Remembering the Past

2 Kings 22:8–13 CSB

The high priest Hilkiah told the court secretary Shaphan, “I have found the book of the law in the Lord’s temple,” and he gave the book to Shaphan, who read it. Then the court secretary Shaphan went to the king and reported, “Your servants have emptied out the silver that was found in the temple and have given it to those doing the work—those who oversee the Lord’s temple.” Then the court secretary Shaphan told the king, “The priest Hilkiah has given me a book,” and Shaphan read it in the presence of the king. When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. Then he commanded the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, the court secretary Shaphan, and the king’s servant Asaiah, “Go and inquire of the Lord for me, for the people, and for all Judah about the words in this book that has been found. For great is the Lord’s wrath that is kindled against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words of this book in order to do everything written about us.”

We must be aware of the past.

We must learn from the past.

-The Good

-The Bad

We must act now.

We must look to the future.

History of the Church

The original mission from which New Bethel was established in 1943, which was sponsored by the Barker Ave. Baptist Church. A garage building was finally procured on Helfrich in which a mission Sunday School was organized. Some three years the mission struggled, until it became apparent that a Missionary Baptist Church ought to be constituted . On April 21, 1946, a meeting was held at the Barker Ave. Church for the purpose of consituting a church. The church was organized with 38 charter members. New Bethel was named after Bethel Baptist Church in South Hill, KY. There have been three “homes”: the garage on Helfrich Avenue where the mission began, the church that was built in 1947 down the street on Helfrich Avenue, and the present building which is a renovated elementary school. The congregation moved to this facility in 1978. Services were held in the gym until a sanctuary was built. Additional property was purchased in 1996 in the form of a former Neighborhood/Boy Scout Camp, Camp Ta-La-Hi on Hathaway. The church has had 14 pastors. At least 15 men have been ordained as deacons to be of service to the church, at least 11 men have been ordained to the ministry and 3 have been licensed to preach the Gospel.

In 1956 New Bethel started a mission on the north side of Evansville, New Haven Chapel. In 1963, a mission was started in English, IN. This mission became an independent church in 1965.

Executive Director Report from 51st Anniversary

This past Lord’s Day we were with New Bethel Baptist Church, Evansville. This church was celebrating its 51st anniversary. Pastor of the church is Gerald Peeples. The church is having a growing experience under his ministry. They recently had 188 in Sunday School and on this past Sunday they had 177. They had approximately 300 in the worship service. The church has had four classes of Experiencing God. This study has encouraged and revitalized many of the leaders of the church. Mrs. Peeples is the former Donna Harris. Both Brother Peeples and Donna worked in BSU in Indiana prior to being married. The church has had eleven pastors during its fifty-one years. On Easter Sunday the church had 400+ in worship.

I want to also share with you now the Objectives of our church as stated in the Constitution:

To be a dynamic spiritual organism empowered by the Holy Spirit to share Christ with as many people as possible in our church, community, and throughout the world.

To be a worshipping fellowship, experiencing an awareness of God, recognizing his person, and responding in obedience to his leadership.

To experience an increasingly, meaningful fellowship with God and fellow believers.

To help people experience a growing knowledge of God.

To be a church that ministers unselfishly to persons in the community and world in Jesus’ name.

To be a church whose purpose is to be Christ-like in our daily living by emphasizing total commitment of life, personality, and possessions to the lordship of Christ.

Continuing the work.

We are actively seeking to fulfill the mission that was started 76 years ago. To be the church that those founding members.

We want to take the end of this service to commission and pray for our mission team that will be going to Rochester.