History of Bethesda Baptist Church:

170 Years of God’s Faithfulness 

1855

2026

Bethesda Baptist Church was first organized in the home of J.W. Rawls on August 13, 1855. The new church was originally named Cross Timbers Baptist Church.  A log cabin located on the Pleasant Inman farm (1/2 mile south of the present location) served as the original meeting place.

A circuit riding preacher by the name of William (Choctaw Bill) Robinson Served as the first pastor.

After the original log cabin burned in 1878, the membership spent $527 to rebuild on the land donated by David R. Jackson and family.  In 1887 Sunday School classes began meeting on Sunday afternoons.

The one-room facility was used until it no longer provided enough space and the roof needed extensive repair.  In 1937 the church voted to build a larger building at an estimated cost of $1000.

A brick auditorium was constructed and first occupied on April 27, 1959.  It was later converted into a fellowship hall when the present sanctuary was completed in 1980.  In 1986 a Two-story education building was constructed.

Over the past 170 years, from Pastor William Robertson to Pastor Jeremy Dudley, God has used our Church to reflect His love to others. From our roots as a Church on the frontier to today being a part of a fast growing city, God has remained faithful to us.

Pastors of Bethesda Baptist Church

1856-2026

 

1856               William Robinson

1859               J.C. Hutton

1860               W. Gentry

1864               W. Senter

1865-1866     W.A. Mason

1867-1868     H.C. Renfro

1869-1870     W.B. Senter

1871-1873     D.I. Smyth

1875-1876     H.C. Renfro

1880               W.J. Brown

1881-1882     T.H. Sturges

1883               William Hill

1884               W.J. Brown

1885-1888     J.W. Newbrough

1889-1891     J.M. Booth

1892-1896     C.M. Woodson

1897-1902     W.J. Brown

1903               J.N. Hunt

1904               C.M. Woodson

1906-1907     S.J. Howeth

1909-1910     W.J. Brown

1911               G.M. Jones

1912               J.R. Pool

1913-1915     J.M. Young

1916-1918     S.J. Howeth

1919-1921     Lon Garrett

1922-1923     John P. Senter

1925              W.M. Hester

1926              E.V. Brownlow

1927-1936    John P. Senter

1937-1943    Ross Holland

1944              Rev. Howard

1945-1946    W.C. Stephens

1947-1948    Vernon Dutton

1949              John W. Mckinley

1950              H.A. Morgan

1951              Earl Vanderford

1952-1958    Ben Loring

1959-1961    James Tidenburg

1962-1963    Don Lasley

1964-1969    Jim Scott

1969-1971    Eddy P. Cummings

1972-1974    Douglas Robinson

1975-1977    James Steeley

1978-1980    Clark Wilson

1981-1984    J. Calvin Webb

1985-1986    Lanny Spruill

1986-2020    Dr. Craig Vire

2022-2024    Allen Christopherson

2024-Present    Jeremy Dudley