BETHANY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
OUR PASTOR
On July 24, 2011 Al Owens became our pastor. He is married to Katherine Delabar Owens. They have four children and five grandchildren.
Pastor Owens holds a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Ministries degree from Lexington Baptist College, Lexington, KY; a Bachelor of Divinity Degree from Bible Baptist Seminary (now Arlington Baptist College), Arlington, TX; and a Master of Divinity Degree from Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, KY.
He was born in Garrard County, KY. At age two his mother moved to the county seat in Lancaster, KY. His father, Albert Owens, was killed in action on Dec. 11, 1944, serving in the Navy during World War II. Bro. Owens and a twin sister were born two months later on February 7, 1945.
The pastor's older brother, Sam Owens, is also a preacher. In 2015 he retired from pastoring the Aviano Baptist Church, Aviano, Italy in Europe.
Our preacher has pastored churches in Kentucky, Texas and Ohio.
Pastor Owens was licensed to preach by the Lancaster Baptist Church, Lancaster, KY on October 12, 1966. He was ordained by the same congregation on February 25, 1968.
At one time working as a bivocational pastor, Bro. Owens was a reporter for the Lewis County Herald in Lewis County, KY. He still writes a weekly column for the publication called "Ruminations." His short story, "The Creek Coming Down" was published in the February, 1988 edition of Mature Living Magazine.
You are invited to come and meet our pastor.
OUR CHURCH
Bethany Baptist Church has a long and noble history. It was started in 1833 prior to the Civil War. George Herodth was the founding pastor, and is the great, great grandfather of the pastor's wife, Katherine.
The church's first building was completed in 1838 but had to be moved when the Erie Canal was built. The church built a new building at its current location on St. Rt. 104, McDermott, OH in Rushtown. That structure was finished in December, 1899. The first services were held there in January, 1900. The original stained glass windows are still intact in the building, and some of the names of the early members remain on the windows.
Since its beginning the building has undergone several updates and has had an addition built on for Sunday School space. A fellowship hall was also constructed on the property and is in constant use.
Bethany began as a Regular Baptist Church but is now an Independent Missionary Baptist Church.
We believe in the doctrines of grace, accept only Baptist baptism by immersion, practice closed communion and adhere to the King James Version of the Bible.
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HOW TO BE SAVED
1. Recognize you are a lost sinner: "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23
2. Repent of your sin: "I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Luke 13:3
3. Receive Christ as Lord and Savior: "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." John 1:12
The key factor in salvation is faith. That leads to repentance, turning away from sin and receiving Christ as Lord. And it's all by the grace of God, not my human merit. (See Eph. 2:8-10)