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Bethel Baptist Church History
1949-2001
Bethel Baptist Church is a church built on
prayer. Alson Reed, who served in World War II, wrote a letter asking his
parents, Wiley and Lessie to pray for him. A prayer meeting began in the Reed
home for those who had family serving in the war and those who were unable to
attend church at a far distance.
O.B. Mylum, pastor of Berea Baptist Church,
conducted the prayer meetings. The group began to grow and sensed a need to
build a church. Rev. Mylum drew up plans and Mr. Reed donated a half-acre lot.
There was a donation of $100 from Rev. Floyd French and an additional $14.80 was
spent on wiring and $6.20 on carpentry. Many people donated their time and labor
and a 13x20 building was built to house their congregation.
The building was completed in 1948, and Bethel
Baptist Church was officially organized in 1949 after a revival led by Rev.
Mylum. At that time there were 21 charter members.
- Rev. Merrill Lainhart was the first pastor at
Bethel. He served until 1953.
- Homer Lamb then became pastor and served until
1954 when Buram Byrd was called. Floyd Long serves as pastor from
1955-57.
- Herbert Berry was pastor from 1957-59. From
1959-61 Charlie Lunsford serves as pastor.
- Lester Arnold pastored from 1961-63.
- Bethel called H.K. Estes in 1963 and he served
until 1968 when Rev. O.B. Mylum was called as pastor.
- He served until 1974 when he was killed in a
traffic accident. Earl VanWinkle served as pastor until 1978 when Jack Frost
was called. He served until 1991 when Rev. Randy J. McPheron was called.
Bethel continued to grow and serve after its
humble beginning. In 1959, $400 was borrowed to construct Sunday School rooms.
In 1972, Bethel joined the Tates Creek Baptist
Association. The church also bought a house and one acre of land from Lyman
Johnson for $11,000. In 1973, the church voted to build a new building. On April
7, 1974, the congregation moved to the current site. The dedication service was
held in September of that year.
On November 13, 1974, after seeing his dream of a
new church building come to pass, Rev. O.B. Mylum was killed in a traffic
accident.
The church had a note burning ceremony to
commemorate the paying off of the church debt on April 6, 1976.
An educational wing was completed in June of
1979.
In October 1983, the church bought land adjacent
to the church for future use. This property houses the parsonage and parking
lot.
The parsonage was built in 1992 with a dedication
service in July. The additional parking lot was added in 1993. Also, in 1993,
Bethel was recognized by the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for Outstanding
Evangelical Achievement.
Since evangelism is the surest way to grow a
church, Bethel approved a $250,000 budget for expansion in June 1995. A
groundbreaking service was held for the sanctuary and classroom expansion.
During Homecoming services on April 14, 1996 the dedication service was held.
The new sanctuary was full the first Sunday after
completion. In 1997, 9 acres of land was purchased from Peggy Broaddus for
further expansion.
The church held two Sunday Schools and two
worship services during 1998 Sunday School year and returned to one service for
the 1999 Sunday School year. 1998 was also a record year for baptisms at Bethel.
Forty-six people were baptized, the most in any year in the history of the
church.
In December of 1999 Rev. Randy J. McPheron
resigned as pastor at Bethel.
In 2000, Pastor Kenny Davis, Jr. is now serving
as Pastor.
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