Stone monument unveiled to hundreds at dedication of Old Bethel Church

More than 300 people gathered Saturday for the two-hour dedication of Old Bethel Church that included music and the unveiling of a stone monument.

The dedication was attended by officials and members of the Missouri Baptist Convention, Southern Baptist Convention, The Second Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo., and Lynwood Baptist Church, as well as Gov. Matt Blunt and State Sen. Jason Crowell.

Pastor Cliff Day of the First Baptist Church of Chaffee, and his wife, Jennifer, who were dressed in period costume at Saturday's dedication, explained that Old Bethel Baptist Church was established for the lost people in Missouri who needed Jesus.

"The church was started here for people to have a Bible and Jesus," he said. "It was significant because it was the first established church in Missouri that was non-Catholic."

The stone monument is intended to serve as a reminder for future generations of the power of God, the strength in cooperation, the value of heritage and the cost of salvation.

Dr. David Tolliver, interim executive director and associate executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention, spoke on the power of cooperation, illustrating the concept with a story about a handful of boys dedicated to walking the length of a railroad track alone. They soon discovered it could be accomplished by holding hands, balancing and working together.

He explained that Saturday's gathering was a celebration of the pioneer spirit that built and rebuilt Bethel Church. "It was dangerous to be a Baptist in those days. The commandant of Cape Girardeau only allowed the practice of Catholicism."

Old Bethel Church's roots took hold when Thomas Bull donated the land to build the church. Construction of Old Bethel was approved in October 1806. Bethel Church was a missionary church, "a planting church" for nine that followed: Boise Brule in 1807; St. Michael, Fredericktown, 1812; Saline, 1813; St. Francois, 1813; Turtle Creek/Turkey Creek, 1813; Apple Creek, 1830; Big Bend, 1821; Hebron, 1822; and Jackson, 1824. The latter church still exists as the First Baptist Church of Jackson.

Bethel Church began with 15 members in 1806 and grew to 143 members by 1813. "When the church became nearsighted and was no longer a missionary church, it began to fall apart," Tolliver said.

The last recorded minutes of Bethel Church are from 1867. It ceased to exist after that. In 1943, the Missouri Baptist General Association acquired the property where Bethel Baptist Church originally sat, and in 2001 the logs from the church, which had been moved, were purchased by the Second Baptist Church of Springfield. Groundbreaking for reconstruction of Bethel Church followed in 2005.

Dr. Frank S. Page, pastor of First Baptist Church of Taylors and president of the Southern Baptist Convention, explained that Bethel translates to "house of God." He said he believed the church had been established because of a vision from God.

Dr. John E. Marshall, pastor of the Second Baptist Church in Springfield, asked direct descendants of Bethel's charter membership to stand. About 12 stood up in the big, white tent erected for the service and were recognized.

"We're going to church tomorrow for those who will live 200 years from now," he said. "The heritage is passed on through us. That's the lesson of Old Bethel."

The monument unveiling followed, and dedication ribbons with the same inscription were distributed to the crowd.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133