Pastor Pat
The eighth of nine children, Patrick Visger was a ten-year-old Roman Catholic boy when his family first attended Bethesda in 1973. When Pat’s father died unexpectedly in 1980, just after Pat completed Bethesda’s Young Adult Catechism class, Pat began questioning the things of God. He went to college to study engineering, and along the way he met Julie, who he married in 1985. Their first daughter, Heather, was born a year later. Pat worked full-time while attending Lawrence Technological University until he earned a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. After Emily, their second daughter, was born, Julie suggested that she and Pat attend Bethesda’s Adult Catechism class. During that class in 1993, both Pat and Julie began to earnestly pursue God and ultimately turned their lives over to Jesus Christ. Soon after, they fully committed to Bethesda as their home church and began serving in various departments including nurseries, high school, Catechism, adult education, and the church council. During those years, Pat began to attend the Bethesda Bible Institute to deepen his understanding of the Word of God.
When Bethesda was seeking a full-time ministry director in 2003, he discerned God prompting him to respond. In March 2003, Pat transitioned from his 18-year mechanical engineering and software development career to work at Bethesda full time. He was privileged to serve as Director of Catechism, Adult Education, and Men’s Ministry and was commissioned, licensed, then finally ordained as a minister. Along the way Pat also earned a Master’s degree in Biblical Studies from Trinity Theological Seminary. In 2016, he transitioned into the role of Senior Pastor with Julie serving alongside him as Executive Pastor of Ministries. When preaching and teaching the Gospel, Pat employs relatable life illustrations by drawing from his unique background. He and Julie are both thrilled and humbled to be leading the Bethesda congregation, and they are anticipating great things for the church and the surrounding community.
Pastor Julie
For many years, Julie Visger questioned the significance of Jesus. She grew up in the Catholic faith, yet she was far from understanding what a genuine relationship with Jesus looked like. She met Pat during her senior year of high school, and they married in 1985. The next few years included the arrival of two daughters, and Julie thoroughly enjoyed being a wife and stay-at-home mom while Pat worked as an engineer. She had absolutely no inclination that God had other plans for her future. In 1993, Julie began seeking a true relationship with Jesus and enrolled in Bethesda’s Adult Catechism class with Pat. She came to understand God’s grace, received salvation, and was filled with the Holy Spirit.
After Catechism, Julie began serving the church wholeheartedly. She volunteered in the nurseries, served in the dining room, taught a class for women, and assisted in the high school department. In 1999, Pat and Julie developed the curriculum for a new class that they started together called New Journey, and in 2002 were welcomed onto the church council. Julie joined Bethesda’s staff in 2003, hired to direct the Visitors Ministry and Women’s Ministry. Later she took on the responsibility of overseeing the Men’s Ministry, Singles’ Ministry, Family Ministry, and Young Adult Ministry. Meanwhile she progressed from a commissioned to a licensed minister while completing studies at Trinity Theological Seminary, earning a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Pastoral Ministry. When Pat transitioned into the role of Senior Pastor in 2016, Julie took on the role of Executive Pastor of Ministries. The desire of her heart is to see people from all generations come to the saving grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, be filled with His Spirit, grow in His Word, and use their God-given gifts and talents in His church. She is looking forward with great anticipation to all that God has in store for the future of Bethesda Christian Church.
