our history 1958 - 1964
Bethel Christian Fellowship has an interesting history. The first Sunday of March in 1958, Bethel had her beginnings under the direction of Hiram and Betty Brooks. It was started with nothing, not even a song book.
The first service was held at the Masonic Temple on Arrow Hwy. here in Fontana. There was much prayer over the name of the church. When Pastor Brooks announced he felt the name should be Bethel, meaning the "Hallowed Spot" or "The Abiding Place of God," there was an instantaneous agreement of the people.
For several weeks the new church would meet at different locations because of the lack of facilities, finally settling at the Eagles Lodge on East Arrow as a temporary meeting place. They dealt weekly with moving song books, records, etc. and the stench of liquor.
They became desperate for a permanent meeting place. After a morning prayer meeting one week, Pastor and Mrs. Brooks went to inquire at a real estate office concerning an ad they had seen in the newspaper. Upon being taken to the location, which our home still today, they immediately felt the witness of their hearts that this is what the Lord wanted the church to have and put up a hundred dollar deposit right then. It is said, according to a newspaper article many years ago, that the property once belonged to the gangster Al Capone, one of three homes he owned in Fontana. It was a home in a beautiful setting of orange groves. Every room had an outside entrance and in the basement was a tunnel, which lead to a house just north of the property, which has now been torn down. This is now the remodeled side chapel.
The Brooks gave their home for collateral on the purchase as well as a thousand dollars from the congregation. Plans were then made for the construction of the new church building; use permit, other permits and a multiplicity of red tape was completed and in 1961 the ground breaking took place. Plans were drawn for the new church and Pastor Brooks began with heavy equipment digging for the basement, when one morning he had a massive stroke and went to be with the Lord in 1961.
The parishioners of the church approached Betty Brooks, who was now seven months pregnant with her fourth child, confirming their confidence in her leadership as pastor of the church.
At this point, Jim Tucker was named Building Committee Chairman and worked hours upon hours on the church to finish the digging of the basement, and the foundation and walls of the basement was finished.
our history 1965 - 1989
The building project went very slowly for years because of a lack of funds. In a meeting held on March 14, 1965, Clarence C. Mueller, a building contractor, felt led of the Lord to see this building project through. Thus Clarence C. Mueller was named as one of the Directors of the Corporation.
The need for finances was so great that a few friends lent money to the church. Clarence Mueller and Betty Brooks both mortgaged their homes, along with the sale of some properties.
During this time a romance bloomed between Clarence (which was also a widower) and Betty and they were married in June 1966. Clarence brought four children into the marriage along with Betty's four, giving them eight children. Clarence became Senior Pastor and continued on the building of the church. The church was completed in approximately 1980.
Pastor Clarence and Betty Mueller retired as Senior Pastors in 1989. They are still active in our district and still attend our church when in town.
our history 1990 - 1994
Pastor Dave and Jana Baker served as Senior Pastors from 1990 to 1994.
our history 1994 - 2002
Through a merge with Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, Pastor Willie and Anna Ulibarri became the new Senior Pastors on October 27, 1994.
Pastor Willie and Anna Ulibarri were Youth Pastors at Rialto First Assembly of God when they felt a tug on their hearts from the Lord to establish a new work in northern Fontana through the Decade of Harvest program of the Assemblies of God. In 1989, they ventured out believing God would provide for their needs.
Pastor Willie secured Almeria Middle School for their first service. Through the next four years the Lord blessed the ministry of Cornerstone Christian Fellowship. Being vangabonds, moving from one place to another with a growing congregation was becoming a real trial.With much prayer, the Lord opened the door for Cornerstone Christian Fellowship to merge with Bethel Assembly of God to become Bethel Christian Fellowship. God did great and mighty deeds. Besides growing numerically and spiritually, the church put in a new parking lot (the church was always known as the church without a parking lot) and many other projects were foreseen in the future. In July of 2002, the Lord called Pastor Willie and Anna to leave Bethel Christian Fellowship to pastor Colton Assembly of God in the city of Colton.
our history 2002 - present
Pastor Robin and Penny Donley, long time (16 years) Associate Pastors of Pastor Willie and Anna were voted in as the new Senior Pastors of Bethel Christian Fellowship. Pastor Robin and Penny became the new Senior Pastors August 17, 2002. Pastor Robin has taken the mantle from Pastor Willie to carry on with the vision that the Lord has for Bethel. Over the last several years, the church building has taken on a new contemporary look both inside and out.
Pastor Robin is always saying, "Great days are ahead of us." Many people will come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the saints of God will mature into healthy, effective servants of the Lord. Many building projects are foreseen in the future.
The Lord is doing great and new things and the future holds much more history than anyone can imagine, because Christ and His Holy Spirit are given Their rightful place as Headship over Bethel.