New Bethel Baptist Church has a history that spans over 114 years.   Times have not always been good or easy.   As with most any church, there have been "ups and downs".    But the people have kept the faith and kept moving forward for God.   Below are some of the highlights of the Church.

This information was gleaned from:

1. New Bethel Church Ledger 1906 thru 2002
2. The Agenda notes from Church Business Meetings, 2002 to 2004
3. A History of New Bethel Baptist written by Allen Davis Spaugh

December 15, 1895

A number of Baptist people met at Waller School House for the purpose of organizing a Church near Donnaha.   These Preachers met with this group:

• Rev. J.H. Vipperman
• Rev. O.J. Martin
• Rev. W.B. Casstevens

Rev. Vipperman was elected as Moderator and C.O. Sprinkle was appointed as Clerk.   The articles of the Baptist Faith were read, adopted and approved by this Group.     Rev J.H. Vipperman was elected January 5, 1896, as the First Pastor of Donnaha Baptist Church, which met in the Waller School House located at the corner of Ridge Road and Highway 67.

   Charter Members:

The men of the church beginnings were:
Isacc Davis S.J. Waller H.F. Ayers F.E. Speas	Bob Davis J.P. Sprinkle C.V. Winfrey J.M. Gatewood	Tom Davis C.O. Sprinkle J.H. Scott S.W. Gatewood	James Lee Davis J.E. Vogler S.W. Scott Thomas Hutcherson
The women of the church beginnings were:
Catherine Davis Fannie Sprinkle Laura Scott	Mary Vogler Amelia Davis Eliza Sprinkle	Amelia Scott Mary Ayers Mattie Sprinkle	Martha Scott Sallie Sprinkle Lelia Speas Mollie Waller

The members met for what they called a monthly conference on the second Saturday and Sunday of each month, in which the Pastor preached a sermon, took up a free will offering, and the Church would be called to order for a business meeting at which time the doors of the church were opened for new membership.   Afterwards the meeting was closed.   The members received Communion once a year.   Church Officers were elected once a year.   The members continued to meet on the second Saturday and Sunday, worshipping in truth and the spirit of the only living God.

On January 11, 1896, the group met at the Waller School House for the purpose of selecting a site for the new church building.   January 19, 1896, F.E. Speas and C.A. Sprinkle were elected as the building committee.

February 8, 1896, Rev. W.A. Ayers was elected the New Pastor and under his leadership, a Church site was found and plans for a church building were made.   Even with their faith and the encouragement of others, things were not always sunny.   On January 19, 1897, Rev. W.A. Ayers resigned as Pastor.   On September 12th, 1896, Rev. T.C. Meyers preached to the group, which had failed to increase in number, on the subject of "influences".    This sermon seemed to be the real starting point at their meeting on November 7, 1896.    Later during this meeting the building committee was appointed with F.E. Speas as Chairman.   The location of the new building would be 6340 Ridge Road, Tobaccoville, NC.

On January 8, 1897, Rev. W.B. Casstevens was elected the New Pastor for the ensueing year.   The last meeting in the Waller School House building was March 13, 1897 with a visiting Minister, T.C. Meyers.

On April 10, 1897, the faithful few were happy to say, "Let us go into the House of the Lord" for they met for the first time in the new building. Up until this time they called themselves the Donnaha Baptist.   During their first meeting, they changed the name of the Church to New Bethel Baptist Church.   T.E. Davis became the first member to join the newly established New Bethel Baptist Church.   Later on Ray and Ola Snider lived in the old school house building and ran the nearby store.   They were also members and are buried in the Church cemetery.

Things were beginning to look brighter as their faith grew stronger and their numbers increased until their Pastor Rev. W.B. Casstevens was called to his heavenly home on May 18, 1897.   But upon Rev. Casstevens death, Rev. T.C. Meyers was eleced as Pastor and served 21 years.

The first protracted (revival) meeting was held September 26, 1897, with seven new members to the Church.   As time went by, the Church membership as well as Sunday School enrollment continued to grow, spreading it's influence through out the area.

On April 11, 1908, H.H. Scott was elected as Church Clerk and remained faithful to this position until November 3, 1928, until his health failed.   Rev. Myers preached his last sermon on March 31, 1918, and resigned due to ill health.   Rev. C.H. Johnson was elected as Pastor on May 4, 1918, and then on January 4, 1919, he resigned due to ill health.   In June 1919, Rev. L.W. Burns became Pastor.   He Resigned in May 1923.   Rev. O.H. Hauser was elected Pastor in June 1923 and under his leadership two wings were added to the church for Sunday school space.    All through the years the Church Membership was increasing with good attendance for the worship services.    Rev. Hauser resigned October 16, 1927.   On October 27, 1927, Rev. R.P. Coram was elected as Pastor and served until December 1933.

On November 3, 1928, Clyde Davis was elected as Church Clerk.

August 4, 1929, Deacons were elected consisting of:

• J.H Culler
• T.E. Long
• R.L. Scott
• W.H. Petree
• D.T. Hunter
• H.H. Davis

All were ordained by Rev. Coram.   These deacons served until their deaths.

On December 3, 1933, Rev. Coram resigned.   On January 13, 1934, Rev. O.H. Hauser returned as Pastor and remained with the Church until February 6, 1938, when Rev. J.H. Hall became Pastor.   On March 12, 1939, Rev. W.T. Crissman, who remained as the Pastor until July 5, 1945, filled Rev. Hall's place.   An accident befell him and we mourned our loss, while heaven rejoiced over their gain, by his passing to his well-earned abode.   He was kicked in the head by a horse July 1, 1945 and dired July 5, 1945.

On September 23, 1945 after hearing many men of God, we elected our new interim Pastor, Rev. T.G. New, Jr., whom we had heard preach every 2nd and 4th Sunday Night.   As of July 28, 1949, the Church membership has grown from the small number of sixteen Donnaha Baptist to 164 New Bethel Baptist.   The Sunday school enrollment stands at 143 with an average attendance of 94.   Our numbers aren't the greatest or our building the best, but our influence is like a "City, sitting upon a hill" and we are in the midst of repairing and making more room for those we have now, and for others who see fit to come our way. Rev. New served as Pastor from February 5th, 1950 until his death August 18th, 1983.

September 14th, 1983, Rev. R.O. Bennett Jr. was elected and voted in as Interim Pastor.   Decemter, 1983 Rev. Bennett was elected as Pastor for a term of one year.   He resigned March 25, 1984 due to bad health.   He was promoted to Heaven August 7, 1994.

March 28, 1984, Rev. John Wolffinger was appointed and approved to serve as interim Pastor.   He left August 26, 1984 as was agreed upon acceptance of position.

October 14, 1984, George Preston was elected as Pastor. He resigned May 12, 1986. August 3, 1986, Carlyle Zeigler was called as Interim Pastor, serving until August 21, 1988. August 21, 1988, Allen Nichols was elected as Pastor. He served until March 31, 1997. April 6, 1997, Rev. Phillip Goins was called as Interim Pastor, serving until August 31, 2002.

August 4, 2002, Rev. Jackie R. Elliott was called as Pastor.   Pastor Jack is a bi-vocational Pastor.   He works full time and Pastor's church at the same time.   Pastor Jack became a full time Pastor on January 1, 2005.   He started a mission program thru the church.   Some additions were added: a nursery, an office, one classroom and four new gas heaters.   A storage building was purchased and a picnic shelter was built.   January 1, 2005, a portable baptistery was purchased.   A Building Program was started in September 2007.    Pastor Jack left New Bethel Baptist Church on January 21, 2009.

Rev. Calvin Mauk, Jr. was called as Pastor June 21, 2009.

We invite you to come and join us as history is still being made.

   Church Clerks:

C.O. Sprinkle - February 8, 1896 and served until November 3, 1928 Clyde Davis - November 3, 1928 and served until November 1, 1930 Alleen Davis - November 1, 1930 and served until February 1, 1941 Addie Long - Februrary 1, 1941 and served until January 15, 1955 Alleen Spaugh - January 15, 1955 and served until 1971 Gracie Joyner - served as temporary - elected Obtober 1, 1972 and served until her death August 13, 1985 Nina Robbins - July 5, 1985 appointed assistant clerk to Gracie Joyner Nina Robbins - August 13, 1985 and served until December 2004 Jack R. Elliott - January 1, 2005 and served until January 1, 2008 Bridgett Childress - January 1, 2008 until

   Church Secretary:

Gracie Joyner - October 1, 1972 served until her death August 13, 1985 Nina Robbins - July 5, 1985 - appointed as assistant to Gracie Joyner Nina Robbins - August 13, 1985 and served until 2004 Jack R. Elliott - January 1, 2005 until January 1, 2008 Joann S. McBride - January 1, 2008 until

   Deacons:

H.F. Ayers - February 8, 1896 J.P. Sprinkle - February 8, 1896 I.E. Davis - January 22, 1898 F.E. Speas - January 22, 1898 B.W. Scott - January 22, 1898 J.H. Culler - August 4, 1929 and served until death T.E. Long - August 4, 1929 and served until death R.S. Scott - August 4, 1929 and served until death W.H. Petree - August 4, 1929 and served until death W.T. Hunter - August 4, 1929 and served until death H.H. Davis - August 4, 1929 and served until death

   Board of Trustees:

Harry Joyner - February 5, 1984 Gilbert Shore - February 5, 1984 Milburn Marshall - February 5, 1984 Jim Angel - Hody Creech - Nick Robbins -

   Building Committee Members:

F.E. Speas - Latter part of 1896 and first part of 1897 C.A. Sprinkle - Latter part of 1896 and first part of 1897

   Building & Grounds Committee:

Jim Angel - October 30, 1983 Nick Robbins - October 30, 1983 Dallas Davis - October 30, 1983

   Church Treasurer:

Beulah Sprinkle - October 12, 1924 and served until June 20, 1925 John Thomas Scott - June 20, 1925 and served until June 5, 1929 Gary Petree - June 5, 1929 and served until December 3, 1933 Clifford Hunter - December 3, 1933 and served until December 28, 1935 Lucille Joyner - January 1934 and served until January 4, 1941 Paul Davis - January 4, 1941 and served until September 6, 1941 Marvin Speas - September 6, 1941 and served until April 4, 1944 Alice Sprinkle - April 4, 1944 and served until January 15, 1950 Alleen Spaugh - January 15, 1950 and served until June 27, 1954 Arzie Manor - June 27, 1954 and served until March 4, 1982 Gracie Joyner - March 28, 1982 and served until her death August 13, 1985 Nina Robbins - July 5, 1985 appointed as assistant to Gracie Joyner Nina Robbins - August 13, 1985 and served until 2004 Jack R. Elliott - January 1, 2005 and served until January 1, 2008 Joann S. McBride - January 1, 2008 until

   Revivals:

First Revival - September 26, 1897 First Homecoming - September 15, 1985

    Church Upgrades to building and grounds:

Most of the land for New Bethel Baptist was donated, the latest by Mrs. Inez Joyner 1/2 acre. Church remodeled in 1950.   Wings were added to each side to allow more room for seating. January 29, 1967 - Church voted to install bathrooms and water. -- Installed in 1975. July 15, 1984 -- Members voted to pave parking lot.   Stanleyville Paving Company completed the job on August 7, 1984 August 30 & 31, 1984 -- Stained Glass Windows were installed in the Sanctuary. September 5, 1984 -- Members voted to install stain glass windows in Small Sunday School Rooms.   Job by High Point Glass Co. completed August 1 & 2 1985. September 19, 1984 -- Members voted to have the pews covered.    This was completed in December, 1984. December 9, 1984 -- Members voted to purchase new Pulpit Furniture.    Wineburger Church Furniture would deliver April 5, 1985.   A Deposit was made. July 21, 1985 -- Hody and Doris Creech donated a new Register Board. September 2009, the Building Program was completed.   On September 27, 2009, we had Homecoming and New Building Dedication with a record attendance of 114.