Church History

Bethel Missionary Baptist Church was organized on Sunday, May 30, 1943, with five Charter Members. By October 1943, Bethel MBC had 23 members.

Elder C. D. Arnold, who organized and was the first Pastor, was an interstate Missionary sent out by Oaklawn MBC of Hot Springs, AR. When organized, Bethel MBC was meeting in a rented building. Elder C. D. Arnold found property, sold his wedding band, and used the funds as a down payment for the church’s first building.

Over the years, Bethel MBC has operated a school, published a newspaper, and has had several men surrender to the Ministry.

Bethel MBC is the only American Baptist Association church in the city of New Orleans and the Greater New Orleans Area. Our nearest sister church is fifty miles away.

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. As the storm passed over, a levee was breached which flooded the city. It was almost three months before we were allowed to enter the city and see the church property and the damage Hurricane Katrina had caused. The church property sat in seventeen feet of water for twenty-one days. It took almost four months to dry in order for the members to begin removing the church’s contents.

Everything the church possessed was destroyed: church records, charts, maps, song books, the organ, and the piano. In addition, the Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall was destroyed. It was a total loss.

Due to our insurance not covering any of the damage and repairs caused by the flood, we reached out to our sister churches for assistance. They did not fail to respond. We are so thankful for all of the financial support and prayers that have come our way. We still need to raise $100,000 to complete our building. We have no idea where this will come from, but we know that our God is an Almighty God and He will provide.

The church’s Parsonage thankfully did not sustain any flood damage during the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Once the roofing damage was repaired we began holding services in the Parsonage from October of 2005 until 2010.

Throughout this devastation, God banded together Bethel Missionary Baptist Church’s members with even stronger faith and closer Christian fellowship. We are determined as ever to finish rebuilding, as we know that this is what God wants. There MUST be an American Baptist Association presence in this city.