HISTORY OF BETHLEHEM BAPTIST CHURCH

A Picture of Bethlehem Baptist Church

Serving the Lord for 127 Years"

On July 31, 1851, a group of people, of the Baptist faith, found themselves in this area not far from the site of the present church building, without a Baptist church, close enough for them to attend. This group of people decided to form the Bethlehem Baptist Church. They accepted the faith of the Red River Baptist Association at the same time. The pastor Elder A. Harris, William Daniels and James McCollock formed the presbytery to organize the Church.

After drawing up the Constitution, Articles of Faith, and Rules of Decorum these people began having services. Church services were held one weekend a month on Saturday and Sunday. The pastors were elected yearly.

In 1853, the first two years' records were accidentally destroyed by fire. Fortunately someone had a copy of the charter members names and the constitution, Articles of Faith, and Rules of Decorum. The list of charter members included several servants probably slaves. In those days, the blacks didn't have churches of their own. They attended with their masters and sat in a certain section of the church, sometimes a balcony or a back row.

In January 1855 services were held for a time in the late C.C. McKinney's home.

In April 1855 services moved back in the old church house. In December 1855 they decided to build a new church. The church, probably a log building, was to be 20' X 26' and have 2 doors.

There were no references as such to the Civil War but during the time it was going on there were several instances where the records for two or three months at a time were missing and at one point there was a break of nearly two years, June 1863 to February 1865. I also noticed that the servants or probably slaves were excluded about the same time.

The community around the church must have been called Beech Creek because there were times (even to this day) when the church itself was called by that name.

In September 1871 Bethlehem selected the first pastor to stay until he or the church was dissatisfied.

In October 1885 a group of members left to organize Holly Grove Church. Some of them were Harriet Bunch, D.S. Bunch, J.W. White, Mrs. Mary White, J.B. Kiser, H.W. West, T.B. Brown, Mary A. Kenon, A.A. Brown, S.D. Beggs, Henry Beggs, Maggie Pender, Mahala Brewett and Matt McClelland.

In August of 1888 the members began raising money to build a new building. A committee was formed to draft the plans and raise the required money to build a church 32' X 44' one story high, with three doors, two transoms and nine windows.

In January 1889 the first Sunday School was organized.

In September 1889 the money was finally raised. The first mention of Whelen Springs occurs in the minutes with a reference to the Whelen Lumber Company, deducting 25% off items purchased fro. that company for the church.

Sometime between 1889 and February 1890 the church was completed with benches and stoves and ready to use at a total cost of $668.10. The painting of the building was finished in 1906. This is the church building that stands today with some modernization.

In September 1893 some members of Bethlehem Church were given letters of dismissing to form a church at Whelen Springs. They were Lenora Williams, Eliza Williams, E.C. Sullivan, Mat Sullivan, Martha Smith, W.A. Jenkins, Fannie Jenkins, Alice Stone, E.A. Jenkins, Maggiw Williams, G.W. Williams and wife, F.W. Stroud and wife, Thomas Horne, Wesley Thornton, L.G. Nixon and Mary Horne.

In November 1900 services began being held two weekends a month.

In July 1902 the church withdrew support of the Red River Association. In November 1905 the church agreed to cooperate with the association again.

In March 1907 the Sunday School presented the church with an organ.

In April 1914 a new church covenant was submitted. It is the one used by most Baptist Churches.

In September 1914 the first Baptist Young Peoples Union was organized in the Church.

In July 1919 the church bought their first hymn books.

There is a break in the minutes from September 1923 to March 1927. A piano must have been acquired during that period because a pianist was elected for lie first time in August 1929.

In October 1937 the first reference to a Homecoming and dinner on the ground is made.

February 1, 1942 the church voted to install electric lights in the church. They evidently didn't do it right then because there was continuing references to the purchase of oil and lamp globes for quite some time.

The minutes jump from September 1949 to October 1961. During this time Bethlehem Baptist Church celebrated its one-hundredth year anniversary in 1951. Also during this time, a group of people left the church to organize East Whelen Church. Some of these people were Bro. and Mrs. Perry and Family, Ray Beals and Family and Harvey Coon and Family.

In February 1963, a new floor was put in the church. During the early 1960's, the building was remodeled, putting in two front windows where the two front doors were and installing a vestibule in the center of the front with double doors there. In January 1969 two ground classrooms were completed, one on each side of the pulpit. In January 1971 a new room was built in loft, later was divided into three Sunday School Rooms and now there was two. In February 1972, a room was built on back of the church for dining area and a bathroom installed. In July 1974 a kitchen and two Sunday School rooms were built on the back of church.

In June 1974 the first church bus was purchased.

In March 1975 a mobile home was purchased for a parsonage this was enlarged by building a room on to it in February 1977.

Bethlehem Baptist Church now stands as a monument to the entire community which was built through love and prayer. From the very first this church has supported missionaries, orphans' homes, people in need and ministers of all ages.

To the best of my ability I have compiled the data for this church history from the minutes of Bethlehem Baptist Church from its organization to the present time, September 1978. There are some years of minutes missing that I have been unable to locate. On the following pages you will find a list of people who have been members at Bethlehem Baptist Church with approximate dates of arrival and departure. There will be some names that I have missed and some names that are listed twice as some ladies' maiden names may be listed as well as their married names. Any corrections will be welcomed to this list or on any information in the church history.

List Of Members

A B C D E F G H I J M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Please wait until page has fully loaded to click on letters.
CM - beside a name means Charter Member.
Dates are - first date joined church second date dismissed from church
A

Andy, a servant CM 1851 - 1854
Adams, Mary C. 1872

Alexader, Lille 1904
Acers, Ellen (Elda) 1919
Bandeaux, Austin 1968 B

Bagwell, Evie ? - 1927

Barfield, Ella Faye 1970 - 1973

Barringer, Nellie ? - 1909

Bass, William 1858 - 1866

Beals, Ida 1938

Bear, Ada 1917 - 1947 Bear, Mary Jane 1875 Bearded, Mrs. Catharine 1869 Beck, Douglas 1969 - ? Beggs, Henry ? - 1855 Belamy, James 1890 - ? Bell, J.N. (Newton) 1900 - ? Birdwell, Robert 1929 - ?

Black, Mrs. James ? - 1944

Blake, Earl 1917 - ? Blount, Grover C. 1977 - ? Bourland, D.C. 1869 - 1883 Bourland, Harriet 1858-1861 Box, David 1857 - 1860 Boydston 1975 - ?
Brag, Ada ? - 1922
Brannin, Charley 1917 - 1919 Bratton, William 1871 - 1878
Brewer, Jesse 1901 - 1902
Brown, A.A. ? - 1885 Browning, Ciroline 1857 - 1860 CM Bunch, Arnold 1917 - ? Burnett., J.C 1900 - 1902 Burnley, Marie (Stone) ? 1938 C

Call, Nannie (Nix) ? - 1934
Calley, Norman 1917 - ?
Campbell, Alton 1962 - ?
Carlisle, Kay 1975 - ?

Carr, Estelle 1935 - ? Carter, B.J. 1858 - 1860 Cates, Amanda 1859 - 1860 Charles, a servant 1851 - 1854 CM
Chrisman, Caddie 1908 - 1916 Clary, a servant 1851 - 1856
Cockrell, Amy (Summers) ? - 1918
Cogbill, Becky (Creech) 1953 - ? Cook, Zenobia S. (Smith) 1869 1879
Coon, Cletie 1938 - ? Cooper, Cynthia 1874 - ? Cooper, Kizzey Jane ? - 1879 Coplin, Carrie 1919 ? Cox, Carol 1976 - ? Craig, Becky 1969 - ?
Creech, Mrs. Ruth (Acuff) 1948 ? Crews, Doyle 1963 - ? Cross, A.T. 1922,- ? Curry, Jimmy 1971 - 1973 Curtis, Louiza 1857 - 1857
Daniell, Judy (Malcomb) 1963 - ? D

Daughtery, 1969 1974

Davies, Susie (Measles) 1904 - ? Deaton, Joyce 1963 - 1964 Dennington, Anna 1870 - ? Dickerson, Alice (Malcolm) 1968 Dillard, David 1976 - 1977 Dowd, Jeff 1903 - 1915
Dozier, Abigail 1859 - ? Dozier, Mollie 1889 - 1894 Duncan, Charles Roland 1962 - ? E

Eads, J.M. 1859 - 1860

Eakin, Bertha (Harper) 1915 ? Easley, Hannah 1858 1879 Easter, Della ?
Edmonds, Laura ?
Edwards, 1937 - 1937 Elia, Andrew 1900 - 1904 Emery, Bro. ? - 1905 Emmett, 1901 - 1904 F

Fade, Sister 1860 - ?
Finter, Callie 1919 - ?

Flowers, Annie 1900 - 1900 Floyd 1929 - ? Forthman, Carl 1941 Fortner, Bertha Mae 1939 ? Franklin, Andrew ? - 1940 Freeman, Benny 1968 - ? Freeman, Katie Sue 1962 - ? Frizzell 1900 - 1905 Fulks, A.L. 1859 - ? G

Gammill, Charley ?

Gage, Albert 1900 ?
Gallant, Alfred 1945 - 1951 Garey, Bro. C. 1859 - 1860 Garnder, Bopie 1914 - ? Gates, Isabel 1851 - 1855 Gibbons, J.R. 1859 - ?
Gibson, Alice 1975 - 1977 Giles, a servant 1859 - ? Gill, Mr. Jesse 1920 - 1923 Gill, Lizzie 1904 - ? Gipson Charles J. 1861 - ?
Givens, Mrs. Wayne 1950's Gober, Gari 1971 ? Goodwine, C.A. ? Gore, Beckan 1874 - 1874 Gray, Amanda ? Grover, Etta ?
Gullet 1857 - 1866
Gunter, Perinelia 1-869 - 1870
Hagins, Banard 1963 - ? H

Ham, Sister 1900 ?

Hammonds, Charlie 1888 - ? Hancock, Mrs. 1900 - 1901
Harmon, Sue 196 Harper, Abby 1900 - 1902 Harris, Alphonse 1869 - 1873 Harrison, Bob 1907 - ? Hensley 1931 - 1948 Hensley, Dove 1931 1948 Herrington, Nancy 1903 - 1903 Herron, Mrs. C.H. 1910 - ? Hickman, Adeline (McClelland) l869 - 1887 Hicks, Augustine 1-901 - 1902
Hodges, Mrs. Jettie (Brown) 1918-1922 Holloway, Lola ? - 1931
Horne, Eider Absalom 1867 - 1877 Horton, Jeff 1927 - ? Horton, Odessa (Bear) 1904 - ? Howard, Will 1917 - ? Howell, Peggy (Creech) 1948 ?
Huffman, Nelly (Rose) 1881?
Hughes, Bitha 1920 - ? I

Ingle, Birtha 1920 -

Ingram, Maude 1917 - 1919
Jackson, Becky 1950's J

Jenkins, E.A. 1888 - 1893

Jennins, Terrell ?
Johnson, 1888 1896 Jones, Mary E. C. ? - 1879 Jourden, Joseph 1859 - ?
Karr, Catarine 188- - ? K

Kenon, Mary A. ? - 1885
Kelly, Donna (Malcolm) 1968 1977

Keys, A.C. ? - 1946 Kind, A.W. 1899 - 1901 Kirbey, Alice 1905 - ? Kirkling, L.B. 1904 - ?
Kiser, 1885 - ?
Lampkin, Della 1972 - ?
Langle, George 1869 - 1881 L

Langle, Sarah (Hickman) 1370 - 1881

Leach, Rebecca 1881 Leavitt, Sherrill 1970 - ?
Lester, Becky 1964 - 1972
Lindsay 1917 - 1918
Lovett, Myrtle (Keys) 1917
Lovie, H.A. 1919 - ? M

Malcolm, Allen 1963 - ?

Malinda, a servant 1851 - 1853 CM
Malloch, Lucille (Measles) 1917 1951
Malone, Allen 1931 - ? Marene, Mrs. Belle 1904 1904
Martin, James ? - 1897
Marsh, Don 1970 - ? Massey, Joseph 1896 - ? Mathis, Martha 1859 - 1860 Measles, Annie 1900 - 1915 Medlock, Etta (Stone) 1916 - ?
Merkle, Etinice (Gardner) ?
Milky, a servent -1851 - 1854
Minick, John, 1851 - ? C.M Minton, Anna Mae (Measles) 1917 -1928 Mobley, E. 1929 - 1934 Moore, Mrs. Arnold ? - 1944
Monk, J.S. 1859 1861 Moseley, ? - 1860 Morrow, Mattie 1904 - ?
Myers, Cecil 1931 - 1935
McClure, Ada ?
McDaniels, Grace 1920 - ? McGinnis, Maud Lou 1904 - 1904 McKinney, C.C. 1851 - 1853
McLeland, Matt 1885 - ?
McMichaels, Sarah (Badeaux) (Fisher) 1968 - ?
Neal, Augustine (Thomas) 1882 - ? N

Nelson, Addie 1895 - ?

Nixon, Fannie 1895 - ? Nixon, Mable (Ross) 1907 O

O'Bryan, Lillie ? - 1907
O'Day, Gracie 1917 - 1917

Owens 1906 - 1912 P

Perry, Bro. 1950's

Phillips 1935 - ? Pierce, Jerry Lee ? - 1972 Pinder, Bro. E.M. 1885 - 1885 Posey, Catharine 1892 - ? Powell, Cesnal ? - 1913 Powell, William 1940 - ?
Prater, Rebecca 1851 - 1851 CM
Prewett, Matiala 1885 - ?
Pugh, Ben ? - 1942 Purifoy, Alvin 1960 Puryom, Bro. 1942
R

Rains, H.G. 1901 - ?
Randle, E.D. 1859 -

Reed, Billy 1973 - ? Remels, Nancy ? - 1917
Reynolds, Jake 1894 - ?
Rice, James 1894 - ?
Richardson, Bob 1907 - 1914
Ridling, W.C. 1839 - 1860
Riffe, David C. 1851 - 1860 Roe, Addie 1910 - ? Rogers, E.T. ? - 1913 Ross, Annie 1900 Roundtree, J.B. 1859 - ? Russell ? - 1944
Sanders, Alvin 1943 - S

Sanders, Vera 1943
Samuels ? - 1919

Sauls, J.M. 1888 - 1890 Schee, Ann (Badeaux) 1961 - 1977 Scoggins, 1910 - 1913 Scott, Billy Wayne 1945 ? Shackleford, Mrs. Jason ? - 1938
Shankles, 1964 1967
Sims, Zack 1911 - 1911
Smith, Barbara 1966 - 1967 Sparkman, D. 1892 - 1939 Sparks, Japies 1976 ? Stafford 1851 - 1854 CM
Stapp, J.M. 1858 - 1870 Stephens, Betty 1888 - ?
Steward, Nancy ? - 1892
Stiffier, 1968 -- 1970 Stone, Alice L. 1888 - 1893 Stricklin A.C. 1859 - 1860 Stroud, Fannie 1927 - ? Sullivan, 1888 - 1893 Summers, Ellie ? - 1919 T

Tapp, Vida 1888 - ?
Tate, 1882 - ?
Taylor, Lela 1920 - ?

Thomas 1919 - 1935 Thompson, Berthal 1937 - ? Thornton, Emma ? - 1894 Thrasher, Esther 1968 - 1973 Thrognorton, Harry 1911 - 1911 Tippitt, 1975 - 1976 Tuberville 1900 - 1905 U

Sorry! No names with that letter.

V

Vaden, Jennie 1900 - ?
Vire, Clyde 1964 - 1965

W

Wagner, Mary ? - 1904

Walker, Sally (Purifoy) 1962 - ?
Waller, Will 1919 - ?
Walter, Luther 1900 - ?
Ward, Pernie 1895 - 1899
Warren, Dora (Massey) 1896 - 1915
Weatherford 1975 - ?
Webb, Bernice (Haskin) l928 - ? Webster, Jim 1890 - ?
Wells, Caroline 18')-I- - 1853 CM West, H.W. 1885
Wheeler, Charles 1949 - ? White, Anita (Hughes) 1970 - 1977 Whittock, Sis. M. 1871 - 1814 Whorton, Claywell ? Wilder, Carl 1931 ? Williams, A. 1851 - 1871, CM Williams, Mrs. G.W. ? - 1904 Williamson, Mrs. 1888 - 1889
Willis, Jesse H. 1888 - 1892
Wilson, 1901 - ? Windham, Athie 1927 - ? Wingfield, E. Jane 1879 - 1888
Wood, Amanda A. 1867 - ? Woodell, Narcissa ? - 1876 Woolsey ? - 1927 Worley, 1936 - ? Wright, Annie 1895 - 1899 X

Sorry! No names with that letter.

Y

Young Blanche (Brown) 1910 - 1915

BETHLEHEM CHURCH BOOK

The following is the proceedings of Bethlehem Church when the same was constituted on the thirty-first day of July A.D. 1951.

To Wit-

We the undersigned at the request of the Brethren and Sisters, whose names are hereunto annexed have this day examined into our faith and normal standing as members of the Baptist Church and have in our opinion found them Orthodox, and have constituted them in to a church in witness whereof we have set out hands.

 

The following is our Constitution:

We the undersigned being members of the Baptist Church and being remote from any church where we can have membership and believing it to be our duty to let our light shine to all around on earth and to advance His kingdom to the end of the world, do hereby to cast our lots together in a church capacity and do all we can for the peace of Zion. To affect this end we have called a Presbyter to examine our faith and standing and agree to adopt the faith of the Red River Regular Baptist Association of the State of Arkansas. As the Articles of our faith and practice and that our church shall be known by the name of Bethlehem Regular Baptist Church this the thirty-first of July 1851.
 

CHURCH MEMBERS NAMES OF THOSE RECORDED WHO CONSTITUTED THE SAME:

ABSTRACT OF FAITH

ARTICLE I

We believe in one true and living God, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost. I John 4:7 - John 1:1,2,3 - I Timothy 3:16

ARTICLE II

We believe that the scripture comprising the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, and the only rule of faith and practice,. II Timothy 3:15-16 - II Peter 1:21 - Roman 9:4

ARTICLE III:

We believe in the doctrine of Election according as God has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be Holy and without blame before him in love, in whom ve also trusted after that ye heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation, in whom also after ye believed ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise. Ephesians 1:4, 13 - I Peter 1, 1 Thessalonians 2: 1,14

ARTICLE IV:

We believe in the doctrine of the Original Sin by the fall of Adam. Genesis 3: 6-7 - Psalms 5:6 - Roman 5:12, 14

ARTICLE V:

We believe in man's incapacity by his own freewill and ability to recover himself from the fallen state in which he is by nature. Isaiah 1:5-6 - John 6:44 Ephesians 2:1

ARTICLE VI:

We believe that sinners are justified in the sight of God by the imputed righteousness of Christ only. Jeremiah 23:6 - Romans 4:22-24 - I Corinthians 1:30

ARTICLE VII:

We believe that the Saints shall be preserved in grace and never fall finally away. Psalms 89:25, 31 - Hebrew 8:10, 12 - John 10:28

ARTICLE VIII:

We believe that baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances of Jesus Christ and that tru Baptists are the only subjects of baptism and that by immersion is the Apostolic made. Mark 16:15-16 - I Corinthians 11:23, 26 - Acts 2:41-42 Romans 6: 3-4-5-6-7 - Matthew 28:19-20

ARTICLE IX

We believe in the Resurrection of the dead and in general judgement and that the felicity of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked will be eternal. John 5:28-29 - I Corinthians 15:22,24 - Revelations 20:12-13-14-15

ARTICLE X:

We believe that no minister has any right to administer the Ordinances of the Gospel but one who is regularly baptized, called, and comes under the imposition of hands of a Presbyter. Matthew 28:19-20 - I Timothy 3:14 - Titus 1:5

ARTICLE XI:

We believe that none but regularly baptized members have a right to consume at the Lord's Table. Acts 2:41,47 - Acts 18:8, 11 - I Corinthians 11:23, 24.

ARTICLE XII: :

We believe that he Lord's Day should be observed as a day of rest and religious devotion. Exodus 20:8 - Acts 20:7 - Revelation 1:10
 
 
 

 

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