Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis

Bethlehem Baptist Church, is a multi-site church in Minneapolis that was founded in 1871. It is also affiliated with the Minnesota Baptist Conference. The church has three campuses: one in downtown Minneapolis, one in Mounds View, and one in Burnsville. Since 1980, its senior pastor has been John Piper. In the early 1870s, J. L. Johnson became the first Swede baptized by immersion in Minneapolis(—in 30-below weather). He and a growing number of Swedes joined First Baptist Church (Minneapolis), and eventually formed a Swedish Bible class.

On June 22, 1871, they branched off, with First Baptist’s blessing, and founded Bethlehem—originally as the First Swedish Baptist Church of Minneapolis. Pastor John Ring laid the foundation for the church, which was the first Swedish Baptist church in the Twin Cities area. The church had four pastors in its first ten years. The church's first services in English started in 1893, on a bi-weekly basis. In 1991, the church had to do something no other downtown Minneapolis church had done in 60 years: find more room. Bethlehem enlarged her worship space; the building purchased in 1885 was demolished for a larger, 1,400 seat sanctuary. One of the stained glass windows from the original building is on display in the foyer. Another building addition came in 2003. In June 2005, the church moved into its current North Campus facility in Mounds View. In September 2006, Bethlehem launched its third campus at Burnsville High School.