Church guide

We hope to see you at Wednesday Night April 17th at 7:00 pm to see the Triumphful entry of the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 21 1-11 is where we will be. Please invite a friend and come out to worhsip Jesus Christ at the Historic Bethel Church.

There will be no services tonight at the Bethel Church Wednesday Night April 10th.

This is the story of the Bethel Church The historic Bethel Church, started by early pioneers, has survived lagging attendance and finances and the force of nature to reopen its doors to worshipers once again. From the time John D. Price left Maryland in 1819 and John Reed came from Virginia came to Leatherwood and bought a tract of land known today as Baileys Mills, the pioneers brought with them a treasure, priceless in value, the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ. Soon meetings were held and through the efforts of these two men, they began to feel the need of an organization whose purpose was praise, prayer and worship. Meetings were held in the home of Mr. Reed until plans were complete for a church building to be erected in the area. Both men were anxious to donate land and the John D. Price farm land was used. The original House of Worship was erected upon the site at Bailey’s Mills in western Belmont County in 1834. The first protracted meeting was held in September of 1834 and the Reverend Tue was the shepherd of the flock. The building was a hewn log structure 34 by 36 feet and contained one room. It is related that the only light came from the tallow candles and the place was heated by burning logs. It is also related that the benches were made of hewn logs and rough boards pegged to short posts, but God dwelt with them there. Together with their families and such reverence they had for their church and so strictly did they adhere to its teachings that it proved the name for the church had been well chosen, Bethel, meaning ” The house of God ”. To meet the growing demands of a growing congregation and to keep up with the times in 1857, the old log church was torn down and a new wood building was erected and was completed in 1888. It stood for a while and kept the work of the Lord going. In 1908, the present building was built that stands at 32365 Leatherwood Pike, east of Baileys Mills was constructed. The new church had a solid oak interior and a new brick veneer outside and stained glass windows. An Amen corner bench was replaced by a choir loft as well as a mourner’s bench replaced by an altar rail. The gospel of Jesus Christ continued to be preached at the church for 171 years on the same spot and when the congregation had fallen off, the Reverend Ledvinka was preaching at both the Main Street United Methodist Church in Barnesville and Bethel. In early 2005, Ledvinka said that “the prospects were just not there to build the church back up”. Due to dwindling finances and attendance, Reverend Ledvinka said the decision was made to close and the last service was June 5, 2005. The deed was sent to district officials and the House of God would set empty and in silence, awaiting its revival. In 2007, Pastor Jeff Eschbaugh had stopped to find out about the church from church historian Russell Ball and was told he was not sure what they was going to do, because it was up to the district officials. In 2009, Pastor Charles Murphy had inquired and looked at the building. Pastor Murphy became the administrator of the property in 2009. Several services were held, but the building was closed again. On March 22, 2010, Pastor Charles Murphy contacted Pastor Eschbaugh about becoming the administrator of the Bethel Church and grounds. On June 29, 2012 a terrible storm with high winds and heavy rain tore off the slate roof from both sides of the church. The roof was tarped and water had leaked into the structure. Shortly after the storm, Pastor Murphy contacted Pastor Eschbaugh and on September 2012 Pastor Jeff and his wife, Donna became the administrators of the grounds. There was much work to be done due to major amounts of damage to the roof and structure. In November 2012 G.E. Williams & Company of Barnesville began the renovation of the slate roof to the present cooper metal roof on the church and bell tower, as well as the exterior drainage system. Reese Brothers heating and cooling of Byesville came to the rescue of the heating system. Tom Apel of Cambridge was instrumental in renovating the piano to bring back the sacred notes to the sanctuary. Pastor Jeff and Donna Eschbaugh will have their opening Worship Service at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday night, June 12th. Pastor Eschbaugh said Bethel is still a labour of love and many donated man hours of local friends and family have been instrumental in helping get it open, but many more will be needed. The interior is yet to be plastered back in some places and painted. “We must act on faith and God has led us to this House of God,” Pastor Eschbaugh said. Eschbaugh repeated the words of church historian and caretaker Russell Ball when the church closed in 2005, “To every name and every family and all who were involved from 1834 to the present, we offer our thanks and admiration to continue your worthy work, dedication and determination.” Pastor Eschbaugh has been in the ministry since 2001 and has studied through Christian World Ministry, Marietta Bible College and Liberty University online and Ohio Christian University. Pastor Jeff and Donna have been serving Mt. Zion Church at 10 a.m. for Sunday school and Worship Service at 11 a.m., Salem Baptist Church at 5 p.m. on Sunday evening. His wife, Donna is an accomplished pianist and sings. She is also the junior church teacher at Mt. Zion and Central Christian Church. The Eschbaugh's would like to thank Pastor Charles Murphy, the former pastor who was very generous in his donation to help get the new copper roof installed and get the church open again since it has been closed from full-time ministry since June 2005. The Bethel Church will have Wednesday Evening Worship Service starting June 12 at 6:30 p.m.

The congregation of Bethel Church would like to invite you to Bethel Church 32365 Leatherwood Pike just west of Barnesville on State Route 147. We are in the The Life of Christ Series, We are in the Gospel of Luke chapter 2 41-52 , Did you not know ? Let me ask you as a Christian? Are you about your Father's business?

Join us tonight at the Bethel Church at 7:00 pm. We will meet some very wise men. I have heard it said that Wise men still seek him. We will share a beautiful message of Wisdom at 7:00 pm tonight at 32365 Leatherwood Pike Barnesville. See you at 7:00 pm.

We invite you to the Bethel Church tonight at 7:00 pm as we walk through the pages of History and learn what they mean to us. What does the Christmas Story mean to you? Presents and packages and then its over and we are done with Jesus ? I think NOT! God sent you a gift, what will you do with it? What does it mean to dedicate or be dedicated ? Many people have heard the Gospel story and attended church for a Christmas Eve service, but after Christmas is over what happens next ? We will follow Mary, Joseph and Jesus this whole year to see what happened to him and how it reflects upon us. Many significant things will happen to Jesus in the next few weeks that we will follow him. Did your parents dedicate you to the Lord. To raise you and train you up and did they teach you about Jesus? Well that is part of the falling away today in the world with all that we have to occupy our time and so much to destroy our minds and to draw us away from the Worship of Jesus Christ. You see that is one of the main reasons that God told Moses to write in a book and through many writers God would remind us when we read about the book that God wrote to us. God is wanting you to have a relationship with Jesus to walk and talk with him each day and to trust and believe in him.

Join us tonight at the Bethel Church at 7:00 pm for our New Years Message A New Plan ! Ephesians 5:15-17. What a great start to a new Year ! Please take time to come out and share your life with the Lord. Bethel Church 32365 Leatherwood Pike Barnesville, Ohio :)

Join us tonight for our New Year's Service. The Message is from the 5th Chapter of Ephesians ! See you at 7:00 pm at The Bethel Church 32365 Leatherwood Pike Barnesville, Ohio !

Start Going to Church for 2019 !