In January 1978 Pastor Lewis’ family became custodians of the church. It was also agreed that the cemetery be marked off. The record stated that at the April 24 yearly elections, there “was a real sweet spirit and fellowship among the people that night. The best spirit… in a preacher calling since I can’t remember”. September 10 that year Rev. Lewis resigned.

Since the church was unable to have a majority vote for pastor, Rev. O.B. Harris filled out Rev. Lewis’ unexpired term from September 28 through April 18, 1979.

Rev. O.B. Harris wouldn’t accept pastorship for another year. Rev. Woodrow Dupree was elected as pastor on April 18, 1979.

Young 16 year old Brother Brett Cooper held a revival from June 8 through 13. Church records indicate he “preached dynamically under the anointing of the Holy Ghost. There were great altar services every night with souls being saved and seeking more of the Spirit of the Lord”. As a result, six people were baptized at Brunson Landing on June 15.   

By early 1981 there were 58 active members. Camp meetings this year had Jeff Cain and family for each evening service from August 10 through 15. He and his family continued to be the guest preacher off and on for at least seven different camp meetings.

A chain link fence was installed around the cemetery in April 1982. August brought remodeling to the choir section. The two Sunday School rooms, church ceiling, and paneling throughout the sanctuary were removed. In September a public address system was donated to the church. Carpet was installed on March 17, 1983. 

July was the beginning of a new building campaign to put an addition on the front of the church, which would include bathrooms on either side of the foyer. April 18, 1984 new A/C’s for the new addition were installed. One A/C was donated by William Tillis and one was purchased by the WM’s, the CA’s, and the Men’s Fellowship. A new wooden cross was also erected on the front.

Easter sunrise was held jointly with Pleasant Grove and New Bethany. Next year was to be held at Pleasant Grove. 

The church was given a new portable lighted signed by Don Kelly in June. Then in November a new piano was purchased for the sanctuary for $1,490 and the old one moved to the fellowship hall. 

By March 1985, church membership had increased to 62. The Sunday School area had a new buzzer system installed. The janitor/groundskeeper now received $100 per month. June saw our church stuccoed, and we also had an assistant pastor, Rev. Wesley Hall. 

Old-fashioned day 1994 was in nostalgic time because of the afternoon singers: Sheldon and Donald Smith and the Mitchell sisters, Janet and Janice. All four had been kids together around the Cross Roads. 

Jesse Hobbs, a 17-year-old preacher, ministered to the youth and adults on April 6, 1997. In August a bass amp control head was given to the church by Roy Hammack. Speakers were purchased. A new room was built behind the Sunday School room for the lawnmower and storage.

By March 1998, we were blessed to have paving done in the parking area at the north side of the church. This cut down on the mowing and saved on the amount of dirt being tracked into the sanctuary. 

While Rev. Dupree was recuperating from by-pass surgery in 1998, Brothers Sanford Haney and Hubert Williams were the fill in pastors for Sunday AM, PM, and Wednesday PM services.

A new baby grand Wurlitzer piano was purchased for the sanctuary for $6000 in August 1999. The old sanctuary Piano was sold. 

May 2000, a new recorder-player and speakers were added to the sound system. In September, Rev. Dupree gave the church his resignation because of poor health. Brothers Haney and Williams again filled in until a new pastor could be elected. Sister Annie Lou Hall, one of the two surviving charter members of New Bethany, died November 1, 2000. Rev. Dupree passed away November 13, 2000.

In January the border requested the District Superintendent and Section 6 Presbytery point Rev. Jerome Leisz as interim pastor until the next business meeting. Brother Leisz was elected pastor April 18, 2001. It was also decided at the annual meeting that the church would subsidize 1/2 the cost of youth camp for those attending. 

During the year a new refrigerator and freezer were purchased for the kitchen, a new water cooler for the church foyer, and a new Kirby vacuum cleaner. Four of the large long leaf pine trees were removed with the removal of the stumps and debris. This was done by county labor and equipment for $480. The Sunday School renovation, including placing a bathroom facility at the end of the enclosed Sunday School hallway, was started.

Renovations of the ladies bathroom began in February 2002. This included a new sink placed in the cabinet built by Joe Hogue and placed on the south wall. A new full length mirror was donated by Mattie Simmons. One bathroom stall was handicap accessible. The second one was enlarged. New church by-laws and constitution were approved in February with one section dealing with the cemetery, still to be brought back to the church in October by the cemetery planning committee.