In 1958 while O.J. Van Wagoner was
pastor, a new addition to the church was begun. In included a fellowship
hall plus four classrooms and a new heating plant for the whole building and
was completed in the spring of 1959.
While Lloyd H. Euler was pastor (1963-68), great seasons of
prayer were held interceding for the Holy Spirit’s outpouring in revival. In
1970 during the ministry of Glenn Vibbet the Holy Spirit did bring gracious
revival, resulting in many, both young and old, being converted and brought
into the church.
The youth particularly were inspired to reach out beyond
their borders and began what was become an almost annual event and what they
call their “summer projects.” A group of youth and adults travel to a place
requesting their services, hold a Vacation Bible School, canvass the
community, hold evangelistic services and Bible studies. They have been a
blessing to these other churches but more than that, it has been a greater
blessing in the lives of these youth.
It became evident that a new church was a necessity to care
for the needs of a growing congregation. Additional land was purchased from
the conference and a groundbreaking service was held by Superintendent Dale
Woods on February 6, 1972. Because of the freezing-cold weather, the
groundbreaking was held inside the old church. Dirt was placed in a tub and
shoveled from there into a plastic container. The dirt was saved and then
placed under the basement floor of the new church in a spot as near the
pulpit as possible.
On December 10, 1972 a ribbon was cut and the first service
in the new church was held. On March 31, 1974 the new church, including the
fellowship hall and educational areas, was dedicated by Bishop E.C. John,
assisted by Superintendent Woods. Since the old conference dining hall,
Woods Hall, ws torn down to make room for the new church, the conference
contributed $25,000 to the Bethel Park church to build a fellowship hall and
kitchen large enough to be used as a dining hall during camp and conference.
The building of the new church necessitated the purchase of
a new parsonage about a half mile from the church in the spring of 1973. In
1977 when the Bethel Park Campground was being disposed of, the Bethel Park
church purchased the front portion of the grounds, including the conference
parsonage, which made a very commodious parsonage next to the church for the
pastor. The parsonage located at 6204 Trenton Drive was sold. The new
property gave the church ample room for future expansion.
Christian workers from Bethel Park include: Rev. A.E.
Potbry, Rev Kent Olney, Rev Victor Dively, Rev Paul parker; Mrs. Robert
(Edwina Bedell) Wright, Mrs. James (Peggy McCain) Woolums.
