Pastor James Revell

In 1956, Pastor and Mrs. James E. Revell came to serve in the Baltimore Street Church. Pastor Revell was an anointed preacher with much compassion. Eunice, his wife, started a Bible Quiz group with some young people. They had a great burden for young people and so several of our youth went off to Youth Camp at Potomac Park Camp Grounds in West Virginia, where God filled them with His Holy Spirit in the old prayer room of the Tabernacle.

Eunice Revell was very talented with her sewing ability, providing clothing for missionaries and the needy. A Women's Missionary Council was formed, giving our women duties to help in foreign missions projects. The women rolled many yards of cut-up sheets for the leper colonies to be used as bandages. While the Revell's were pastoring, the congregation bought a home on Savage-Guilford road for a parsonage. The women enjoyed many tasty goodies while having W.M. meetings in that parsonage.

Pastor Revell had a vision for a larger sanctuary. As a result, a vacant lot on the corner of Lincoln and Woodward Streets was purchased and dedicated to God's glory and honor. Many stood on that lot humbly grateful for God's leading and provision.

The Revell family received a call to the mission field. Provisions were gathered and four years of clothing, personal items, and other supplies were barreled in order for them to prepare for the term of service in India. The Revells with their two sons, Jimmy and Jack, served Bethel until December 1959.

Lighthouse on a Hill

In May 1960, Pastor and Mrs. Kent Reckley began their ministry. Under his direction, construction of our new sanctuary got underway in March 1962. The beautiful brick sanctuary with a large cross on the front stood on a hill on the corner of Woodward and Lincoln Streets. It was completed in May 1963. The building consists of an upper sanctuary with a seating capacity of over 250, a lower hall that served as a meeting place for the youth (C.A.) meetings and wedding receptions, etc. Several Sunday School rooms, a large kitchen, and an apartment for the pastor were also available. Reverent Reckley was a deeply spiritual pastor and teacher. Elmira, his wife, was a loving "Mother of the Church" and very helpful to the women of the church. Although the church on Baltimore Street was remembered for all the spiritual victories, moving into the larger, brand new beautiful building with its large wooden beams was greatly appreciated by all the members. Pastor and Mrs. Reckley served faithfully until 1965.