The Jacobsen Chapel - A Legacy Renewed

On a bright Saturday afternoon, we gathered with a special group - those closest to Herb and Helen Jacobsen, members of Mount Bethel Church, friends who gave of their time, talents, and resources to the Chapel renovation, and Tuscarora staff. We gathered to celebrate more than a renovated building but to remember a story, honor a legacy, and rededicate a space where lives have been transformed for over 45 years.

The newly named Jacobsen Chapel, once Tuscarora’s game room, has witnessed decades of changing ministry. From the start, this building has been more than the sum of its parts. It’s been a place where the Word of God has been spoken, where prayers have risen, and where community has flourished.

From Game Room to Church

In 1980, the space became the first home of Mount Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church, a church plant born from Tuscarora’s original vision to bless the area with a community church. A 1984 Pocono Record article captured the vision and the passion behind the church.

For the motorist crossing the old, one lane stone bridge on River Road south of Portland, it’s hard to miss the sign for the Mount Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church.

The sign and driveway to the church would be a direct hit for a driver who misses the dog-leg curve after the bridge near the Tuscarora Inn.

While neither the pastor, Richard Bridston, nor Herb Jacobsen, an elder at the church and the executive director of the Lutheran Brethren Conference Center which now operates Tuscarora Inn, want any traffic accidents, they do want the community to know about the church.

So far word seems to be spreading. Since the church began meeting in the fall of 1980 in what was the inn’s recreation room – Bridston called it a pool hall – church has grown from 14 to 90, Bridston says.

But it has not been something which has come as easily as a wrong turn on a windy road.

“We wanted a local ministry,” Jacobsen said. Building a church for Upper Mount Bethel Township area residents, as well as Tuscarora village residents and inn workers, “was part of the original concept,” behind the conference center, Jacobsen said.

This description truly captures the joy and purpose of the early days of Mount Bethel Church. These days were also filled with baptisms, Christmas pageants, confirmations, and weddings. It was a simple place but it was full of ministry.

By 1988, the congregation had outgrown the chapel. They moved into a new building, just up the hill from Tuscarora. On December 18, 1988, Pastor Bridston ceremoniously handed the keys to Paul Jacobsen, the Conference Manager at the time. This moment was a visible representation of the shared mission between the two organizations: to create spaces where people encounter God.

A Space for Ministry

Over the years , the chapel has served as Tuscarora’s second largest meeting space, becoming the primary gathering place for many groups year after year. Each summer, the room fills with Junior Week campers for their craft elective. Most unexpectedly, it has even served as an overflow dining room during especially big events.

Reimagining the Chapel

In recent years, it became clear that the Chapel needed more than quick fixes. Tuscarora’s leadership along with Chris Hoffer, a former staff member and architect for Alloy 5, began dreaming of what this space could become. It was more than a renovation - it was a reimagining.

Back when the building served as a community church, the entrance was on the road, welcoming people inside. In order to best serve guests of Tuscarora, the whole building needed to be flipped so the primary entrance was on the campus side. A bathroom was also added to the building for the first time.

This transformation would not have been possible without the generosity of our donors, the hands-on efforts of our volunteers, and the vision and dedication of our staff and board. Every coat of paint, every new fixture, every design choice reflects the commitment of those who believe in Tuscarora’s mission.

This new space is flexible, welcoming, and functional.

Honoring the Legacy of Herb Jacobsen

Today, the chapel bears the Jacobsen name in honor of Herb Jacobsen who served as Executive Director from 1975 to 2005, guiding the growth of the ministry with dedication, humility, and wisdom. His wife Helen served right alongside him in countless roles — secretary, bookkeeper, camp nurse, gift shop manager, and encourager to generations of guests and staff.

Together, they raised their family here, helped establish Mount Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church, and modeled a life of faith in daily service. Herb and Helen became like second parents to many on our staff and were constant examples of servant leadership.

Even after Herb’s retirement, both continued to pour themselves into Tuscarora’s ministry - Herb through board service until 2021, and Helen through her ongoing presence, encouragement, and prayers. At the dedication, Helen stood with her family as the plaque was unveiled.

As it now reads in the foyer:

This Chapel stands as a testimony to the God who called and equipped them to serve. Countless lives have been transformed by God’s Word within these walls, and we pray that this legacy of faith continues for generations to come.

Looking Ahead

Inside the Jacobsen Chapel, only a few finishing touches remain. Outside, significant work is still needed. Whether your gift helps put the final details in place or makes a larger impact on the remaining outdoor work, every contribution moves us closer to the goal. To support this project, please visit our Giving Page.