In mid-1966 the Bethlehem Community Church began with a group of town residents desiring to have an interdenominational community church perpetuated solely by the families of this community. In September of that year Morning Services were held in the town library and Evening Services in the basement of a member’s home. Rev. Art Gay was called to be the first pastor. By November of 1967 property was purchased and building of the church facilities begun. The assembly outgrew the library and moved Sunday services to the Community Room of the National Commercial Bank. June of 1968 saw the completion of the main building with offices and classrooms, with an addition soon added as the assembly grew.
Stated in the Church Constitution: “The purpose of this church shall be to glorify God by presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and presenting the Holy Scriptures as the divine revelation of God’s word, will and authority for the spiritual growth and unity of all who believe.”
The church believes that the Bible was given by divine inspiration and is the Word of God. As a body of God’s believing children, the faith of this membership is based in that revelation of God’s Holy Will found in the Scriptures. The Scripture stands alone as the sole authority in all matters of faith and doctrine. It is their desire to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the end that God might be fortified and they be used as a witness to His saving grace.
The church offered summertime opportunities for personal growth and development by presenting fun and instructive courses through Bethlehem Christian Workshop to the community’s young people each July for twenty-five years beginning in 1966. Youngsters learned how to identify birds, sew, bowl, tumble, make music, build racing wagons or rockets. The really adventuresome climbed rocks, rappelled, explored caves and used the zip line on the ropes course.
A nursery school program has been offered for many, many years and is attended by children three and four years old.
