I remember very well when the church first started. There was a brush arbor up there about where the street light is now (north of the church). There was an evangelist that came by for a 3 - 4 week revival. His name was Nisely. After he left, there was a fellow name Legear that preached some in the brush arbor. Then John Bodie and different ones preached under the brush arbor.

Then they bought that land from McKenzie. John Bodie and old man John Perkins became deacons and bought that acre of land and built another brush arbor down below where the church is now. Also the John Perkins and John Bowie families did hold the church together. They kept the congregation going, even when there was no pastor. It was during those times that John Bodie would fill-in. He was a good preacher.

Not long after that, they built a tabernacle out of paper from St. Joe Paper Company. It had a sawdust floor. That’s the way it was for several years as I recall. Hans Ellis also worked and preach in the old tabernacle. Then there was Brother Mitchell. He was one good preacher man. He lived in Bonifay and rode his bicycle back-and-forth to church. That was before building the frame church. Cecil Perkins, Wilbur Evans, and different ones helped to build that church. John Bodie preached a lot there.

The Nolan Brown family was also real faithful to the church until they moved away to Panama City. They had two children. Ola Mae was the daughter. The son was younger. When the doors were open, they were there. They drove all the way from near Miller’s Ferry - on a mule and wagon. That was every night for revivals and every Sunday.

The block building was built after Brother Mitchell’s time. The bathrooms used to be outhouses behind the church on the right hand side, where the social hall is. Men’s and Women’s were on separate sides.

I was taught most of what I know about salvation right there in that church. I give all the ministers credit for their teachings. It was a glorious time back then. I’ve preached several revivals there and seen God do many great works and many miracles there are over the years.

I’ve pastored a lot of churches, but New Bethany is as good as you can get. The Lord has really blessed New Bethany.