Who are We???
We Are Bethel,
We Are The House!
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Our Church History
The history of this congregation goes back to 1917 when Deacon Malachi Jones gathered a group of approximately 30 baptized Christians from his hometown of Dothan, Alabama to worship together in the Orange/East Orange, NJ vicinity. He contacted Rev. Wilbur Neal and asked if he would pastor this group. Reverend Neal consented and upon arrival, Rev. Neal and his prayer group assembled in a building on Dodd Street and Brighton Avenue in East Orange. The name “BETHEL” was selected for the church in accordance with Genesis 35:3, “And let us arise, and go up to Bethel and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.”
THE ORGANIZERS:
Reverend Wilbur B. Neal
Deacon Alexander McGriff, Sr.
CHARTER MEMBERS:
Mrs. Minerva Jones
Mrs. Leona Jones
Miss Ruth Spann
Mrs. Jane Williams
Mrs. Ethel Jones
Mr. Hosea Jones
Mr. Noah Jones
Mrs. Martha Bowers
Mrs. Clara Craddock
Mrs. Peggy McGriff
Mr. Joseph McLoyd
Mrs. Jessie McGriff
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Deacon Malachi J. Jones
Deacon Henry Craddock
CHARTER MEMBERS:
Mrs. Bessie Jones
Mrs. Essie Jones
Miss Annie Bowers
Mrs. Anita Towns Miss Mary Bowers
Mr. Fob Craddock
Miss Cora Craddock
Mr. John McGriff
Miss Naomi Spann
Miss Carrie Craddock
Mr. George Bowers
Mr. Pat Jones
MEET OUR
PASTOR
In March 2018, Bethel voted upon Bishop Dr. Darren A. Ferguson as its new Pastor. After a six-month interim period, Bishop Dr. Ferguson was duly installed as Bethel’s 7th Pastor, with Dr. Calvin Butts of Abyssinian Baptist Church of Harlem, NY invited as Keynote Speaker. Rev. Al Sharpton of National Action Network kicked off the Installation Weekend with a Friday night worship service.
Bethel strives to continue enlarging our territory, and remains committed to service to ALL!
