BOLD welcomes ALL, no matter your level of ASL use or ASL knowledge _\m/
Our mission: Share the Good news!
God loves Deaf people and their loved ones. We love Deaf people and their loved ones too! We believe that the Body of Christ includes ALL people, from all walks of life, and all experiences.
Join us in spreading the Good News of God's unwavering love and grace that knows no limits. Your presence here matters, your story is valued, and your journey is embraced with open arms.
Currently BOLD is:
Settling into our new home, our new location. Come visit our community! After 68 years of owning our building on 38th Avenue South in Minneapolis, it is time to begin a new chapter of BOLD at a different location. Our new location is at 4101 37th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55406.
We are NOT CLOSING, we are CONTINUING our mission and deepening our focus and connections on the local Deaf community. Please join us or support us as we continue this focus inside of BOLD as well as outside of BOLD.
Our Pastor is Reverend Dr. Catrina Ciccone who is hearing and is learning very quickly with ASL; she recently has been doing some of her sermons in ASL! She has been with BOLD since May 2022.
BOLD History:
It’s been a long, adventurous, fantastic ride! We are not done! God is with us!
73 years of worship!
We are a member congregation of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). But, we were actually a congregation BEFORE the ELCA was established! In 1951, our congregation worshipped for the first time at St. Anthony Lutheran Church led by named Reverend Stewart Dale. In 1952, the congregation worshipped at Bethany Church and called themselves Bethany Lutheran Church for the Deaf.
In 1956, this is when the property of 38th Avenue South had the ground broken to start a church for the Deaf! The first worship happened in 1957 by Reverend Walter Olson. Bread of Life for the Deaf Lutheran Church founded in 1957, and has been an important part of the Twin Cities Deaf community since then.
Reverend Bunde was installed in 1963. In 1980, the addition to the south side of the 38th Avenue building was built and that was a gift from Mr. William Nelson. In 1981, Reverend Mark Hendrickson become BOLD’s pastor. In this same year, BOLD hosted an ELDA (Evangelical Lutheran Deaf Association) conference in New Brighton, MN.
In 1986, the ELCA formed and BOLD has been a faithful member in the Minneapolis Area Synod (MAS), ELCA, since its origin, and was a faithful member of the American Lutheran Church before that.
In 1997, Reverend Russell Rockwell became BOLD’s pastor during a remodeling of the sanctuary AND during hosting another ELDA conference. BOLD was a part of the Community of Hope.
In 2002, Dorothy Sparks was installed as a lay minister at BOLD. Again, BOLD hosted an ELDA conference during that year and this was the 50th anniversary of BOLD!
Reverend Susan Masters joined BOLD in 2009 where some remodeling and upgrades were made within the BOLD building. After Rev. Masters accepted another call, BOLD went through a period of multiple interim pastors.
Note: History is not finished! To Be Continued..