Wednesday, January 25, 1989-THE KINGS MOUNTAIN HERALD-Page 7B
| Was Glad When They Said Unto Me,
“Let Us Go Into The House Of The Lord!”
CHURCH
OF THE
WEEK
Bethlehem
Baptist
Church
Amity Finance of
Kings Mountain, Inc.
739-1311
Neisler Brothers, Inc.
First Union National Bank
or North Carolina
P.O. Box 352
BB&T
410 East King Street
i
i
Allens Flower Shop, Inc.
Management and Staff
TA A Harris Funeral Home, Inc.
a ) Ollie Harris and Staff
Jones Intercable
- Age ’ | Management and Employees
1 ¢ Kings Mountain Florist
J 739-7331
Setzer's Discount Auto Parts
1301 Grover Road
734-0121
Dr. James R. Mason
Optometrist
Mac's Grocery
739-3391
Love's Fish Box
1104 Shelby Road
Winn Dixie Stores
And Employees
Parkdale Mills, Inc. #5
Management and Employees
J & S Pantry
Main Street, Grover N.C.
Keeter Furniture
Tommy Keeter and Employees
Plonk Tire
Wray and David Plonk
Kings Mountain Truck Plaza
And Employees
Harper's
Prescription Pharmacy. Inc.
739-3687
First Citizens Bank
405 South Battleground Ave.
{9 Home Federal
Savings and Loan Association
) Kings Mountain Hospital
1 739-3601
First Federal
Savings and Loan Association
§ Barrett's Floor Covering and Paint
1 739-2770 - 739-4581
Bill Childers and Employees
Childers Heating and Cooling. Inc.
BETHLEHEM BAPTIST CHURCH 4
1842-1989
Bethlehem Baptist Church is the third oldest church in the Kings Mountain Baptist Association.
Bethlehem Baptist Church became an arm of Antioch Baptist Church. Several Baptists were living in
the community of Bethlehem which was called White Plains. Being so far from any Baptist church, they
decided to build a meeting house and ask the Baptist church at Antioch to make them an arm so they
could receive members and baptise them. Elder R.P. Logan began preaching for them and held services
for several months with great success. They decided to organize a church. The church was organized Ju-
ly 16, 1842 and 26 people presented letters to become members.
In March of 1845, James Alton, for the regard that he had for the cause of the Christian Religion,
gave, granted and conveyed and by those present, did give grant and convey unto the deacons of
Bethlehem Baptist Church and their successors in office forever, a certain piece or parcel of land to build
a meeting house. This piece or parcel of land to build a meeting house. This piece of land contained one
and a half acres, and was a glebe for Bethlehem Baptist Church or meeting house. (Glebe: a portion of
land attached to an ecclesiastical benefice as part of its endowment; land belonging to a parish; ground.)
In 1866 land was given by Dr. Thomas Williams of Shelby. A tract of land which joined the present
location was secured and a log church was built. In 1869, a frame church was contracted to Mr. P.D. Pat-
terson.
This building was used until the building of another in the year of 1929. On February 16, 1929, in con-
ference, the committee reported a suggestion to first raise the present building sufficient for a basement,
a wing on each side and build an addition to the back for a choir. The outside was to be veneered over the
wood frame. The building constructed in 1929 with Sunday School rooms on the ground floor is still be-
ing used.
The present brick building was built during the depression. There were financial committees and
work committees. With a lot of prayer and hard work the church was built, complete with beautifully
stained glass windows which different members donated in memory of loved ones. The members moved
into the church in 1930.
On December 28, 1947, the treasurer was authorized to pay the County Superintendent for the
School house and grounds. This property is now Bethlehem'’s Fellowship Building and grounds.
On Easter Sunday, 1952, the first offering was taken by the church for the construction of a pastor's
home. Ground was broken for the home the last of July. In less than a year the home had been com-
pleted and paid for. This could never have been accomplished in so short a time except for the arduous
efforts of the building committee, the free labor of many of the church members, and the generous gifts
of material and money by the people.
In 1960, Bethlehem was again renovated. A new Sanctuary, Chapel and Educational Building were
added.
Since this renovation, our church has made changes and continued to grow. As membership grew
so did the needs of the church. As office space expanded so did our church staff. We hired a full time
secretary, and a music director who also assisted the Pastor. Other acquisitions of the church during the
past 22 years included purchasing additional land adjoining the fellowship center. Robes were purchased
for the choir. A bus ministry was started and our church now has two vans to aid in the duties of our
church. Our parking lots were paved during this period also. New office equipment has been purchased
to assist the secretary in her work. From this acquired machinery, our church now publishes a Church
Scroll each week. A ramp was built to assist the handicapped who come to our church. Protective cover-
ings were placed over our stained windows to insure their safety. Cushions for the pews in the sanctuary
were purchased as well as the cushioned chairs used in the Chapel. Being supporters of the Missions, our
church felt led to sponsor The Norman Browns during their missionary services in Germany. We have a
Minister of Education and a Minister of Music who work together to provide Choirs and activities for our
youth. A Backyard Bible Club and Lock-In Retreat will be remembered by all who participated. The
. Young at Heart meet monthly and they enjoy special events as well as planned trips. This group is our ac-
tive members who visit and take church material to our shut-ins.
These men have served Bethlehem as pastors:
Elder R.P: Logan. .... Lai Lam asin 1842-1845 Rev. J.G. Graham... ........ 0. 00 nie 1912-1913
Elder Tom Dixon... ..... lo aden 1846-1847 Rev. D.V. Vipperman................L 000 L000 1914
Elder W.B. Padgett... .......... oo asad 1848-1849 Rev. J-W. Suttle... annus ub afali UL ve 1915-1916
Eider B.E. Rolling... i. lini ulema As Ja 1850 Rev. R.C. Campbell...... cc... uo cul ein 1917-1919
Elder P.R.. Logan. .& oui. s ii aa nn na 1851 Rev. W.G. Camp’... thc aafaniiie 1920-1923
Elder P.R. Elam... .. to ioe U aang i 1868-1880 Rev..H.V. Tanner. ............ soe ain 1924-1925
Elder GP. Hamrick. isl Lainie Cia nnn] 1881-1884 Rev. W.N. Cook. .:....... | Lin shales 1926-1928
Blder:P.R. Elam... 0 yan a en 1885 Rev. WJ. Blagk. .c. i... dich Suze Jl lobe 1929-1939
Rev. J.M. Bridges... ...c.0 alu ne sini 1886-1888 Rev. CarliMaunay........... Lio oni 1939-1940
Elder P.R. Elam...... abn nl RR 1889-1890 Rev. W.G. Camp...............0.. Loli. 1941-1945
Rev.iG.M. Webb. >. i... anid Ce va ly 1891 Rev. T.W. Fogleman......................0... 1946-1951
Rev. P.G. Hopper... .. i batik Jonaatain Ly 1892 Rev. R.E. Robbins. .............. oo aaah 1952-1956
Rev. E:B. McSwain... iii. diablo sie 1893 Rev. Norman Brown. ...............ccoeunnn. 1957-1961
Rev. B.M.Webb....... ... ......... ta 1894-1896 Rev. Donald Callahan....................... 1961-1963
Rev. Ril. -Limrick: ovo as sane oni ninety 1897-1899 Rev. James F.Graham...................... 1965-1967
Rev.iATM. Ross... ony uh ahaa ad 1900 Rev. Russell Fitts. ............... 00000000 1968-1978
Revi AH. SIMs: i. lst Ligeti i Shi 1901-1906 Rev. Samuel H. Murphy. ................... 1978-1984
Rov. G.@. Onlel.. i. libs hi ais Si, 1907 Rev. Edward Sessom.................c0une. 1984-1986
Rev. C.W. Paysour...............\ a, 1908 Dr. Randy Gardner... ....... .....iv. vy 1987-Present
Rev. J.W. Suttle... Lu bina ci Sud 1909-1911
McGill Exxon Servicenter
100 E. King Street
Sandra Wilson Realty
739-5872 . |
Country Time Rest Home
Brevard Road
Kings Mountain, N.C.
739-2760
Butler Air Conditioning
and Heating
David Butler and Employees
Peggy's Restaurant
Management anid Employees
Kerns Trucking Inc. Jil
"You Call - We Haul!” 4
Depot Stop and Go, Inc. :
Ken Roberts and Employees
Warlick and Hamrick
Associates
Insurance - Real Estate
Bridges Textiles
Management and Employees
Sadie Mills, Inc.
Management and Employees
Champion Contracting Company
And Employees
Diling Heating And Employees
Community Grocery
Jim , Glenn and Chrystine Carroll
Harris Teeter Supermarket
And Employees
Phifer Hardware
Management and Employees
Cloninger and Neisler
Attorneys at Law
The Printin' Press, Inc.
Management and Employees
Martin Marietta
Management and Employees
Ben T. Goforth Plumbing
Management and Employees
Grover Industries
Where Friendly People Work
Tultex Yarns
And Employees
Lutz Oil Co., Inc.
739-4261
Dellinger's Jewel Shop
Better Diamonds at a Better Price
Combustion Engineering Inc.
Joe Andrews and Associates
i Our Houses Of Worship Are God’s Institutions For Reforming
/ Human Lives. Area Pastors And These Sponsoring Firms Invite
You To Attend One Of Your Choice Regularly.