As a result of one man's vision and zeal, the Bethel Baptist Church was started in 1979, with only one visitor in a two-bedroom apartment by Pastor Les Griffin, a graduate of Tennessee Temple University. With much prayer and some support, the church grew to the nucleus it needed to stand.
It wasn't long after that, Bethel found refuge at Frankford Avenue and Hagert Street in an old drug store and saw rapid growth. In 1982, Bethel outgrew the Drug Store and made its move to 2210 E. Susquehanna Avenue, where it has experienced much expansion and diversity in its ministries, both to the saved and to the surrounding community. Shortly after its move in 1982, Pastor Dominic Pennachietti became the pastor, and he and his wife Linda have been serving here faithfully until their retirement in March of 2021.
After 7 years of being at 2210 E. Susquehanna, God saw fit to give Bethel the adjoining building with many miracles attached. Bethel stood at this location as a lighthouse to the Fishtown community for 39 years.
Outgrowing the beloved Susquehanna St. location, in 2020 the Bethel Baptist Church purchased a 27,000 sq. ft. old warehouse in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. Located at 2080 Castor Ave., this location will accommodate the church's ever-expanding mission and logistical needs. Upon Pastor Dominic J. Pennachietti's retirement, God saw fit to appoint his son, Pastor Dominic P. Pennachietti, to serve as pastor of the church he was raised in.
Bethel is a church-planting ministry to its surrounding communities and by God's grace will continue to see the inner city won by one corner-front at a time!