We believe in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. A Christian believer is one who has made a commitment to follow the example and inspiration of Jesus.

We believe that Scripture, as contained in the sixty-six books of the Old and New testaments, is sufficient to guide us to faith in God through Jesus Christ. The traditions of the church serve to enlighten us but are not held in the same esteem as scripture. By studying these Scriptures, any believer may know the will of God for his or her life.

We believe in the priesthood of all believers. There is not one Christian to be exalted above others as a mediator between God and his people. Through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, the way has been opened so that any believer may approach God with his or her own confessions and receive grace.

We believe in and practice believer’s baptism by immersion. Further, we believe that a conscious decision must be made to become a disciple of Jesus Christ.

We encourage parents to raise their children in the Christian faith. We express this commitment through baby dedications in which the parents pledge themselves to rear their child in such a way that at the proper age the child will have the knowledge necessary to decide for him/herself whether or not to become a disciple.

We believe in the principle of Separation of Church and State. The state shall not become involved in church affairs nor make any attempt to establish one religious faith as the state religion giving it privileged position.

We believe in religious freedom for all people. Baptists do not desire to see anyone’s right to freely worship in the place or manner they desire suppressed in any way.

We believe in the autonomy of the local church. We do not believe in a church hierarchy that determines for a church how it shall worship, who shall be its pastor, or what it shall teach and believe. Each body of believers banded together for the purpose of worshiping God should have the freedom to follow its own sense of God’s leading.

We believe in the Great Commission in which Jesus commanded his disciples to evangelize the world.

Indianapolis was a small village of 500 inhabitants and its First Baptist Church was only four years old when New Bethel Baptist Church was organized on April 7, 1827. Charter members were James and Elizabeth Greer, Lewis and Catherine O’Neal, David and Achsah Woods, and James and Elizabeth Davis.

The same year, with Rev. Abraham Smock serving as pastor, trustees were elected and plans were made to construct a meeting house. A plot of ground across the road from the location of present church and where the old cemetery is located was given to the young congregation by the Reuben Adams family for the site of a 24-by-28 foot log building with a large fireplace and split slabs for seats.

As the congregation continued to grow, it was necessary by the year 1843 to build a larger meeting house. Josiah Toon was the contractor hired to build a 36-by-48 foot frame structure at a cost of $1000.

This building served as the church until 1866 when a 35-by-50 foot building was erected on the site of the present structure at a cost of $4000. For fifty-one years this building served the community.

In the post-Civil War years, the church saw a resurgence of faith, and in 1873, attendance at Sunday services averaged 173. Under the leadership of Rev. W.A. Bender, the membership increased to 273, and the crowded conditions resulted in an agitation for the building of a new church home. On June 17, 1917, the cornerstone was laid for the new church. On Sunday, November 7, 1917, the two-story brick and Bedford stone building christened the “S.M. Brown Memorial” was dedicated to God.

During the pastorate of Rev. W.F. Buckner, the congregation acquired property east of the church to enlarge the cemetery and build a new parsonage. Since it was situated on what had formerly been an apple orchard, on May 27, 1928, the new cemetery was dedicated “Orchard Hill Cemetery.” Rev. and Mrs. Buckner held an open house in the new parsonage on the same day.

During the pastorate of Park Rushford, plans were made and fund raising was done to add an educational wing. During New Bethel’s 131^st year, with Frank Carlson as pastor, the educational wing was constructed. The two-story addition with its classrooms, pastor’s study, and nursery on the ground level, and the upstairs auditorium complete with stage, spotlights, and full kitchen was dedicated on March 23, 1958. An additional parking area west of the cemetery and north of Bowen Road was added in 1959.

The painting of Jesus Christ in the front of the sanctuary was painted by member Wilbert Leonberger who, along with his family, presented it to the church in 1962.

The Youth Center, patterned after the 1827 original log church, was built in the cemetery area southeast of the parsonage. Its dedication was early 1969.

This brief history consists mainly of major physical accomplishments of the hundreds of dedicated people who have participated in the New Bethel Baptist Church’s activities. It is impossible to measure the spiritual impact on the lives of area residents since the “original eight” banded together more than 189 years ago to learn more about the Word of God and to share their faith.

New Bethel Baptist Church exists for the purpose of serving God in the following ways:

Worshiping as a community of faith in Jesus Christ

Instruction in developing a closer relationship with God

Fellowship with other believers

Evangelism as sharing the good news with our neighbors near and far

Service in our church and community to honor God

The vision of New Bethel Baptist Church is to be a fellowship where everyone can worship, learn, and serve in an accepting community of believers. Our vision will be lived out through our core values:

Acceptance

• Accepting all God’s children

Family

• Ministering through Christian Education for all ages
• Spiritual gifts and Christian Love
• Growing as a family

Compassion

• Providing care and support
• Sharing the Good News locally and globally

Spiritual Growth

• Discovery of spiritual gifts
• Understanding God’s purpose