
Bethany Lutheran Church
Deer River, Minnesota


From the Pastor
Hello and welcome to Bethany's website. I hope that this site helps you stay up-to-date on church events or else helps orient you to Bethany.
I began my call to Bethany in October 2015 and have appreciated how much the congregation cares for one another and the local community. We enjoy welcoming those who come to visit our beautiful lakes and woods and need a place to worship while on vacation. I knew Bethany was the right place for me because of this welcoming ethos. It is our intention to create a safe and welcoming community for people of every age, gender, race, occupation, sexual orientation, and football team preference. We believe this is a living out of our mission, "Through Christ, we courageously love" as Jesus' ministry was a daily practice of radical hospitality and love.
I hope you will join us for worship on Sundays at 9:30am!
Photo by Rich Anderson
About the Pastor
Pastor Lisa graduated with an Environmental Studies degree from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA and then with a Masters of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, PA. There, she met her husband, Ben, who currently serves as pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, as well as Chaplain in the 148th Air National Guard in Duluth.
Previously, Pastor Lisa was called to Gethsemane Lutheran in Virginia, Minnesota, Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry and served as a "bridge pastor" for congregations in Cook, Deer River, Cromwell and Wright. In addition to time at Bethany, she teaches a yoga class at CENTER, Grand Rapids and enjoys hiking, cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family.
