Bethany Primitive Baptist Church

Bethany was greatly blessed to have the baptism of Brother Drew McGuire into the fellowship of the church as its newest member after having to postpone it a week due to Pastor sickness. He had several members to his family present to witness his baptism and encourage him in his Christian journey. He was joyfully given the right hand of fellowship by those present in the assembly and bid God’s speed. The service was followed by a great lunch and a time of fellowship. Thank the Lord for His bountiful treasure and hopefully continued blessings.

On the first day of the New Year (2023) and the first day of the week (Sunday) Bethany was blessed to have Brother Drew McGuire come forward at the conclusion of services desiring baptism by asking a home in the church. He was joyously received on forthcoming baptism when his grandmother can be present. Brother McGuire said he felt love and hospitality at Bethany and felt at home. He has come to Bethany off and on for a couple of years but just recently started to attend more regularly. We are thankful he felt a need to be part of the Bethany church family. We pray the Lord will guide more of His children to the church and the truth and to follow the Lord in baptism.

Bethany Church was blessed to have Sister Wanda Tubbs Hale baptized as the newest member of Bethany on Sunday, December 4, 2022 after regular services. She says she feels at home here at Bethany and we welcome her into the love and fellowship of the church. Her Pastor Elder Larry Wise is about to administer the ordinance of baptism. “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:” (I Pet. 3:21)

On a cold day Sunday November 20, 2022, Bethany was blessed to have Sister Wanda Tubbs Hale come forward and desire a home with the church. The church joyfully received her into the fellowship of the church family on forthcoming baptism which is scheduled for the 1st Sunday in December (Dec, 4) after the morning service. We truly thank the Lord for this latest addition to the church. To God be the glory.

Bethany was blessed to have a Spirit filled May Communion meeting and observance of the Lord’s Supper on Sunday and the washing of the saints’ feet. Elder Jeremy wise delivered two messages that were well received and the visitation of sister churches and friends was very good. The following is a collection of some of the scenes from the Communion meeting and the obersvance of the Lord’s Supper and washing of the saints’ feet:

You can find additional photos under the Communions page under dop down list of Communion Photos 2022:

We all must learn to say what we mean and mean what we say and be truthful to the same. Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount, “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.” (Matt. 5:37) Jesus had just finished teaching that we should not swear, not by heaven, earth, Jerusalem and or by the head. The lesson is that we have no need to swear that we will do something; we do not need to swear on the Bible or on my mother’s grave and the like. Our communication should always be Yea, yea or Nay, nay. In other words, your word is your bond and people will trust your word without any undue swearing; just say what you mean and mean what you say and stay true to your word. The world would be a lot better off if this teaching were followed, I think everyone would agree. It is too often people say one thing to one segment of people and say another to a different segment. –Elder Larry Wise–April 4, 2022

Bethany was blessed to observe the Lord’s Supper and washing of the saints feet during the 2021 Communion meeting. We had good singing, good visitation from friends and sister churches, good preaching from Elder Mark Quarles, good food and fellowship. It was topped off by a blessed communion service on Sunday May 16. Below are some photos from the services during that weekend. You can find and view more photos and a slide show on this website under the COMMUNION PHOTOS PAGE and the drop down selection of Communion Photos 2021:

The annual Christmas Singing at Bethany Church the 2nd Sunday night in December 2020 has been cancelled due to the continued threat of the COVID-19 virus. This will be the first time this singing has not taken place since it was started many years ago. We will miss singing praises to our blessed Lord Jesus Christ who was born in Bethlehem of Judea and enjoying the fellowship of our brothers and sisters in Christ from Bethany and other churches. The Lord has blessed in past years with excellent singing and fellowship around the supper table but alas not this year. We pray the lord will bless the pandemic to be arrested in the coming year and it won’t be so dangerous for the people of God to meet in numbers and serve the Lord in a public way. Pray for those sick with the virus and also for all those who are suffering affliction. Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto thing own understanding.

Sister Urea Wise will, Lord willing, celebrate her 100th birthday on July 22, 2020. The family is planning a drive by celebration at her home on Shady Grove Rd between the hours of 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Drive by her home between those hours, honk your car horn and wave at her as she will be sitting on her front porch. She has been and still is an inspiration to many and has seen and heard, good and bad, in her 100 years than anyone can imagine. She is still upbeat with a lovely smile and has that desire to be in church worship at Bethany Primitive Baptist Church which physical conditions do not permit. Happy Birthday with much love!

We regret to say that the May 2020 Communion Meeting that was scheduled for May 15-17 has been cancelled for this year due to the dangers imposed by COVID-19 virus. We will resume church assembly, Lord willing, on Mother’s Day, May 10, with increased emphasis on less physical interaction of hugs and handshakes but there is just not enough time to get acclimated before the meeting time and for the safety of our members and loving visitors it seems best to cancel the meeting. We will also postpone our Communion service that was scheduled for Sunday at the conclusion of the meeting and hopefully there will be less danger of infection in coming weeks. Pray for the safety and health of all our members and friends and for the Lord to intervene and stop the spread of this disease. Just remember that when this crisis is passed, there will be another one on the horizon and so it is in this sin cursed world. The assembly of saints and the strength derived from such assembly and the preaching of the word helps us to survive during these times of crisis. The Lord is our refuge and strength, a present help in time of trouble.–May 5, 2020–Elder Larry Wise.