ individuals, are welcome and safe.
During this time of division and uncertainty, I have found comfort in the writings of Methodist minister Adam Hamilton. In his book Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times, he proposes this question for persons of faith: “In the situation I find myself in, what is the most loving thing that I can do?” It is as simple and as challenging as that.
The members of Bethany have always strived to build a place that resembles the kingdom Jesus has promised. I am confident that we will affirm a welcome statement in Sunday, January 26 at our Annual Meeting to become an RIC-certified church so we can publicly confirm what we have always known—that all are welcome here.
Contact
