1st Annual Bethany/Arapahoe Trail Ride

The first annual Bethany/Arapahoe Trail Ride will take place Saturday, May 10 (rain date May 11) at 10:00 a.m. at Bossy Hardison Farms, Highway 306 South, Arapahoe. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Bethany Christian Church rebuilding fund.

The fee for the event is $20.00 per person, and includes a catered barbecue supper with all the fixin's at 3:00 p.m. Bethany youth will offer drinks and other items for sale. In addition, primitive camping is available for $5.00 per night Friday and/or Saturday. No alcoholic beverages are permitted. Negative coggins required for all equines.

Those interested in the event may contact Bossy Hardison, 252-249-0187 (email james.hardison@ncmail.net) or Jeanette and Mark Lee, 252-249-0226 (email painthorse@pamlico.net).

Group 5 Offers Prints of Old Church Building

Bethany's Group 5 will sell prints of a pen and ink sketch of the old sanctuary building by artist Ronnie Avery April 27 and May 4, immediately after worship service.
The prints will be available in two sizes, 8" x 10" and 5" x 7", and in gray, white and cream backgrounds. The 8" x 10" prints are $25.00 each, and the 5" x 7" prints are $15.00 each. The original drawing will be donated to the church.
Those wishing to place orders may call Janci Cahoon at 252-249-1767.

Groundbreaking Scenes

Over a hundred people from many churches and many communities joined Bethany to break ground for a new sanctuary and fellowship hall, Sunday, April 6. Evelyn Beeman, who served as youth director for so many years, did not let her infirmities keep her from using a shovel. Tommy Banks brought one to her car as Cassie Coppedge looked on.

Groundbreaking Scheduled Sunday April 6

Bethany Christian Church in Arapahoe will hold ground-breaking ceremonies for a new sanctuary and fellowship hall, Sunday, April 6, 4:00 PM. Fire from faulty wiring completely destroyed the 95 year-old church building at the crossroads of Arapahoe, June 25, 2007.

Church members have worked the last ten months to raise funds for the new church from a variety of fund-raisers. Under-insured, the church's insurance proceeds will cover about 40 percent of the cost of a new structure.

According to Floyd Hardison, chairman of the board at Bethany, "We have sold barbecue plates, held raffles and conducted a Capital Campaign. We are about eighty percent of the way there with enough funds to build our building. We still have to raise more money for pews, a sound system, and all the other necessary furnishings. But we're confident that donations will see us through so we are starting construction.” The fund is $200,000.00 short of the amount needed to fully furnish the church.

John Beeman, chairman of the re-building committee, said, "We made an extensive effort to hear from our congregation their individual preferences for the style of the new building. Overwhelmingly, many members wanted to retain as much as possible the traditional style of the old church which served us for almost a century. We visited new churches all over Eastern North Carolina, consulted with a variety of architects, and now we have a plan that we hope carries the best from the past into the best for the future."

Hardison issued an open invitation to the public to come and share in the joy of the ground-breaking for a new church. "We want all to come and share this joyful time with us. It will also be a time for us to thank all those who have contributed to our work for the Lord. Our work is not done and we still have great needs, but the people of Bethany are building a new church because of the importance of God in their lives."

Fro the last ten months, the congregation has held services at Camp Caroline on Dawson's Creek near Arapahoe. The new church is expected to be completed in less than a year.

"We are the forefathers ..." - The Capital Campaign

The story was told in church Sunday of a current member of Bethany recalling walking down the aisle during the hymn of invitation 48 years ago. She remembered how beautiful the church looked to her when she turned to face the congregation standing beside Dr. John M. Waters. He was Bethany's pastor for 43 years. Now she reflects on the fact that the church was beautiful because of the work of the forefathers.

The point was made, as we conclude the Capital Campaign,

"We are the forefathers creating the next beautiful Bethany Christian Church"

where Meredith Davies, descendant of Bethany members, may just one day walk down the aisle during a hymn of invitation.

The success of the Capital Campaign will determine the finishing touches on the beauty of the new Bethany. Please, give not only according to your own abilities, but please encourage others to do so also. The Capital Campaign conludes March 30.

James Appointed Church Relations Coordinator for Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child, a part of the Samaritan's Purse Ministry run by Franklin Graham, appointed Barbara James Church Relations Coordinator for Carteret, Craven, Onslow and Pamlico Counties.

For the past several years she helped to fulfill the organization's goal f bringing joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God's love. She has worked at the organization's headquarters in Charlotte, and on the local level she headed Bethany's contribution efforts for Operation Christmas Child.

Bethany is proud of Barbara for her work in this ministry, and wishes her continued success. The church family at Bethany is encouraged to support her by volunteering to help her in expanding Operation Christmas Child's ministry in this area.

Capital Campaign Underway

The Capital Campaign to raise $300,000.00 to furnish and finish the new Bethany Christian Church of Arapahoe is in full swing now. The end date for the campaign is March 30. Please see Julia Peterson if you have names of person for whom the church office should send information on how to donate to the re-building of Bethany.

Bethany has been the fixture of the crossroads in Arapahoe for 168 years. this generation of Bethany is charged with the responsibility of establishing the voice of Bethany for the next century.