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Our History
Our Beginnings...
In March of 1953, a small group of believers met at the home of Rufus and Mildred Smith to form a church and Bethel Baptist Church was born. Many of the charter members had left the First Baptist Church of Indianola, IL, when that church refused to leave the Northern Baptist Convention for the new Conservative Baptist Association [CBA].
The fledgling group first met in a building on a hill West of Georgetown on Georgetown-Indianola Road. Aided in their new work by the CBA's State directors, a young pastoral intern from Bob Jones University named Ray Silver preached through the end of the year. Brother Silver later returned to serve as pastor for 40 years. Bethel also left the Conservative Baptist Association and became independent in 1967.
Although Bethel has maintained an independent status, we currently affiliate ourselves with the Association of Independent Baptist Churches of Illinois, and The New Testament Association of Independent Baptist Churches.
In March of 1953, a small group of believers met at the home of Rufus and Mildred Smith to form a church and Bethel Baptist Church was born. Many of the charter members had left the First Baptist Church of Indianola, IL, when that church refused to leave the Northern Baptist Convention for the new Conservative Baptist Association [CBA].
The fledgling group first met in a building on a hill West of Georgetown on Georgetown-Indianola Road. Aided in their new work by the CBA's State directors, a young pastoral intern from Bob Jones University named Ray Silver preached through the end of the year. Brother Silver later returned to serve as pastor for 40 years. Bethel also left the Conservative Baptist Association and became independent in 1967.
Although Bethel has maintained an independent status, we currently affiliate ourselves with the Association of Independent Baptist Churches of Illinois, and The New Testament Association of Independent Baptist Churches.
Our Location...
The first building to house Bethel was a small abandoned building known as Mt. Pisgah Church located 3 miles to the West of Georgetown, on Georgetown-Indianola Rd. When Rev. Wesley Potter was called as pastor in 1958, he came with the understanding that the church would relocate to the city of Georgetown.
The first building to house Bethel was a small abandoned building known as Mt. Pisgah Church located 3 miles to the West of Georgetown, on Georgetown-Indianola Rd. When Rev. Wesley Potter was called as pastor in 1958, he came with the understanding that the church would relocate to the city of Georgetown.
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The "Clark Mansion"
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Soon the church rented a building on Main street near the public square and met there until purchasing the present property at 501 S. Main Street. The large stately brick home on this property known as the "Clark Mansion" was remodeled and used until 1968 as a place of worship. The dark bricks in our current building are from that old house. In 1978 an educational wing with four classrooms and a larger upstairs fellowship hall was built. This housed a Christian School for 1st-8th graders until 1986.
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Our Present Location:
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On Saturday evening April 1998, a fire ruined everything in the auditorium. The membership met in the upstairs fellowship hall until renovations were completed in November of 1998.
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A History of Our Pastors...
With over 60 years of history ministering to the community of Georgetown, Bethel Baptist has enjoyed the stable leadership of just 5 pastors. That consistency in leadership has helped make us what we are today.
Rev. Lloyd Mooney (1954-1958):
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Bethel's first full time Pastor, Rev. Lloyd Mooney, began serving at Bethel on January 1, 1954. He set Bethel on a proper course. Pastor Mooney was a graduate of Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatonna, Minnesota, and Central Baptist Seminary in Minneapolis. His service also led him to churches in Lacrosse, Wis., Goodells, Mich., Hannibal, Mo., Gautier, Miss., and Benson, Ill. During his work as a pastor he devoted much time to radio and prison ministry.
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Rev. Wesley Potter (1958-1965) :
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Wesley Potter became our second Pastor in 1958. It was Rev. Potter that moved the church into Georgetown. Rev. Potter left Bethel to pastor the East Park Baptist Church in Decatur, IL. He also pastored the Calvary Baptist Church in Chillicothe, IL, and at age 63 started what is now Maranatha Baptist Church in Grayslake, IL.
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Dr. Ray Silver (1966-2005):
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Our third Pastor, Ray Silver, came to us from Bob Jones University in February of 1966. After his 25th anniversary, Maranatha Baptist Bible College extended him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. It was under Pastor Silver's 40 year ministry at Bethel that the current auditorium was built.
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Rev. Gerald McPhillips (2005-2013):
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Pastor Gerald McPhillips served as Bethel's fourth pastor. Coming to us in October of 2005, Pastor McPhillips left his position as Youth Pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Taylorville, IL. After 7 years of service, Rev. McPhillips accepted the Senior pastorate at Grace Baptist Church in Taylorville, IL.
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Rev. Aaron Rohde (2015 - Present):
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Pastor Aaron Rohde currently serves as Bethel's fifth pastor. Pastor Rohde served as a pastor in West Virginia for five years before being called to serve as the pastor of Bethel. He loves preaching and teaching the word of God, and he is grateful for the wonderful things the Lord is doing at Bethel Baptist Church.
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