|
|
 |
 |
Early
Church History
In the heart of Jacksonville,
Bethel Baptist Institutional Church
is recognized as one of the historic
monuments among churches in the
State of Florida. In July 1838,
Reverend James McDonald assisted
by Reverend Ryan Frier, organized
the first Baptist church in Jacksonville
under the title Bethel Baptist
Church. There were six charter
members: Reverend James McDonald,
the first pastor, and his wife;
Mr. Elias C. Jaudan, who became
the first deacon, and his wife;
and two slaves known as Bacchus
and Peggy. The first racially
mixed meetings were held in the
Government Block House, which
stood near the County Courthouse.
In 1840, the church purchased
a lot on the northeast corner
of Duval and Newnan Streets and
built their first house of worship.
The Legislative Council of the
Territory of Florida incorporated
the Bethel Church on February
10, 1841. William B. Kass, Charles
Merrick, Soloman Warren, Elias
Jaudan, H. H. Phillips, and A.
Ossian Hart, the first trustees,
were a part of the incorporation.
The church later moved to the
LaVilla Area between Duval and
Adams Street.
Deacon Jaudan purchased a lot
on Church Street, between Hogan
and Julia Streets, and gave it
to the church. A new church was
built and the congregation entered
the new building in the spring
of 1861. Soon after the congregation
started worship services in the
new building, the Federal Army
took possession of the Bethel
Church and used it as a military
hospital for wounded soldiers
during the Civil War. The church
was left in deplorable condition
when vacated by the army troops.
At the close of the Civil War,
an effort was made to separate
the Colored and White members
but an agreement could not be
reached over possession of the
property. The opposing fractions
went to court and the decision
was in favor of the Colored members
since they were the majority.
They retained the name of the
Bethel Baptist Church and were
the rightful owners of the Church
Street property. A short while
after the court’s decision,
the Colored members sold the property
on Church Street to their White
brethren and purchased a lot on
the northwest corner of Union
and Pine Streets (now Main). In
1868, they erected a one-room
frame building where the Bethel
Baptist Church congregation worshipped
for twenty-seven years and grew
from a few souls to several hundred.
Also from the separation, the
White members established the
Tabernacle Baptist Church, located
on Church Street, which was later
named First Baptist Church (Downtown).
The congregation grew rapidly,
over the years, so much so that
more space was needed for worship
and for training. The building
could not be repaired or enlarged
because of the extended fire code
of the city of Jacksonville. Reverend
J. Milton Waldron, Bethel’s
fifth pastor, led the congregation
in replacing the one-room frame
building with a larger more attractive
brick house of worship. In 1895,
Bethel constructed the first Institutional
Church building ever erected in
the South by a Colored congregation.
It was built of red pressed brick,
trimmed with Georgia Marble. The
building contained a main auditorium
with a seating capacity of 1150
and nine classrooms at a cost
of $26,000. It was erected by
Colored mechanics under the direction
of Colored contractors. This beautiful
edifice was in use only a short
time before the devastating fire
of Jacksonville destroyed it on
May 3, 1901. After the fire, the
membership bought the River Square
bound by Hogan (now McKissick
Street), Eagle (now First Street),
Julia and Caroline (now Bethel
Baptist Street) and began preparations
for rebuilding. During this period,
the Church established temporary
quarters for church services and
the Bible Institute in a building
that they labeled the “Shack”.
Regular services continued in
the “Shack” until
the completion of the Historic
Sanctuary in 1904. The new edifice
was not only a church of worship,
but it also served as a training
center to help Christians prepare
for service to mankind.
Present Day
Church History
From 1966, Bethel has continuously
experienced wide acclaim and phenomenal
spiritual and educational growth
under the leadership of Pastor
Rudolph Waldo McKissick, Sr.,
the tenth and present Pastor,
and the first Pastor to be called
from the congregation. Under his
leadership, a three story educational
and administrative building was
dedicated on January 31, 1988.
The building complemented the
church edifice in both architecture
and height. It provided a modern
expanded nursery, kindergarten
facilities, kitchen and dining
room facilities on 1st floor.
Facilities found on the 2nd floor
include the general offices of:
the Pastor, the Christian Education
Minister, Pastoral assistant,
computer specialist, and Tape
Ministry; and rooms for: the trustees,
conferences, the credit union,
library, music suite, and robing
rooms. The 3rd floor provided
a large assembly room, twenty-seven
church school classrooms, and
a church school office. Also,
under his leadership, the church
purchased additional property;
initiated the Living Bequest program;
the Capital Stewardship Campaign:
established the Bethel Baptist
Institutional Federal Credit Union;
sponsored the tape ministry program,
replaced the original 1905 pipe
organ and revived the telephone
prayer line. Children’s
Church, the Birthday Ministry,
and Summer Enrichment Ministries
were all added to serve the congregation.
By 1995, Pastor McKissick, Sr.
realized that he needed assistance
for the rapidly increasing membership,
the challenges, and help to move
Bethel into the millennium. To
meet this need, Pastor Rudolph
W. McKissick, Jr. joined Pastor
Rudolph W. McKissick, Sr. as his
assistant in 1996. In January
1999, Pastor McKissick, Jr. was
installed as the eleventh Pastor
of Bethel in partnership with
Pastor McKissick, Sr. This calling
gave Bethel its first dual pastorate.
Since the union of this father-son
team thousand of souls have been
added to the church’s family;
the construction and dedication
of a $7.5 million edifice to facilitate
growth. The structure includes
a new Sanctuary and Family Life
Center. In addition, the purchase
of the Youth’s
Center, the Children’s
Center, the Bethel’s
Christian Conference Center
and the Bethelite Christian Bookstore.
Under Pastor McKissick, Jr.’s
vision, the foundation was laid
for numerous ministries which
included Joshua’s Generation,
karate for youth, the praise singers,
the praise dancers, the weekly
Sunday morning television ministry
during which time viewers can
call the church’s prayer
line for spiritual guidance and
comfort. Reverend McKissick, Jr.’s
musical blessing and vision has
resulted in the production of
two Word and Worship CDs that
have received both local and national
critical acclaim. In addition
to his musical talents, Reverend
McKissick, Jr. is a powerful messenger
of God who has established himself
nationally as an outstanding evangelical
speaker.
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
