Bethlehem Church, Los Angeles, CA
Bethlehem Church is a Mennonite Brethren church located in Los Angeles, CA. Bethlehem was started in 1985 by Pastor John Suh as a ministry to immigrants from Korea. Pastor Suh moved to the US from Korea in 1979 as a church-goer but not until he attended a revival meeting did he make a personal commitment to Christ and feel the call to ministry. In 2003 Bethlehem Church joined the Pacific District Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. Their relationship with MB Foundation began that same year with a loan to refinance existing debt and renovate the church’s property. The church and their new lender shared the like-minded mission of sharing the Gospel. That mission and relationship would resurface years later for greater Kingdom impact.
The church remained at their property until 2007 when it then decided to sell. The ministry of Bethlehem Church continued as they leased space for the next 10 years. In 2019, they purchased property at 1648 Wilshire Boulevard located in the Koreantown/Downtown area of Los Angeles. The new location has been a source of growth for the church in part because of the central location for the congregation. Financing was obtained with another lender for the purchase and following renovations as the church made the property conducive to their ministry. Unfortunately, the financing came with an excessive interest rate and a brief maturity date.
As the maturity date approached, Pastor Suh and Bethlehem Church needed help refinancing. He remembered a close and joyful relationship with MB Foundation President & CEO Jon C. Wiebe. The two worked together more than 15 years ago when to the church first joined the MB conference. Pastor Suh reached out and as the two was reacquainted, they learned the mission of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ was still common. It was quickly determined a refinance with MB Foundation would greatly reduce the church’s loan interest rate, essentially cutting it in half. The church’s payment could be reduced by $5,000 each month. The refinance was pursued and finalized in the spring of 2020. Bethlehem Church started saving money instantly and planned to redirect the monthly savings to their missionaries around the world.
Through a financial solution with MB Foundation, Bethlehem Church can continue its ministry in their community and free up more resources for missions. The dual Kingdom impact is celebrated by both Bethlehem Church and MB Foundation.