HISTORY

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In 1876 a few of our forefathers severed ties with Ash Grove Baptist Church located on what is now known as Longview Drive in the Longview Section of Isle of Wight

County, Virginia. Their exaltations of our Redeemer and Lord, Jesus Christ, were

conducted under a "Bush Arbor". Men and women with limited finances and education designed a structure with a base of poles embedded in the ground with a roof of pine straw woven across the top on land they purchased through God's grace, shear determination, and love. This was a humble place of worship for a group of lovingly meek people faithfully working in the service of our Heavenly Father.

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In a short time this new congregation constructed a one story modest building in which to fellowship, praise, and worship. This initial start of New Bethany United Church of Christ was organized under the name of Bethany Christian Church. Because our church was located on an unpaved dusty dirt road that had many "pot holes" and was notorious for becoming muddy after it rained, our Christian pioneers nicknamed the church "Muddy Cross Christian Church". This old church still stands today about two miles from our present location on what is now Muddy Cross Road. In the 1940's a dining structure for revival services was built next to the sanctuary, and a cemetery was placed behind the church. All land and structures were contained on one and a half acres. Services of praise, worship, and fellowship continued here for ninety-two years. Some of our longterm members recall that services were held every first Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday School at 10:00 a.m. The starting time for Sunday School has not changed.

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Members through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit called Reverend Dillard as our first pastor. Other pastors to follow were Reverends J. Faulks, Patterson, Harris, Keys, Watson, W. T. Faulks, and Gaines. In 1940, death terminated the pastoralship of Reverend Gaines; therefore, in 1941 Reverend T. V. Brown was called as our ninth pastor. He served until his resignation in May 1943. Ministers W. W. Gilcrease, Ballet, J. A. Milton, and Dillet filled the pulpit in order to serve us in the absence of a pastor. Postdating these ministers was the memorable Reverend J. O. Lee. Pastor Lee served or twenty-one years after his installation in December 1944. Under his leadership with the assistance of Reverend Seth W. Haywood, Sr., in 1964, our church became affiliated with the United Church of Christ. Today, we remain in this multi-racial and multicultural denomination with an unitary belief in Christ Jesus. During Reverend Lee's leadership, our first Junior Choir was formed and baptizing new converts was no longer done in a outdoors area of murky water but in the baptismal pool at Tabernacle Christian Church, Suffolk, Virginia.

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In response to the absence of Reverend Lee due to illness, in November 1964

Reverend Seth W. Haywood, Sr., Pastor Lee's son-in-law, came to us as interim

pastor. Reverend Haywood served in this capacity for approximately one year.

Because Pastor Lee's failing health prevented him from fulfilling his duties as

pastor, after twenty-one years of faithful service, he resigned his position in the

latter part of 1965. Within this same year, Reverend Haywood was called as pastor.

During Reverend Haywood's pastoralship, discussion of building a new church was

in progress. Our finances were very limited still, and the membership was in doubt

about initiating a building project. Pastor Haywood encouraged members that

through faith in a mighty God, it could be done. Based on the power of God and his

encouragement, it became reality. Pastor Haywood guided us through the transition from Bethany Christian Church (Old Muddy Cross) to this location and structure of New Bethany Christian Church (United Church of Christ). Many long term members have told the story about how Bethany Christian Church members

"Stepped Out On Faith" in their endeavor to build a new sanctuary. The church had

only four thousand four hundred dollars in the treasury when the members decided to relocate and build a new facility. The United Church of Christ donated one thousand dollars and Gwaltney Meat Packing Company of Smithfield donated five hundred dollars towards the building project.

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A ground breaking ceremony was held on April 10, 1966 in preparation for the new

church. On September 29, 1968 the last service was held at Bethany Christian

Church to give way to the first service (Service of Dedication) on October 6, 1968

at New Bethany Christian Church. Nine years later in March 1977 a mortgage

burning service was held to commemorate this major milestone of the decade.

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Other notable events during the tenure of Pastor Haywood were addition of the

fellowship hall to the church structure; Reverend Annie B. Crawley was ordained on

October 6, 1969 and became Associate Minister; on March 30, 1980 a service of

dedication was held for our new organ; two women were elected to serve in the

Trustees Ministry on September 27, 1988; we consolidated the ministries' finances into four major accounts; Passion Week services were reestablished; several

deacons were ordained; the position of Financial Secretary was established to

developed a better way of reporting church money matters; and a small business

copier was purchased on February 9, 1990. In order to help us in the process of

selecting a new pastor, Reverend Haywood appointed a Pastoral Search Committee

prior to his resignation in December 1990. We celebrated his accomplishments and

retirement after twenty-five years of service on December 1, 1990 at Smithfield

High School.

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We were without a pastor for two years. During this time various ministers graced

our pulpit. Improvements were made to the physical structure of our church:

March 22, 1991 carpet was put in the choir loft; August 22, 1991 the addition of

sidewalks was completed; December 27, 1991 windows were covered with colorful

stained material; and in September 1992 new lights were installed.

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On September 23, 1992 Reverend Vernon L. Artis was elected as pastor and

installed as our twelfth pastor on January 10, 1993. Our motto was stated as being

"The Church With the Open Door". Under his leadership on July 8, 1993 a new

church sign was purchased and erected; he personally directed and completed the

installation of a baptismal pool on July 19, 1993; Inspirational Choir and

Hospitality Ministry were established; a new organ was purchased on May 4, 1996;

our first drum set which were used on a regular basis during our worship services

was donated; training classes for church officers were initiated and developed;

Friday evening Sharlin R. Batten and Reverend Annie B. Crawley Bible Study

Classes were established on March 1, 1996; purchased of approximately two acres

of land for expansion and a church cemetery was completed on June 7, 1996; a

handicap access ramp was completed on July 6, 1996; Men and Women Ministries

were established; On August 7, 1999, New Bethany Christian Church Cemetery

was opened; church officers were reassigned to better utilized individual gifts; two

women were elected to serve within the Deaconesses Ministry; and membership

increased. After pastoring for ten years, Reverend Artis resigned his position. His

resignation was effective on January 1, 2003.

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Being without a pastor throughout most of 2003, the deacons and trustees invited guest ministers, usually on a monthly basis, to conduct services. Bethany's deacons

organized a Pastor Search Committee. In December 2003 the search committee

recommended and the congregation agreed to call our present pastor, Reverend

Douglas Lee Jones, Sr. He was installed on Sunday, March 29, 2004.

 

Under Pastor Jones's watch many changes have occurred and continue to do so for the better. Our motto was immediately changed to "The Church With the Open Door - Doing Ministry God's Way"; clear vision and mission statements were developed; a six-week new members class was created; one deacon has been added to the ministry and three more women were added to the deaconesses ministry; on March 25, 2005 Greeters were in place to welcome members and visitors alike to our church; in 2006, in order to better equip the saints for ministry and enlighten new members, the Christian Education Ministry was established; in January 2008 our first praise dance team, The Angels of Praise, was organized and established as an encouraging youth ministry; a new copier was leased in 2008; in 2009, the implementation of a two-term limit for officers was established; recently, an Executive Council was formed in accordance to our church by-laws to help effectively conduct the business of the church in a reasonable and productive manner; on March 16, 2009 a church van was purchased which in turn lead to the formation of our Transportation Ministry; a new organ was purchased on March 19, 2009; and on August 7, 2009, youth revivals

began once more.

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We are moving forward with power and faith under the leadership of Pastor Jones.

He has been instrumental in change that directs this flock into a more intimate

relationship with Christ as each persons discovers and uses his or her gifts to make a difference in the livelihood of this church and all of God's people. We are thankful that God has allowed us to remain steadfast at New Bethany. We rejoice knowing that He is in control, and with Him all things are possible. Much more needs to be done as we continue in the commission that Jesus clearly left for his disciples. We must be about spreading the gospel with kingdom building as our prime directive. This we must do now until the end of time. Like our forefathers, let us step

out on faith.

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