New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church

HISTORY OF NEW BETHEL MISSIONARY
BAPTIST CHURCH

The Church is God’s creation and Jesus Christ is its Head. For Christ said,“Upon this rock I will build mychurch;and the gates of hell shall not prevailagainsit.” Matthew 16:18

In 1909 William Smith, George Washington, Robert Pryor and others came together in a small lamp lighted store known as Flints. With a few boards for pews, and a box for the pulpit, they called upon God’s name with one accord. A meeting was called and Reverend James Lott was asked to preside.

Bethel Baptist Church of Biloxi, Mississippi was organized June 20, 1909. After singing, praying and preaching the invitation was extended. Reverend W. P. Locker, Sister M. J. Alexander, Sister Alice Scurry and Sister Victoria Reed presented themselves for membership. The following presented church letters: Brothers Jake Posey, George Williams, Saul Harris, Frank Williams and Reverend W. M. Randolph. Sisters presenting letters were: Willie Johnson and Carrie Posey.

Reverend Louis Johnson was elected Pastor and Reverend W. P Locker was elected church clerk. Brothers Frank Williams, Jake Posey and Saul Harris were appointed deacons. Reverend William Randolph was elected church treasurer. Sisters M. J. Alexander, Alice Scurry, and Carrie Posey were appointed deaconesses. Pastoral day was set for each fourth Sunday. Members of the first choir were: Almedia Prentis, Lucinda Johnson, Octavia Smith, Alberta Johnson, Sadie Lidy, Ethel Jackson, Isabella Baston and George Langston. Mrs. Lola Wyatt was the director.

The Spirit dwelt among the people, the membership grew and it became necessary to enlarge the store, which housed the church. A building was constructed around the latter part of 1909 or 1910 and was dedicated to God under the name BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH.

Pastor Louis Johnson was a praying man, and the spirit gave him a program. The members worked in accordance with their Pastor and began to beautify the House of God. Many members were added to the church and a number of times there were baptisms in the Bay of Biloxi or other public places. It became apparent to the officers of the church that the holiness of God’s ordinance of baptism was disturbed due to many fun makers being around; therefore they saw fit to construct a pool in the church. In 1932, after 23 years of untiring service, Pastor Johnson was called to another field, which he accepted and left the flock without a leader.

In 1933, the Lord sent Pastor Edward H. Potter. Many knew him as a great preacher, but they soon found him to be a great leader and pastor.

On January 18, 1941, the foundation for a new church was laid. During this time, as the old was being torn down and the new being built, church services were held in the Tabernacle Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor L. Lindsay.

On January 4, 1942 the new church was finished. The building was dedicated to God for worship service and was renamed NEW BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH. In 1949 the foundation for an annex and another choir box was laid; pastoral day changed to the first and third Sundays and Reverend Henry Smith served as assistant pastor. In keeping with the growth of the city of Biloxi, the church agreed to have full pastoral services, Pastor Potter was asked to serve New Bethel every Sunday and he agreed.

In 1958, Pastor Potter presented plans to enlarge the Christian Education Department and to beautify the present building. The work was completed in1959 at a cost of $21,000.00.

During the 60’s the church was completely air conditioned, carpeted and many new purchases were made to update the secretary’s office and the dining room. In 1967 New Bethel housed one of the Head Start Centers.

In 1969, the church was impacted by the wrath of Hurricane Camille, but was quick to replace whatever was lost. A 42 passenger bus was bought in 1970 to transport people to and from church. Reverend Willie Carney served as the second assistant pastor in New Bethel’s history. After Reverend Carney left, Reverend Willie Carr was asked to become the assistant pastor. He resigned in 1983.

Pastor Potter envisioned a working church and organized many auxiliaries that would give all members a chance to work in the church. Some of these auxiliaries were the Junior Mission, Mission I, Mission II, Mother’s Board and Good Samaritans. In 1983, after fifty years of devoted service, Pastor Potter retired because of failing health and became Pastor Emeritus.

The Lord was with the church as Reverend Robert Coker was already here as an associate, Reverend Coker was named interim pastor and was later called to be pastor and installed January 1984 thus becoming New Bethel’s third Pastor.

Under Pastor Coker’s leadership the church continued to grow. The W.I.A. ministry was organized, Deacon Tommy Daniels was licensed to preach the gospel and became an associate minister; a church library was started and plans to purchase a 15 passenger van were initiated. Pastor Coker began to make donations to various charities, monthly donations to the Gulf Coast Missionary Baptist Center, yearly donations to the Salvation Army, Back Bay Mission, Gulf Coast Rescue Mission, Martin Luther King Birthday Celebration, NAACP Mother of the Year and the Mississippi Baptist Seminary.

In 1985 Hurricane Elena did not spare New Bethel from her wrath. God blessed us and we were able to rebuild better than before.

In April 1993 after nine years of service, Pastor Coker resigned. The Church was left without a pastor but we had two spiritual leaders at the church, Reverend Tommy Daniels and Reverend Matthew Spikes. Reverend Spikes left the church and Reverend Tommy Daniels gave the church spiritual guidance.

In March 21, 1994 Reverend Carlton McCarter was installed as Pastor. The food bank was started, the bus was sold and a 15 passenger van was purchased. At the conclusion of civil court proceedings, Pastor McCarter left in August of 1996.

Again Reverend Daniels took on the responsibility of spiritual leader. Reverend Roderick Kemp and Reverend Darrell Taylor were associate ministers during this period.

Reverend Martin Chambers was called; he was installed as pastor on September 21, 1997. Pastor Chambers served from September 1997 until January 1998. After Pastor Chambers left, Reverend Darrell Taylor gave spiritual guidance to the church.

Upon Pastor Chambers departure, God sent us Reverend Kenneth E. Hollins. Reverend Hollins was installed as pastor in September of 1998. Brother Ronald Joseph was licensed to preach and Pastor Hollins initiated the ordination of Reverend Darrell Taylor.

Pastor Hollins and the church body continue to work together. In addition to the charities we had been supporting, others have been added including St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and Loaves and Fishes. Pastor Hollins has also led the church to reactivate its giving to the Foreign Mission work of the National Baptist Convention of America, Incorporated.

In 2000, Reverend Darrell Taylor left New Bethel to become Pastor of Prince of Peace Baptist Church and Reverend Oriel LaBorde became a member. In February, 2003 Pastor Hollins appointed Brothers Benjamin Robertson and Vernon Robinson as Deacons. The Andrew Ministry/Fragments Feeding Program was also established in 2003. The focus of these ministries is to go door to door witnessing to the lost and feeding the hungry.

Under Pastor Hollins’ leadership, the church has made major upgrades. Both the Ladies' and Men's restrooms have been remodeled and a multipurpose conference room has been established in honor of Dr. E. H. Potter.

On August 29, 2005 the Mississippi and Louisiana coastal areas received an unprecedented pounding of wind and water produced by Hurricane Katrina. The tidal surge produced by the powerful winds of Katrina resulted in hundreds of lost lives including two New Bethel members: James Rainey II and John Dickey. Billions of dollars in property damage ensued and the majority of New Bethel's members were left homeless. In our recovery efforts the Lord blessed us with a continuous stream of committed Christians from far and near to assist us in regaining some semblance of normalcy. We give God the glory for refurbishing His house after being inundated with nine feet of turbulent water and totally gutted, the Lord enabled us under the leadership of Pastor Hollins to essentially renew the entire church facility.

On Sunday October 25, 2009 at 2: PM the church celebrated its centennial. Pastor Danny Ray Hollins, brother of Pastor Kenneth E. Hollins, and the Greater Fairview Missionary Baptist Church of Jackson, Mississippi were our very special guests.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY