A short history of Bethel Cleveland
Bethel Cleveland began in September of 1996. Steve and Cindy Witt and their four children came from New Brunswick, Canada to Cleveland to plant a new church. Bethel Cleveland started in Brunswick and was planted by an unusual strategy. Fifty radio ads were purchased to search out those who loved God, but were not going to church. As a result, 92 people showed up for a Friday night meeting and quickly grew, causing a need to move north out of Brunswick to Middleburg Hts.
The church went through some nomadic years, meeting in various locations, yet primarily at Big Creek Elementary School and Tri-City Senior Center. Along the way, staff members increased, strategies shifted and leaders were raised up. Outreaches included Servant Evangelism (free give-aways of products and services), chili cook-offs, festivals, Evangelism Explosion training, Ronald McDonald House, Passion film, Oldies Night, and many others. Teams have been sent out on short term training to over ten nations including Norway, Australia, England, Iceland, Mexico and others.
Bethel Cleveland has focused on "Every Member Involvement," training volunteer members in ministry teams, healing, prophetic, worship and others. Many have come for a season and been sent back to encourage their base churches. Partnerships have been formed to help urban churches through financial giving and human resources
Presently, Bethel Cleveland has been blessed with two beautiful properties, located in highly visible areas. The former Grace Church and Greater Cleveland Christian School located on Bagley Road in Middleburg Hts. was purchased in the late spring of 2004, and serves as a ministry base for operations. A twenty-one acre farm on Interstate 71 in Brunswick Hills was purchased the same year and is the home of Bethel's Brunswick Campus, which includes a new church building and our prayer house. In November of 2010, Bethel launched a third campus in Madison, Ohio. The Madison campus alternates between a simulcast message from Steve Witt and live preaching from Pastor Todd Roberts. In September of 2011, Bethel launched its fourth campus in Akron, Ohio. As a church, our dream is to see multiple church and outreach locations throughout the greater Cleveland area, as well as continued initiative and cooperative efforts with churches in the region.