Our Church History -- 113 Years in 2024 and Moving Forward
In 1911, a group of Christian Believers who were then members of the Old Hammond Grove Baptist Church, desired to organize a new Church congregation in the community for convenience. The request was initially denied and prompted the determined members to move their membership to the Spring Grove Baptist Church at which their request to organize a new church family assembly in the area was granted.
Frank and Julia Townes, and Laura Bunch who collectively donated an acre of land on which to build the church.
On June 1, 1911, the assembly was organized and given the name the “Bethlehem Baptist Church” by the late Julia Townes. The founding members were: the Reverends A. W. Vincent, J.G. Gardenhire, Stephen King, R. W. Kenner, Henderson, W. J. Jennings, & S. K. King. Brothers John Nabritt, Sr., Frank Jones, Hal Nabritt, Pearce Harris, & Sam Bozeman. Deacons R. B. Cooks, John Garrett, B. Gowdy, Lawrence O’Bryant, & Shack Hacker; & Sister Fannie Simpkins. Rev. S. K. King delivered the organizing sermon and Dea. Shack Hacker served as Clerk Protem.
Since its date of origin, the church has had eleven Pastors, ordained thirteen ministers and twenty-nine deacons, and had eleven secretaries.
Our current Pastor, Reverend Arthur L. Kemp, was installed as Pastor of the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church on December 11, 1994.
On June 6, 2004, we marched from the old church, pictured above, into our new sanctuary. The march was led by Pastor Kemp, First Lady Doris Kemp, and Mother of the Church—the late Sister Rosia Williams. We were singing “We Have Come This Far By Faith.”
Since June 1911, it has been, and presently is, the prayers of this Church that the proclamation of God by Salvation and the Winning of Lost Souls through the Faith of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, be the “Number One Priority” of the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church. We thank God through his grace, through Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, for enabling our church to survive.
Frank and Julia Townes, and Laura Bunch who collectively donated an acre of land on which to build the church.
On June 1, 1911, the assembly was organized and given the name the “Bethlehem Baptist Church” by the late Julia Townes. The founding members were: the Reverends A. W. Vincent, J.G. Gardenhire, Stephen King, R. W. Kenner, Henderson, W. J. Jennings, & S. K. King. Brothers John Nabritt, Sr., Frank Jones, Hal Nabritt, Pearce Harris, & Sam Bozeman. Deacons R. B. Cooks, John Garrett, B. Gowdy, Lawrence O’Bryant, & Shack Hacker; & Sister Fannie Simpkins. Rev. S. K. King delivered the organizing sermon and Dea. Shack Hacker served as Clerk Protem.
Since its date of origin, the church has had eleven Pastors, ordained thirteen ministers and twenty-nine deacons, and had eleven secretaries.
Our current Pastor, Reverend Arthur L. Kemp, was installed as Pastor of the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church on December 11, 1994.
On June 6, 2004, we marched from the old church, pictured above, into our new sanctuary. The march was led by Pastor Kemp, First Lady Doris Kemp, and Mother of the Church—the late Sister Rosia Williams. We were singing “We Have Come This Far By Faith.”
Since June 1911, it has been, and presently is, the prayers of this Church that the proclamation of God by Salvation and the Winning of Lost Souls through the Faith of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, be the “Number One Priority” of the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church. We thank God through his grace, through Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, for enabling our church to survive.