A Powerful Presence: An Evangelical Pastor Visits Bethel Church

by David E. Fitch; Andy Fitzgerald

Publisher:

Wipf and Stock

, 2024

Overview

Bethel Church (Redding, California) is one of the most influential churches in America. The charismatic megachurch has garnered attention through its widely popular Bethel Music, books, conferences, and senior pastor, Bill Johnson. Bethel is also known for its instances of supernatural power. Divine healings, ecstatic manifestations, miracles, and prophetic words are common at the church. As such, Bethel has garnered its share of critics and controversies. Evangelical pastor Andy Fitzgerald (DMin) conducted a four-month ethnographic study of Bethel Church. In the first extensive study of the church, Dr. Fitzgerald observed and participated daily in Bethel’s community, sat under its teaching, and interviewed its members and leaders to see how the church understands and practices supernatural power. In A Powerful Presence, Fitzgerald analyzes Bethel culturally and theologically by interacting with thinkers such as Charles Taylor, Jurgen Moltmann, and James Dunn. Dr. Fitzgerald brings his insights to bear for an appreciative but not uncritical look at Bethel Church. This book offers new learnings and opens new pathways for churches and leaders to regain their apostolic footing in today’s modern world.

Praise for A Powerful Presence

“In our instant, social media culture it’s become common to criticize or praise churches and ministries without any genuine acquaintance with them. Andy Fitzgerald’s socially and theologically informed work is different. He provides an appreciative but also evaluative exploration of Bethel’s potential contributions to the wider church. In the process, he also invites us to highlight both Word and Spirit, to bring together the best contributions of evangelical and charismatic realities, and to honor God in Christ by the Spirit.”

—Craig S. Keener, F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary  



“Andy Fitzgerald’s ‘appreciative inquiry’ of the ministry of Bethel Church in Redding, California, is a scholarly tour de force that seeks to discern the strengths and weaknesses of one of the most influential churches in Northern California. His ethnographic study of its ministry is personal and academic. He doesn’t stand outside of the ministry of the church and analyze it from a distance, he participates in it, has dinner with the people who have had an experience of the presence of God at Bethel, and lives in the community that sees the work of Bethel every day. He interviews people who are convinced that something unique is happening at Bethel and those who are skeptical. All this taken together provides a valuable resource in understanding the influence of Bethel Church, creating space for experiencing more of God’s supernatural work in the world, and cautions about the possibility of losing the centrality of the gospel of Christ in our search for a supernatural experience of the power of the Spirit.”

—Ron Sanders, professor and campus minister, Stanford University



“By immersing himself in the phenomenon that is Bethel Church and through the skillful use of world-renowned scholars from a wide variety of disciplines, A Powerful Presence offers its readers an expansive, appreciative, critical, fair, and useful portrait of this influential movement. Consequently, Andy Fitzgerald provides contemporary church leaders of any stripe with an exceptional rubric by which they can measure the spiritual vitality and scriptural foundation of any ministry.”

—Bernie A. Van De Walle, author of The Heart of the Gospel and Rethinking Holiness





“Evangelicals and secular folks actually share a common thread: faith in what our minds can understand. But Andy pulls on that thread and reveals a need—a desire even—for something more: experiencing God in a real way in the realest parts of our world and lives. In this immersive, appreciative, yet critical look at Bethel, Andy comes back with a way of embodying our faith that is both mind and experience, Scripture and spiritual power.”

—Brian Hui, lead pastor, Living Stones Christian Church East Bay



“Rooted in a captivating yet nuanced case study of Bethel Church, Fitzgerald offers a tremendous resource for evangelical churches curious about deepening their relationship with the Holy Spirit. Rather than stockpiling resources or clamoring for relevancy, he invites churches to reorient themselves around God’s presence.”

—Ryan Russell, teaching pastor, First Baptist Temple, Texas

Product Details

• Title: A Powerful Presence: An Evangelical Pastor Visits Bethel Church
• Authors: David E. Fitch, Andy Fitzgerald
• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Print Publication Date: 2024
• Logos Release Date: 2024
• Pages: 152
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Ebook
• ISBNs: 9798385235179, 9798385235162, 9798385235155
• Resource ID: LLS:9798385235179
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-04-23T00:26:49Z

About the Authors

Andy Fitzgerald is a pastor, church planter, and former university minister. He is the co-director of Imagine Life Ministries, a coaching ministry dedicated to helping churches and leaders come alive with vibrant spiritual life. Andy holds a doctorate from Northern Seminary, emphasizing contextual theology. He is also an adjunct professor at A. W. Tozer Seminary in Redding, California. He has been married to his wife, Jenny, for twenty-five years, and they have four children.