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grace to mankind, Reverend Bushyhead reflected grace to the descendants of those white settlers that day.
The church pushed through the trying times, continuing to minister to the community. An integral part of worship at Bethesda Baptist Church has always been music. In April 1884, the Gordon County Singing Convention was organized at Bethesda. The convention met twice each year; once in the spring and again in the fall.
Twenty-three churches were in attendance of the spring session in 1939. More than 5,000 attended that singing convention at the church on the hill, to listen to what is considered one of the greatest programs of music in the convention’s history.
In the early years, Bethesda Baptist met in log structure, which was dismantled and replaced with a larger, framed building. In the early 1900’s, the crowds overflowed from the church, and pledges were sought for a building fund. In August 1912, the “new” church building was finished and dedicated. The church flourished under leadership that preached the truth of the Bible.
“I married Milton Knight Jr. April 27, 1948 and started to church soon after that,” said member Betty Knight. “This was a farming community, so not many people lived around; now all the hills are full of houses. God, my family and my church family are my life. We have always had preachers that preached the Bible true.”
The church continued to grow and expand through the mid 20th century, with a church renovation occurring in the mid 1960’s. A new front was added to the church in 1974. Continuing to grow and expand, a new fellowship hall, choir and baptistery were built in the early 1980’s.
During all the growth and expansion, a ministry shift of sorts began in the church, with a major focus becoming on the children of the community. “The strength of our church is ministering to children,” said Hunt.
In 1982, the congregation voted to begin a Children’s Church, and purchased its first church van. According to Hunt, prior to the van, the original children’s transportation ministry was comprised of area teachers. “A lot of the teacher’s from Red Bud were members of the church,” said Hunt. “And especially during the summer months, when they didn’t work, the teachers would load up their cars with area children and bring them to church, especially to Vacation Bible School.”
According to Hunt, Bethesda was one of the first churches in the area to hold Vacation Bible School in the summer, and is now one of the largest in the county.
“I have been a member of Bethesda Baptist Church since 1951 and seen many changes in our community during that time,” said member Geneva Fuquea. “The church has been reaching out with Vacation Bible Schools and foreign missions for many years.”
These days, the church owns four vans to transport children to church services, and most services, each van runs two routes, for a total of eight vanloads of children. “We’ve always had a very strong children’s ministry,” said Hunt. “Our Wednesday night service for children, Team Kids, consists of Bible study and missions for birth through fifth grade.”
The church has seen many children pray to receive Christ as a result of the children’s ministry over the years.
“It takes a village to raise a child and Bethesda is my village,” said 16- year- old member Bryce Bussert. “The wisdom and support of everyone there is something I cannot express nor will ever be able to replace.”
Knight said she and her husband raised their child in the church. “Our son was saved and baptized here and spent the first 18 years of life.”
In 2010, the church adopted a thirty- year expansion plan, and added a new fellowship hall and educational building.
“Bethesda is a church filled with joy, anticipation and potential,” said member Jerry Clements. “It is a place where so many things are happening it is hard to keep up with them. The members care for each other and serve God by serving others.”
“Our church has grown over the years and we are blessed to have Wesley Hunt as pastor,” said Knight. “I love this place. I thank God for my church they have always stood by me in sickness, death and health. Come join us and hear the gospel every service.”
Bethesda Baptist Church will be celebrating their bicentennial Oct. 14-16 at the church with a campout weekend. Food, hay rides, sing-alongs, games, cakewalks, presentations, preaching and fellowship will be held throughout the weekend. In the Wednesday edition of the Calhoun Times, the current church, and how it serves the community today, will be featured.
ly/2bZyO3F For more information please contact Charbonneau at 706- 602- 5139 or email Roberta@ gordonconnection.org
The Bunyan Franklin and Sarah Jane (Forrest) West Reunion will be held the 4th Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016 at the Fairmount Community Center in Fairmount, Ga. Gordon County. The doors will open at 10 a.m. and eat around 12:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there. For more information contact Sharon Townsend at 706692-6302 or Arven West at 770-796-4629.
A reunion for the families of Andrew and Lemer Fowler Baker will be held Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016 at the Old Sugar Valley School Building. Bring a covered dish meal. Will be served at noon. All friends and relatives are invited. For more information call 770-548-4057 or 706-6297073.
Come here Storyteller Jane Cunningham deliver a family performance about Appalachia at the Calhoun-Gordon County Library on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at 4 p.m. in the Library Community Room, located at 100 North Park Avenue in downtown Calhoun.
Enjoy a Clay Pottery Activity for Teens and Adults, led by Karli Land, at the CalhounGordon County Library on Thursday, Sept. 29 from 4 - 5:30 p.m. in the Library Community Room located at 100 North Park Avenue in Calhoun.
The Gordon Central High School Class of 2006 will have a 10-year reunion this Saturday, Oct. 2, 2016. You must be with someone from the class to attend. Visit GCHSclassof06.com for more details.
Week of Oct. 2
Gordon Hospital will host Ladies Night at the Sonoraville Recreation Department on Thursday, Oct. 6 from 6 – 8 p.m.
Gordon Hospital will host the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce Booster Breakfast on Friday, Oct. 7 beginning at 7:30 a.m. in the North Tower of the hospital.
The October meeting of the Conasauga Chapter of the Georgia Nurses Association will meet on Monday, Oct. 3, 2016 at 7 p.m. at the Whitfield County Health Center. The program will be on flight nursing presented by Johnny Cowart, RN, CFRN, NRP. This will be an interesting and exciting program. A meal will be provided. We will have vegetable soup and taco soup. Please volunteer to bring sides to complement the soups. Please call Mae Johnson at 706-280-0324 if you plan to attend or questions.
Week of Oct. 16
Alzheimer’s Association Legal & Financial Planning Program on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016 from 1 – 3:30 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church in Cartersville. Registration is free but required by calling 800-272-3900.
The Calhoun High School Class of 1959, will be having their annual covered dish diner on Oct. 22 at 5 p.m. at The Villages Club House. Please RSVP by Oct. 8. If you have any questions, you may contact any of the following: Loretta Harris 706-629-5581, Jane Whittle 706-629-0145 or Dollie West 706-309-1732.
Week of Oct. 23
Open Enrollment for Medicare is right around the corner, from Oct. 15 – Dec. 7. A mobile unit will be in Calhoun on Monday, Oct. 24 in which GeorgiaCares representatives will be available to help individuals with the registration process. The mobile unit will be located at Gordon County Department of Family and Children Services from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Week of Oct. 30
First Thursday Book Club - Join the discussion on Thursday, Nov. 3 at Duke’s Restaurant. Arrive early to order dinner and the book discussion begins at 7 p.m. We will discuss LEAVING TIME by Jodi Picoult. The author’s website describes the book – For more than a decade, Jenna Metcalf has never stopped thinking about her mother, Alice, who mysteriously disappeared in the wake of a tragic accident. All are welcome! Call for more information 678773-5655.
Notices
Tallatoona Community Action Partnership is funding GED testing for lowincome individuals and families. To find out more about the GED testing program, contact the office in the county where you reside: Floyd, 706-295-7124; Bartow, 770-382-4222; Polk, 770748-1675; Gordon, 706629-2333; Paulding, 770943-5085; Douglas, 770949-6339; Haralson, 770537-8800. Cobb County residents should contact the Bartow office.
Fairmount Library is now located inside of City Hall on the second floor. Story time is held every second Saturday of the month at 11 a.m. and New Horizon Book Club is held on the second Thursday of the month. For more information call 706-337-5306.
The Red Bud Cardinal Alumni Association meets quarterly. All Alumni of Red Bud Schools are encouraged to attend. You did not have to graduate in order to be a member. Annual dues are $20 per year. Please watch the Red Bud High School Facebook page for important information and meeting dates and times. You may contact us at redbudreunion@ yahoo.com with any questions.
Story times at the Calhoun-Gordon County Library, 100 N. Park Ave. in Calhoun, are 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays.
The Red Bud Cardinal Alumni Association will meet on the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Sonoraville Recreation Department. All Alumni of Red Bud Schools are encouraged to attend. Annual dues are $20 per year. Please watch the Red Bud High School Facebook page for important information or any meeting changes. You may contact us at redbudreunion@ yahoo. com with any questions.
Action Ministries Housing is accepting applications for a transitional home. A single- family home in Gordon County is now available for up to two years. For more information or to refer a family, email Rebecca Hickom at rhickom@ actionministries.net or call 404-862-1821.
Emergency Repair of Gas Furnaces and Gas Water Heaters: Lowincome seniors, 65 and older, who own and live in their home, may be eligible for repairs help and assistance. Contact Bruce Walters, Tallatoona Community Action Partnership, 770382-5388, ext. 106.
The Gordon County Nutrition Site would like to invite seniors ages 60 and over to come to the senior center, located at 150 Cambridge Court Monday–Friday at 11:30 a.m. for a nutritious meal. The meal is free of charge. For more information, please contact Josie Stone, Nutrition Site Manager at 706-629-0392.
The Rome Chapter 525 of The Military Order of the Purple Heart meets the first Monday of the month at the senior citizens center on the Kingston Hwy in Rome at 1900 hours. Anyone who has been awarded the Purple Heart is eligible for membership and is invited to attend the meeting and join the organization. For more information, contact Mel Hibbard at 706-232-0184 or Verne Hoover at 706234-0155.
ABATE (American Bikers Active Toward Education) of Georgia District 1, a nonprofit organization, serving nine counties including Gilmer, Gordon, Pickens, Fannin, Whitfield and Murray, will meet at 7:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at Logan’s Road House in Dalton. For more information log on to the website www. abategad1.org or call Heidi Stockwell at 706217-8317.
Georgia Toastmasters is looking for past Toastmasters living in the CalhounDalton area who would be interested in helping us rebuild one of our clubs in the area. This area is ripe for a few Toastmasters clubs and you can be part of the team that helps bring this to your community. The toastmasters will have meetings beginning at 6:30 p.m. on every first and third Monday of every month at City of Calhoun Recreation Department, 601 South River Street, Calhoun. If you are a former Toastmaster, or are interested in being part of a Toastmaster club, please call Jo Kelly at 678-524-8408 or email at JoKelly0@bellsouth. net.