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CHURCH HISTORY
Welcome to Beth-Eden Missionary Baptist Church, located in Fort Worth, Texas, and dedicated to serving the community and bringing Christ to the people. Our church is a place of worship, fellowship, and spiritual growth. We welcome you to join us in our journey of faith and community outreach.
Greater Mt. Gilead Baptist Church was organized January 1, 1937 by Dr. T. S. Boone. The first service was held in the Allen Chapel basement. James N. Baker, Sr., invited the church to have their services at Baker’s Funeral Home.The church purchased property at 1121 Bryan and moved in on September 1939. The note burning services was February 1945. Dr. T. S. Boone served eight years before he resigned in March 1945. Dr. Boone served from 1937 to 1945.
Dr. W. N. Bowden former Pastor came to Greater Mt Gilead from Silsbee, Texas, where he was pasturing. He resigned in 1949 and organized Samaria Baptist Church. Dr. Bowden served from 1945 to 1949.
The Church called Dr. L. D. Fields as the Pastor. He served a short time, from 1949 to 1950.
During Dr. Hickerson’s eight years, the church purchased property on the corner of Bessie Street and Missouri Avenue, the church name changed to Missouri Avenue Baptist Church. In 1956 the church purchased property on 1125 Elmwood. Deacon Luther Craft, Sr., submitted the name to be changed to Beth Eden Missionary Baptist Church. Dr. Hickerson served from 1951 to 1959.
Rev. G. P. Lee was called to pastor in 1959. During Rev. Lee’s fourteen years. The church note was burned in January 15, 1970. God called Rev. Lee from labor to reward on August 25, 1972. Rev. Lee served from 1959 to 1972.
During the pastoral vacancy, Rev. Emanuel Baker conducted services. February 1973, Dr. Billy Ray Daniels, Sr., a native of Dekalb, Texas was called to pastor the Beth Eden Missionary Baptist Church. In 1976 Beth Eden purchased property at 3309 Wilbarger Street. Dr. C. A. W. Clark of the Good Street Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas, conducted the special entrance services held September 19, 1977. Rev. L. B. George of Mount Zion Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas, conducted the Dedication Service, September 25, 1977.
Beth Eden both spiritually and financially has grown to its largest membership in her History, between the years of 1980 and 1982 the church was the second largest growing Black Baptist Church in the city of Fort Worth, Texas, and the State ranking in the top ten largest churches in the Baptist Missionary & Educational Convention of Texas. September 1984 in Washington, D. C. at a special ceremony honoring accomplished churches Beth Eden was proclaimed as one of the “Great” Churches of the Nation.
February 21, 2010, Pastor Daniels celebrated thirty-seven (37) years of service, as the longest serving Pastor in the Church’s History. In those Thirty-seven years, forty-one (41) ministers and adopted ministers have been called in the ministry.
God gave Pastor Daniels a vision of a new church building and academic facility to meet the needs of its member and growing community. The vision began to materialize with the purchase of 7.7 acres of land at this location 3208 Wilbarger Street. Two grounds – breaking services were held, in November 1985 and February 1987.
After many years of much toil and many trials, the church restarted on construction of completion in September 1997. Beth Eden finally marched into a new 34,000 square feet facility on Sunday, June 7, 1998. Dr. N. L. Robinson of Mount Olive Baptist Church, Arlington, Texas conducted our Entrances Services.
To God be the glory for the great things He has done. It is our prayers. As we continue to move to higher heights that every step we make will bring glory to God. Dr. B. R. Daniels, Sr., 1973 to Present.