Leon Fikse has been Senior Pastor at Bethany Reformed Church since 1995.  He is married and has three grown sons.  His wife, Harriet, is currently the Director of Children and Family here at Bethany.  Leon’s education consists of a B.A. in Accounting from California State University, Stanislaus in Turlock, CA , a Master of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI, and a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. He has participated in travel seminars to Rome, Greece, Turkey, and Israel during his ministry years.

Pastor Leon enjoys his life as the shepherd leader of Bethany. When asked how he hopes someone influenced by his ministry might respond, he stated, “I want anyone who is influenced by my ministry to have a love of God that is centered in the person of Jesus Christ, knowing in their heart that their salvation is assured in him; then, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to be able to live out their faith each day of the week. Faith in Christ is hollow if there is no action or, maybe, worded better – “faith without works is dead”. I expect my ministry to nurture Christians in their spirituality and to encourage them as they live in an indifferent world of hurts, discouragement, and brokenness. I hope this person can say that being influenced by my ministry has been a positive experience which encourages and equips him or her to share their faith with family, friends, and neighbors who do not have God’s love in their lives. I also hope that my parishioners see me as a caring, loving, illustration of what it means to live with Christ as our example.

Additionally, Pastor Leon has led Mission Trips to a Guayaquil, Ecuador orphanage in 1995 and 1996, and to a Queretaro, Mexico orphanage in 2001.  He is active in the Redlands Rotary Club and has been a High School Basketball and Football referee for 32 years. He enjoys painting, golf, motorcycle riding, reading and travel.