BETHLEHEM BAPTIST CHURCH HISTORY
Bethlehem Baptist Church was organized in 1902 in a
dugout located on the residential lot of the Rev. Elijah
Leopard in the 400 block of North Hickory Street. In 1904,
another church from the east side of town merged its
membership with Bethlehem and in 1905 the first church
building was completed. Charter members of Bethlehem
included Rev.& Mrs.Elijah Leopard, Mrs. D.S.A. Burton
Davidson, Mr.Clark Curry, Mr. Mose Johnson, Mrs. Jane
Johnson, Mr. Nathan Harris, and Mrs.Janie Brown. From
1905 to 1941 the church expanded and grew under the
leadership of Rev. Leopard, Rev. A.L. Davis, Rev. Charlie
Williams, Rev.J.W.Ruff, Rev. L. H. Hervey, Rev. C. H.
Kennedy, Rev. H. J.Curtis, Rev. A. Griffin, and Rev. M. J.
Johnson.
In 1941 the Rev. D.D. Jones was called as pastor and under
his leadership the building committee was formed with Leon
Love as chairman and preparation was begun on the
present edifice. Rev. Jones was instrumental in organizing
the Baptist Training Union for Bethlehem.
In 1947 the Rev. C. M. Franks was called and he served
until 1951.
In 1952 the Rev. Charles Hill became pastor. Under his
leadership the sanctuary was completed and a new
parsonage was built. Rev. Hill was Bethlehem's first full
time pastor. He was instrumental in establishing church
records.
In 1960 the Rev. D.M. Jackson was called. During his
pastorate we began observing Annual Women's Day and
Annual Youth Day.
In 1961 the church called as its leader the Rev.C. W.
Whitlow. Under his leadership the Educational Building was
erected.
In 1966 the Rev. M.L. Smith began serving as pastor. The
Bus Ministry has its origin during his time of leadership.
In 1972 the Rev. K.D. Davis was called. During his
pastorate, central air conditioning was extended to the
Educational Building.
In 1981 the Rev. R.C. Johnson began serving as pastor.
During his pastorate the Bethlehem family would have a
prayer breakfast every 1st Sunday. The annual days were
combined and we began celebrating All Auxiliary Day, the
first black owned daycare was established, two vans were
purchased, and improvements made in the Educational
Building and the Sanctuary. Memorial Stained glass
windows were added to the Sanctuary. In 1986 a new
Baptistery was installed. In 1987 we were blessed to
purchase the Dunbar property.
In July of 1996 Bethlehem called the Rev. C. R. Leslie Jr.
During his pastorate the Children's Church Ministry was
established.
In April of 2000, Bethlehem called the Rev. Lee A. Benson.
After much prayer, The Lord blessed us in June of 2003, by
sending Rev. Harold Brewer. Under his leadership, God
blessed Bethlehem to make tremendous strides both
spiritually and materially.
In April of 2007, Bethlehem called the Rev. Michael Eaton.
May God bless our church under this man of God's new
leadership.
BETHLEHEM'S LEADERSHIP
Men who have served the church faithfully as deacons
through the years were Clark Curry, Jim Black, Martin
Edwards, Jesse Jones, Charles Miles, Sonny Tyson, Leon
Love, Fletcher Willis, Brown Peters, Sampson James,
Leroy Peters, Freeland Cudjoe, L.C. Brown, and Al
Jackson.
Present Deacons are: Floyd James, Al Jaskson, Bill Jones,
Park Prince, Quinen Ross.
Those who served as Church Clerk were Sisters D.S.A.
Davidson, Bernice Curry Green, Bertha James, Marie
James, Gladys Hill-McCowen, Ozella Peters, Maxine
Buckner and present clerk is Jocelyn Rushing.
Past Treasurers were Jesse Jones, Leon Love, Fletcher
Willis, Jesse Fields, Freeland Cudjoe, Bill Jones, Martha
Peters, and Al Jackson presently serving is Herman
Jackson.
Six young men who were members of Bethlehem have been
called into the ministry. They are: Rev. Leroy Peters,
Gregory Jones, Harvey Jackson, Charles Dawson, Dwayne
Cudjoe, and Herman Stevenson.
Serving as Trustees in the past were Robert Curry, Tom
Ross, Clifton Fields, Fred Love, Victor Jackson, Jesse
Fields, Quinnen Ross, Isom Davis and Al Jackson. Present
Trustees are Theola Jackson, Audrey Jones, and Herman
Jackson.
Music plays a vital part in helping to spread the word of
God. Serving Bethlehem as musicians through the years
were Octavia McNeal Todd, B.M. Elsberry, Althea Dorn,
Lynn Willis, Velah Ross, Isom Davis, Nancy Kerr, Lori Ford
and Tommie Sampson. Serving at present is Tommie
Sampson.
Yes, Bethlehem is marching on... we've passed over the
roads that led us here. We've pitched our tents on land near
turbulent waters but the leaders who have waited in the
camp have caught the gleam of a new day, and have each in
their turn brought us into greater and more secure avenues
of success.
The Church today, with its outstanding leadership and its
background of loyal followers, stands as a city that seteth
on a hill. We pray to ever hold to those principles of faith
and doctrine that has made us useful and inspirational. As
proud as we are of our church, we are constantly praying to
the Master to keep us humble enough to be of service.
Bethlehem Baptist Church was organized in 1902 in a
dugout located on the residential lot of the Rev. Elijah
Leopard in the 400 block of North Hickory Street. In 1904,
another church from the east side of town merged its
membership with Bethlehem and in 1905 the first church
building was completed. Charter members of Bethlehem
included Rev.& Mrs.Elijah Leopard, Mrs. D.S.A. Burton
Davidson, Mr.Clark Curry, Mr. Mose Johnson, Mrs. Jane
Johnson, Mr. Nathan Harris, and Mrs.Janie Brown. From
1905 to 1941 the church expanded and grew under the
leadership of Rev. Leopard, Rev. A.L. Davis, Rev. Charlie
Williams, Rev.J.W.Ruff, Rev. L. H. Hervey, Rev. C. H.
Kennedy, Rev. H. J.Curtis, Rev. A. Griffin, and Rev. M. J.
Johnson.
In 1941 the Rev. D.D. Jones was called as pastor and under
his leadership the building committee was formed with Leon
Love as chairman and preparation was begun on the
present edifice. Rev. Jones was instrumental in organizing
the Baptist Training Union for Bethlehem.
In 1947 the Rev. C. M. Franks was called and he served
until 1951.
In 1952 the Rev. Charles Hill became pastor. Under his
leadership the sanctuary was completed and a new
parsonage was built. Rev. Hill was Bethlehem's first full
time pastor. He was instrumental in establishing church
records.
In 1960 the Rev. D.M. Jackson was called. During his
pastorate we began observing Annual Women's Day and
Annual Youth Day.
In 1961 the church called as its leader the Rev.C. W.
Whitlow. Under his leadership the Educational Building was
erected.
In 1966 the Rev. M.L. Smith began serving as pastor. The
Bus Ministry has its origin during his time of leadership.
In 1972 the Rev. K.D. Davis was called. During his
pastorate, central air conditioning was extended to the
Educational Building.
In 1981 the Rev. R.C. Johnson began serving as pastor.
During his pastorate the Bethlehem family would have a
prayer breakfast every 1st Sunday. The annual days were
combined and we began celebrating All Auxiliary Day, the
first black owned daycare was established, two vans were
purchased, and improvements made in the Educational
Building and the Sanctuary. Memorial Stained glass
windows were added to the Sanctuary. In 1986 a new
Baptistery was installed. In 1987 we were blessed to
purchase the Dunbar property.
In July of 1996 Bethlehem called the Rev. C. R. Leslie Jr.
During his pastorate the Children's Church Ministry was
established.
In April of 2000, Bethlehem called the Rev. Lee A. Benson.
After much prayer, The Lord blessed us in June of 2003, by
sending Rev. Harold Brewer. Under his leadership, God
blessed Bethlehem to make tremendous strides both
spiritually and materially.
In April of 2007, Bethlehem called the Rev. Michael Eaton.
May God bless our church under this man of God's new
leadership.
BETHLEHEM'S LEADERSHIP
Men who have served the church faithfully as deacons
through the years were Clark Curry, Jim Black, Martin
Edwards, Jesse Jones, Charles Miles, Sonny Tyson, Leon
Love, Fletcher Willis, Brown Peters, Sampson James,
Leroy Peters, Freeland Cudjoe, L.C. Brown, and Al
Jackson.
Present Deacons are: Floyd James, Al Jaskson, Bill Jones,
Park Prince, Quinen Ross.
Those who served as Church Clerk were Sisters D.S.A.
Davidson, Bernice Curry Green, Bertha James, Marie
James, Gladys Hill-McCowen, Ozella Peters, Maxine
Buckner and present clerk is Jocelyn Rushing.
Past Treasurers were Jesse Jones, Leon Love, Fletcher
Willis, Jesse Fields, Freeland Cudjoe, Bill Jones, Martha
Peters, and Al Jackson presently serving is Herman
Jackson.
Six young men who were members of Bethlehem have been
called into the ministry. They are: Rev. Leroy Peters,
Gregory Jones, Harvey Jackson, Charles Dawson, Dwayne
Cudjoe, and Herman Stevenson.
Serving as Trustees in the past were Robert Curry, Tom
Ross, Clifton Fields, Fred Love, Victor Jackson, Jesse
Fields, Quinnen Ross, Isom Davis and Al Jackson. Present
Trustees are Theola Jackson, Audrey Jones, and Herman
Jackson.
Music plays a vital part in helping to spread the word of
God. Serving Bethlehem as musicians through the years
were Octavia McNeal Todd, B.M. Elsberry, Althea Dorn,
Lynn Willis, Velah Ross, Isom Davis, Nancy Kerr, Lori Ford
and Tommie Sampson. Serving at present is Tommie
Sampson.
Yes, Bethlehem is marching on... we've passed over the
roads that led us here. We've pitched our tents on land near
turbulent waters but the leaders who have waited in the
camp have caught the gleam of a new day, and have each in
their turn brought us into greater and more secure avenues
of success.
The Church today, with its outstanding leadership and its
background of loyal followers, stands as a city that seteth
on a hill. We pray to ever hold to those principles of faith
and doctrine that has made us useful and inspirational. As
proud as we are of our church, we are constantly praying to
the Master to keep us humble enough to be of service.
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Bethlehem Missionary
Baptist Church
Baptist Church