Church History

(Adapted from The History of Gethsemane United Baptist Church as
found on the Bethlehem UBC Association site.)
Organized: 1972

History of Gethsemane United Baptist Church

On several occasions, through prayer and informal gatherings, the
need for a United Baptist Church in the Booten Creek area became
evident. Through the summer of 1968 a group of dedicated Brothers
and Sisters in Christ from the Bethlehem United Baptist Church met
at one another’s homes and discussed at great length what would be
needed to bring this dream to a reality. It was at one of these
meetings in the home of Bro. Robert Bills, it was discussed in detail
the basic steps needed in establishing a Church and the ramifications
of such a great undertaking. First and foremost, Christ would always
be kept in the lead and the Church be established on a solid
foundation, Christ being the chief cornerstone. Present at this
gathering was the pastor of the Bethlehem United Baptist Church,
Rev. Herman Smith, his wife Juanita; Deacons of the Bethlehem
United Baptist church, Bro. Harold “Buddy” Merritt, Bro. Robert Bills,
Bro. Zach Bills, their wives respectively Sis. Eathel Merritt, Sis. Louise
Bills, Sis. Roberta Bills, Bro. Walter Baker Bro. Donald Adkins and his
wife Vivian and the children of these families.

From that afternoon meeting until early fall of 1971, discussion and
prayer had not ceased being offered up for this church. The
Barboursville Elementary School Gym was secured for the first
meeting of the Church, November 28, 1971 at 2:00 pm. There were
37 people in attendance. At this meeting Bro Walter Adkins was
appointed as Chairman of the preliminary meetings, Sis Roberta Bills
appointed as Recording Clerk and Bro. Zach Bills appointed
Treasurer. A committee was appointed to secure a building for
services and a location to build on in the future. The next meeting was
held December 12, 1971 there were 22 at this meeting. Pledges were
taken at this meeting to see how much money was readily available
and $2000.00 was pledged.

The next meeting was held February 7, 1972 with only 6 present at
this meeting; some discouragement began to creep in, but through
prayer and determination the little band marched on toward their
goal. Bro. Decker Bills and his wife Gail opened their home to the little
church to use their basement as a sanctuary. With prayer and a great
desire for this Church the announcement was made that the first
service would be held Sunday February 27, 1972 at 10:00 am.

Rev. W.E. Bills had agreed to accept pastorship. There were 37 people
at this first meeting. Bro W.E. Bills brought the first message; his text
was “Building A House For The Lord”.

After five weeks of services in the basement of the Bills’ home, with
the Spirit of the Lord high, we had our final preliminary meeting.
There were 26 Christians that desired to be members of the new
church. The lot for the church to be built on would be purchased for
$3600.00.
On Saturday April 15, 1972, after much prayer and deliberation 16
members of the Bethlehem United Baptist Church petitioned the
mother church for an arm to form the Gethsemane United Baptist
Church. They were: Bro. Zach Bills, Sis. Roberta Bills, Bro. Robert
Bills, Sis. Louise Bills, Bro. Harold “Buddy Merritt, Rev. W.E. Bills, Sis
Naomi Bills, Bro. Bradley Bills, Sis. Gracie Baker, Sis. Judy Merritt,
Sis. Judy Bills, Bro. John Gilkerson, Sis. Sandra Gilkerson, Bro.
Kenneth Maynard, Sis. Edna Maynard and Bro. Herman Maynard.
The church has grown in strength and membership under the
following Pastors: Rev. W. E. Bills, Rev. Zach Bills, Rev. Homer
Hatfield, Rev. Robert Burns, Rev. Billie Kopsolias and our present
Pastor, Rev. Sherwood Thompson.

Through the years God has richly blessed this body of Christians. The
love and commitment is still very much alive and well. God blessed us
with opportunities to buy property and expand, to build a beautiful
fellowship hall and when we out grew that one He blessed us to again
build and expand. We were blessed to have Brothers and Sisters who
worked and strived to see the Kingdom of the Lord grow, many have
out stripped us and entered into that rest that is promised to the
faithful, but with their passing He has blessed us with other Brothers
and Sisters willing to work and strive to see the Kingdom of the Lord
grow and prosper.