Bethesda Lutheran Home was founded in 1904 as both a home and a school for the developmentally disabled where they could receive love, Christian care, and training. Since its founding, services have expanded into the addition of the volunteer services program, thrift stores, pharmacy, laboratory, therapies, electronic media, community living services, outreach workshops, the National Christian Resource Center and the production of professional materials. The purpose of Bethesda is to minister to the spiritual needs, provide habilitation services, and to assist others in caring for individuals that are developmentally disabled.

In order to receive care from Bethesda, an individual must be at least eight years old and have a primary diagnosis of developmental disablilities. "Development disablilities " stated simply is the inability of an individual to learn as quickly as others do. Development disabilities can be caused by either environmental or genetic factors.

For more information about Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services, visit www.blhs.org.