Eleven months after arson burned their church to the ground, members of Bethel Baptist Church celebrated the dedication of their new church building on Sunday afternoon. Construction started in September of last year and was finished up in April.
According to the pastor, although insurance was slow to pay, it eventually did and God provided the necessities to make the building a success. Church members and businesses worked tirelessly donating their time and much needed materials, and donations poured in from all over the country.
“Eleven months ago, we didn’t know this would be happening today,” said 73-year-old pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, Buddy Cobb. “We were standing on a pile of ashes. Little did we know that God would build this church out of ashes.”
Every seat was filled in the small rural church just outside of Zephyr, Texas as members, family and friends joined in a celebration of worship and song to usher in a bit of history as their new church is completed, in just seven months.
The pastor joked about how one person didn’t understand how a church could meet in the heat of the summer without air conditioning after the church burned down in July of last year.
“In the beginning of Bethel Baptist Church, we met in the tabernacle, with no air conditioning and when the first church building was built, there was no electricity,” said Cobb. “Times have changed but the Lord has not.”
The church continued to meet in the tabernacle, an open air structure near the church site, through the heat of the summer with one day reaching a scorching 113° and then into the fall, according to Cobb. Then construction began and as the winter months came, they held services inside the skeleton of the new church until cold weather hit and one of the member families invited the church family to meet in their home said Cobb.
In the beginning of Bethel Baptist church, he explained, members met under the tabernacle and then in 1900, the sanctuary was built. In 1920, it burned and was rebuilt, standing for 91 years until that morning of July 15th when it burned again, according to Cobb. This new building is in fact the third church sanctuary building that Bethel Baptist Church has built over the years.
After a praise and worship service, Cobb called the service into a quick business meeting.
“I’d like to open in a business meeting to accept the monies and donations that we have received,” said Rev. Cobb. “Something you will be glad to hear, our church is completely paid for, to God be the glory!”
The Brown County Sheriff’s Office along with Fire Marshal Buddy Preston investigated the arson last year, and no arrests have been made. Anyone with information regarding the fire that destroyed the Bethel Baptist Church on July 15, 2011 can contact the Brown County Sheriff’s Office at 325-646-5510.
Pictured above is the newly constructed Bethel Baptist Church building. Below are more pictures of the dedication service and a link to the previous story regarding the fire.
Multiple Suspicious Early Morning Fires, Rural Church Destroyed
The tabernacle where Bethel Baptist Church began in 1897.
Jasyln King sings songs of praise. Pastor Buddy Cobb also pictured.
The congregation enjoying Gale and Linda Courtney singing old Gospel favorites during the dedication.
A reception and fellowship followed the service. Pictured above is the cake for the occasion.
