Concordia Lutheran Ministries Acquires Bethlen Communities

Bethlen Communities, a faith-based, non-profit continuing care retirement community located in historic Ligonier, Pa., officially joined the Concordia Lutheran Ministries family of locations and services today, April 3, 2023.

Now called Concordia at Bethlen, the well-established service organization has been caring for the needs of others since 1921. Located on 140 acres, Concordia at Bethlen consists of 44 retirement living cottages, 72 personal care units and 96 skilled nursing units. Also on campus is the Graceful Aging Wellness Center, a fitness center that is open to the public.

Bethlen Communities’ in-home care services – home health care, companion care and hospice care – will now also be operated by Concordia. The new agencies will be called Concordia Home Health of Bethlen and Concordia Hospice of Bethlen.

Current Executive Director Molly Stiles will remain at the helm. The organization’s new Board of Directors will include representatives from the American Hungarian Churches, which founded and supported Bethlen for the last century, as well as local community members.

Concordia is satisfying bank debts for the Bethlen organization and initially infusing $2.5 million for capital improvements and to stabilize operations.

Concordia Lutheran Ministries President and CEO Keith Frndak said, “Concordia Lutheran Ministries is a mission-driven organization, and we are always looking to help other Christian missions continue their work. Concordia and Bethlen began for similar reasons – helping children in need – and both our missions expanded over the years to align perfectly in providing health care. We look forward to serving the people of Ligonier and Westmoreland County for many years to come.”

Click to read more about Concordia’s Mission.

Welcome Concordia at Bethlen

Founded in 1881, Concordia Lutheran Ministries is a faith-based Aging Services Network. As one of the largest nonprofit senior care providers in the country, the organization serves 50,000 people annually through in- home care and inpatient locations in western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and Tampa, Florida.

Throughout its system, Concordia offers adult day services, home health care, hospice, medical and rehabilitation services, memory care, personal care, assisted living, respite care, retirement living, skilled nursing/short-term rehab, spiritual care and medical equipment.

Since 2009, 10 senior care/living facilities and a number of home health and hospice agencies have joined the Concordia family, as Concordia has worked to become a “Christian consolidator” in the industry, to protect and preserve organizations with Christian roots and to aid in the long-term support of Christian health care ministries.

Concordia is a Recognized Service Organization of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS). Seventeen LCMS members and pastors comprise Concordia’s Parent Board of Directors and represent 28 regional LCMS member churches.

Click to see other locations in the network.