06-2012 June Heartbeat - Bethesda Christian Church

6 JUNE 2012
heartbeat o f bethesda 7 JUNE 2012
heartbeat o f bethesda
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN CHURCH - ESTABLISHED JUNE 17, 1934
Seventy-eight years ago this month, Pastor M.D. Beall opened a small neighborhood Sunday school in a storefront
building once used to retread tires. There were no chairs or songbooks because there was no money. But God’s
blessing became evident in that very first service, as 18 chairs and songbooks arrived by truck as a gift from a local
pastor and his church. Since then, God has shown His faithfulness with each passing year, as the Sunday school for
children grew to become Bethesda Missionary Temple and eventually, Bethesda Christian Church. We are humbled
by God’s greatness toward us. However, as Bethesda begins it’s 79th year, we should expect that, as we continue
in the faith, God has even greater things in store! Meantime, we trust you’ll enjoy reviewing some of Bethesda’s
milestones and a photographic glimpse into our past.
June 17, 1934: Myrtle Dorthea (M.D.) Beall opens
Sunday school for neighborhood children in a
small, storefront building.
1936: Due to the insufficient confines of the
storefront, Mrs. Beall convinces a local merchant
to spend $800 on her behalf for a wooden,
portable church (capacity: 250) from a local
lumberyard.
Early 1940s: Construction of a larger sanctuary
halts after the basement’s completion due to
WWII supply shortages. The facility becomes
known as the Basement Church. Capacity: 600.
1943: Pastor M.D. Beall begins the America To Your
Knees radio ministry.
1947: James Lee Beall, Pastor Beall’s eldest son,
joins the staff at Bethesda
1949: Dedication of the new sanctuary, Bethesda
Missionary Temple. Capacity: 1700
1952: Bethesda’s gymnasium is constructed,
along with kitchen and locker room facilities.
1964: Construction is completed on a new educational
building, erected on the former site of the
Basement Church, destroyed by fire in 1962.
1971: Bethesda’s main sanctuary is expanded.
1973: Bethesda School opens for grades K - 3.
1977: New high school building completed.
1979: Rev. M.D. Beall passes away.
1979: James Lee Beall named Senior Pastor.
1982: Bethesda purchases 92 acres in Sterling
Heights. Cost: $1.46 million.
1986: Bethesda Christian School relocates to
Frazho Road in Warren.
1986: Groundbreaking at Bethesda’s future
Sterling Heights location.
1988: Sale completed of Bethesda’s Detroit
facilities.
1988: As construction on the new sanctuary
continues, the first services at Bethesda Christian
Church are held in the Crystal Dining Rooms
1989: Dedication of Bethesda Christian Church in
Sterling Heights.
1995: Analee Dunn is ordained.
1998: Bethesda Christian School relocates to the
church campus.
2004: Rev. Analee Dunn named Senior Pastor.
2004: Rev. James L. Beall named Pastor Emeritus.
Pastor M.D. Beall and her husband Harry Lee Beall are surrounded by Bethesda’s congregation in the
late-1930s. The “portable” building was purchased in 1936 by a local businessman for $800.
The Main Sanctuary of Bethesda Missionary Temple was dedicated in 1949. Shown above at its
groundbreaking are (L-R) Rev. James L. Beall, Aurel Dikin (with shovel), Phil Baer, Pastor M.D. Beall and
Harry Lee Beall.
The east view (Van Dyke Avenue) of Bethesda Missionary Temple is shown following the
1971 expansion of the Main Sanctuary and church offices.
In the early 1970s, Bethesda’s acquisition of the of the Metroplitan
Life building, located two blocks south of the church on Van Dyke
Avenue, provided much-needed additional classroom space.
Rev. James L. Beall and Phil Baer
Bethesda acquired and converted this building, located across
Van Dyke from Bethesda’s Main Sanctuary, into a dining/
banquet facility. It was dedicated as the P.W. Baer Building.
This aerial view of
Bethesda Missionary
Temple shows the
front of the Main
Sanctuary (left of the
cross) and the attached
Educational Building,
added in 1964. The
Educational Building
was erected on the
former site of the
“Basement Church.”
The Evangel Press
building and adjacent
gymnasium are to the
right of the Educational
Building (across School
Street).