Bethany Baptist Church, located in Whynot, is celebrating its 150th year anniversary with a special ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 24.

Bethany Baptist Church was constituted in 1867. At that time, people of the Baptist faith in the Whynot area attended church at Salem Baptist Church, Ebenezer Baptist Church (located in Causeyville) or Concord Baptist Church. No doubt, Baptists in the Whynot area desired a church located nearby, leading them to establish Bethany Baptist Church. The original location of the church and a school was about three-fourths of a mile from its present location. The church acquired its present property in 1898 and voted to construct a church building, which was completed in 1900.

In 1953, the congregation voted to tear down the old wooden church and build a new one, a brick structure with Sunday School rooms in the basement.

On Saturday morning, Feb. 27, 1982, members of Bethany Baptist Church awoke to the news that the church was destroyed by fire. It was a tragic time for the membership. Many members watched as their beloved place of worship was reduced to ashes. In an interview with The Meridian Star, Bro. Jimmie Garrard, the pastor, quipped that his was “the only church in Lauderdale County with a fire in its pulpit that reached out into the pews.”

As much as the members loved the building, it was, however, just a building. God’s church lives in the hearts of his people as evidenced by the fact the congregation met the next Sunday in the old Whynot School building and immediately made plans to rebuild. The new church was built during 1983-84; complete with stained glass windows.

The chairwoman of the anniversary committee and author of Bethany’s Sesquicentennial History, Cathy Webb, states: “mere words cannot tell 150 years of history adequately.” She points out that Bethany’s founders formed a congregation during the aftermath of war and destruction, during a time of extreme uncertainty and national instability. She points out that the upcoming celebration is to honor the men and women of the past who demonstrated tireless efforts to support the church with their time and finances; the pastors, 28 in 150 years, all of whom ministered to the members and the community; and the hundreds of volunteers who were the “worker bees” in the ongoing day-to-day work that is necessary for a church to achieve 150 years of existence.

The 150th celebration is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. Former members and people who grew up attending Bethany Baptist Church are welcome. The church will be open at 9 a.m. for refreshments, tours and a slideshow. Commemorative t-shirts, plates, cookbooks, and histories will be available for purchase. The ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. and a nursery will be provided for those five years of age and younger. The guest speaker is a product of Bethany Baptist Church, Smokey Gibson, pastor of First Baptist Church of Biloxi. A meal will be served at 1 p.m. Persons who plan to stay for lunch need to R.S.V.P. at (601-644-3532). The day will conclude with the release of 150 balloons. For more questions, please contact the church.

About the church:

Name: Bethany Baptist Church.

Pastor: Interim.

Denomination: Baptist.

Founded: 1867.

Address: 4475 Ponds Road, Meridian.

Contact info: www.whynotbethany.org 601-644-3532.

Service Times:

Sunday School – 10 a.m., Worship Service – 11 a.m., Evening Service – 6 p.m. (Sanctuary).

Wednesday Awana – 6:30 p.m., Service 7 p.m.

Worship Site Profile appears Saturday in The Meridian Star. Recommend your site to Cheryl Owens at cowens@themeridianstar.com.