In early 1957, the Home Mission Board of the Evangelical Lutheran Church decided to sponsor a mission church in this area. In August 1957 a parsonage was purchased at 134 Gilbert Avenue, Santa Clara and in September of the same year Pastor Torvend and his family arrived.
It was in the basement of the old Cupertino Post Office where 103 worshippers gathered for the first worship service on November 10, 1957.
The congregation was formally organized on March 15, 1958 with 50 communicant and 91 baptized members. Dr. Gaylerd Falde, President of the California District, officiated at this service.
The original three acre site was purchased in May 1958. With funds advanced by the Home Mission Department and the dedicated help of many people, the first unit of Bethel Church was ready for worship exactly one year after the date of our first service in Cupertino. 168 people attended services in the new unit.
Our average attendance at church services that first year was 94. Our Sunday School had an enrollment of 130 with an average attendance of 72.
On January 25, 1959 Pastor T. Arnold Thompson who headed the home mission work in California, officiated at the dedication of the first unit.
Our staff and members reached out into the community in love. Many joined the congregation. Soon the facilities were inadequate.
Zoar Lutheran Church of Canby, Oregon provided their credit for a "sponsorship loan" with the Home Mission Board. This also enabled us to build four additional classrooms, plus an office, parking lot and other improvements. In grateful appreciation we named the educational wing Zoar Hall. This work began in June 1961 with all the labor being donated by members of the congregation, and was completed and dedicated January 28, 1962.
Bethel continued to grow. In April 1963 we took a step of faith and hired an architect to draw plans for a new sanctuary. He set down on paper our ideas and dreams.
1964 marked the beginning of our Nursery School which started in a modest way under the direction of Mrs. Geneva Schenk. However by the end of the year 41 children were enrolled.
Ground breaking ceremonies were held on May 17, 1964 for our new sanctuary. Much dedicated work was given by many faithful members of the congregation during the next year. The result was a dream come true when our beautiful sanctuary was dedicated on Sunday, April 4, 1965.
More staff was needed to serve this active congregation. God blessed us again when Miss Lorraine Solberg became our Parish Assistant in October 1964. We received more blessings when Pastor Paul Blom became our Assistant Pastor in August 1967.
Needing additional educational facilities we took another step of faith and began construction of another educational wing for our Sunday School in February 1968, again using donated labor.
When we celebrated our 10 year anniversary on March 17, 1968, Dr. Falde was again with us. We had 1060 confirmed and 1900 baptized members after ten years and felt richly blessed. Our 1967 budget had reached $144,126.
In 1968 we were saddened as Lorraine Solberg resigned to go back to the midwest to be closer to her family. Marjorie Zibbel accepted our call as parish assistant and was installed in July 1969.
Our educational wing was completed in 1969 through the dedicated service of our building committee and the donated labor of our members. This building was completed at a cost of $12.70 per square foot!
During 1971 Pastor Paul Blom resigned to take a call at Del Mar, California. While we were saddened as he and Marie left we rejoiced that they were to fill a vital role in this mission congregation. God provided Pastor Jim Kintzi to fill our needs.
1972 found us losing our beloved founding Pastor Silas Torvend who accepted a call to Emmanuel, North Hollywood, the largest church in the South Pacific District. We could only remember the dedicated servant of God and his helpmate Alice who had served us so faithfully for our first 15 years. Our Parish Assistant, Marge Zibbel accepted a call to Denmark.
In 1973 Art Gerlock from the National Stewardship Office conducted a Resident Counseling Program focusing on the Biblical basis and reason for our stewardship of time and possessions.
August 1973 found us blessed by Pastor Harold Brown accepting our call as Senior Pastor from a large church in Seattle. We were particularly glad at Pastor Brown's arrival since the long period after Pastor Torvend's leaving had placed a huge workload on Pastor Jim Kintzi.
In February 1974 the extremely talented Dorothy Meyer became our Parish Worker. Summer 1974 found Paul Hedin becoming our first full time youth director. Our staff was finally filled.
1975 began on a sad note as Pastor Jim Kintzi accepted a call to a church in Concord, California. Saddened by the loss but encouraged that the distance was not "that far" we said goodbye to Jim and Lynn.
In September 1975, Paul Hedin who had found a place in our hearts resigned to continue his education. Paul Benz accepted our call and continued the fine youth work during the 15 months that he served us.
While we had really been served by Pastor Verl Clausen on an unofficial basis for some time, we extended a call as Worker Priest. We were thrilled as he was installed on December 21' 1975.
Once again God provided for us as Pastor Bill Gutknect was installed as Associate Pastor, on February 8, 1976. Pastor Bill came to us from the San Diego area and we are pleased to have him on our staff.
Upon Paul Benz's resignation we called Robyn Winegardner from our own congregation as full time youth director. She was installed on October 10, 1976.
In May 1977 our congregation voted once again to expand our facilities by adding additional classrooms, office space, and for the first time, an adequate kitchen. These new facilities were dedicated on November 27, 1977 with Dr. Falde officiating at the Rite of Dedication.
In January 1978 we voted to go ahead with a Christian Day School, Grades K-3.
Bethel Lutheran has grown in the last year with a greater potential ahead. By the end of 1977 we had 2034 baptized members and 1398 confirmed members and a budget of $294,000, and we continue to grow. This plus our new facilities and dedicated staff make us more able than ever to fulfill our mission to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of this area.
Truly God has been most gracious and has showered an abundance of blessings upon us during this past twenty years.
May all that we have now and what we receive in the future be used to the Glory of God and his beloved Son, Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.