HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Bethel Baptist Church was organized in the summer of 1876. While General Custer was having his last stand at the Little Big Horn out west, our people at Bethel were making a stand for Christ in the East. One rainy afternoon, over one hundred years ago, there were a few people who met about one mile NE of the present site, to organize this Bethel Baptist Church. Mrs. Jeannette Everett has told us about the organization and how they were seated on a big log while summer showers were softly falling. The rain did not seem to dampen their spirits. Mrs. Everett said, “We were Soul hungry for a church to worship our God. So we just went right ahead with the business at hand.”
Several descendants of the original charter members are members of Bethel today. According to the statements of memory, in 1876 Brother Sim Sheffield began holding services in the homes of this section and the Church was organized. The names of seven charter members, out of thirteen, are recalled as: Murphy Everett, Jeannette Everett, Elizabeth Davis, Will Hudson, Mary Hudson, Jack Martin and Levicey Martin.
We cannot be sure, but we think Brother Jim Sheffield, (Bro. Sim’s son) held their first revival meeting. Now all of these good people, and many more, have gone on to their reward. We can only say, “Thank you dear ones, for leaving such a good and wonderful heritage. We are sorry we didn’t ask more questions and find out more about this glorious event.”
The first pastor was Bro. William Jackson Martin. Rev. Martin and his wife, Levicey, are buried in the cemetery here at Bethel. The first deacons were George Smith, Joe White and Will Hudson. Trustees were W.J. White, Murphy Everett and George Smith. The clerk was Murphy Everett. Services were first held in the Cherry Sink School with Bro. Jack Martin, Pastor.
The first church building in 1895 was built on what is now the B.J. Colson farm. To begin, they build a rough lumber house on site, one mile from the present site, and used it for a number of years. By then they had a small cemetery there. This building was destroyed by the storm of 1896 and services were again held in the school. In 1901 a building was erected on the present site, on land donated by the late Mr. and Mrs. J.G. O'steen. By that time, Mr. Graham Osteen and family had moved into this area and gave the church one-acre of land. He had joined the church and helped build the old building. They salvaged some of the lumber from the storm torn building and started the second building. All records prior to 1907 were destroyed by fire when the home of Pastor G.T. Taylor burned.
In 1944 Sunday School rooms were added and in 1948 the church went to full time services. In 1950 the Pastorium was erected by cutting the church timber and a mortgage fund. On May 8, 1966, the church moved into the present building, constructed by funds raised through a number of years and mortgage funds.
On July 26, 1967 the contract was let for the present Sunday School addition. In December 1968, the mortgage was paid off on all construction. During the years of 1968-1969, the south parking lot and sidewalks were laid. In 1973, a four bedroom, brick pastorium was built. In 1976, the north parking lot was completed. Revival services were held June 27 – July 4, 1976, to commemorate our Centennial. In 1981, a 2200 square foot educational building, comprised of seven rooms, was completed. Our present building was remodeled in 1987, at which time the Sanctuary was enlarged and a new Fellowship Hall was added.
Bethel has grown spiritually and in members these past 100 years. We pray that when we pass from stage of action our people will carry on and we have faith to believe they will. We hope they will remember our good heritage that was left them by these dear people, who loved God and the coming generation enough to be led to organize a church named, Bethel , from the beginning.
May God help us to serve Him here until the Rapture.
ROLL OF PASTORS OF BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH
Jack Martin 1943 Herman Collins
???? Proctor 1944 A .M. Parker
Lewis Thomas 1946 Durwood Kilpatrick
1907 G.T. Taylor 1947 R.B. Keys
1909 W.F. Ward 1949 David Thomas
1910 Wilson Griffin 1949 W.L. Price
1911 W.J. Martin 1952 W.H. Brown
1912 G.W.S. Ware 1955 J.H. Paddock
1914 E. Morris 1958 Nevi A. Townsend
1916 R.E. Parnell 1959 Phillip Stough
1917 Joe Bell 1962 Johnny Arnette
1918 G.W.S. Ware 1964 Ralph Hagan
1919 S.W. Smith 1966 Charles Pinkerton
1921 W.E. Billingsley 1968 Ernest Austin
1923 A.S. Jones 1970 Walter Hill
1924 R.E. Burke 1972 James W. Shelton
1925 A.S. Jones 1979 Ron Leggett
1927 R.E. Burke 1982 Dean Webb
1928 E.D. Boyless 1995 Tim Folds, Sr.
1930 A.S. Jones 2001 Ralph A. Rodriguez
1931 E.D. Boyer 2007 Jake Cravey
1932 ???? Watts
1936 J.G. Knight
1941 S. F. Young
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