History

The Greater New Bethel Baptist Church began its first worship service in the Spring of l929, in the home of Mrs. Maud Refoe, located on N.W. 19th Avenue and Ali Baba Avenue. It originated with six members who stood as a solid testimony to the courage, faith, and love of the many diligent Christians who shared in the inspiring cultural history of this great church.

As the town began to grow and more men were needed to care for the municipality, the Mayor, Sayre Wheeler, had a large frame building moved into the area. The building was erected in a circle on a plot of ground near the corner of Washington and Duval Street. The faithful few members relocated from Mrs. Refoe’s home and began having worship services in the building.

The house was originally built as a boarding home for the men that were hired by the city in the maintenance department to work on Orange Glade Road, now known as 22nd Avenue. The men resided in the rear of the building and worship services were conducted in the dining room of that building.

Rev. Frank Thomas from Thomasville, Georgia; who was hired as a Butler for the first Mayor of the City of Opa-locka; was the first minister to teach Sunday School lessons to the faithful few members of the catechism and he continued that for approximately one year. Since Rev. Thomas could not render full-time services; he resigned from the church. The members, eager for spiritual guidance, called Rev. R. B. Blanks of Miami to serve as their leader in the year 1930.

During Rev. Blanks’ leadership, the church was named Missionary Baptist Church of Opa-locka. Installation of officers was as follows: Deacon Winfield Davis, his wife Deaconess Carrie Davis, Mrs. Mamie Waters, Secretary, Mrs. Maud Refoe, Church Mother, and Treasurer. Deacon Davis was the Superintendent of the Sunday School. The lay members were Mrs. Rosa L. Ingraham and Mrs. Beatrice Jackson.

Deacon Davis attracted people to church services by beating a tire rim with a rope pipe, which hung at the entrance of the building. The services that were conducted were Sunday School and morning and evening worship. Rev. Blanks was the Pastor of two churches, Missionary Baptist Church of Opa-locka and another church in North Miami. He served Missionary Baptist Church on the first and third Sundays, these Sundays were known as pastoral days.

In August 1932, Rev. Blanks conducted the first revival meeting and baptized two candidates on the third Sunday, Irma Skiles and Gladys McClain. Baptism was held in a Rock Pit, which is now the present site of Nathan B. Young Elementary School.

The membership at Missionary Baptist Church remained small and Rev. Blanks resigned and went to pastor full time in a church in North Miami, Florida. The faithful few members then called Rev. R. F. Black of Liberty City to be their Pastor. The first baby ever dedicated at Missionary Baptist Church was Myrtis Carswell McCants under his leadership. Rev. Black’s tenure was very brief.

Mrs. Refoe, who was instrumental in the founding of Missionary Baptist Church, passed away on November 10, 1933. The members at the time of Mrs. Refoe’s death were Mr. J. H. Bell and Mrs. Bessie Bell, Mrs. Rosa L. Ingraham, Mrs. Wilda Johnson, Mrs. Irma Skiles, Mr. & Mrs. James Wiggs, and Mrs. Marie Carswell.

In 1935, a hurricane destroyed the building of worship; at which time, the men in the area built another shelter for worship. The building was constructed with tar paper walls, a roof made of palmetto branches, and no flooring, just the bare ground. Lighting for the building was by kerosene lanterns. This structure was located on the corner of Ali Baba Ave. and Johnson St.

In 1936, Rev. G. O. Dove was called as pastor. During Rev. G. O. Dove’s leadership, the church was renamed, New Bethel. The first individual baptized under Rev. Dove was Mrs. Wilda Johnson, niece of Mrs. Refoe. Rev. Dove ordained J. H. Bell as a Deacon and later appointed him as Chairman of the Deacon Board. Deacon Bell died in 1950. Mrs. Bessie Bell, his wife, was elected secretary of the church in 1936 and served faithfully for nineteen years. The acreage of the site of New Bethel was donated by Mr. Robert (Bob) Bevel and Mr. Milton Davis in 1940. Rev. Dove’s tenure ended in 1941.

In 1942, the church called Rev. Jake Williams as Pastor; who, with the help of the officers and members, laid the foundation of the church on the donated property, and erected a concrete block building with clear glass windows with screens on the windows. The entrance of the church faced Johnson Street. Rev. Williams served only a short time as Pastor because he relocated to South Carolina.

In 1945, the church called Rev. C. H. Usher, a minister with the insight of moving forward toward perfection in Christianity. Rev. Usher organized the first choir with Mrs. Ethel Mallory as President. Other officers in the church were, Deacon J. H. Bell, Chairman of the Board, Sis. Charlie Mae Reed, President of the Deaconess Board, Deacon Frank Ross, President of Baptist Training Union, and Deacon W. M. Reed, Sunday School Superintendent.

Under Rev. Usher’s leadership, the church was well represented in the local District Seaboard Baptist Association, and State and National Conventions. Mrs. Elmira R. Glover was the first delegate to go to the State and National Conventions representing the Sunday School and BTU Departments. Rev. Usher labored untiringly and faithfully until God called him to his reward on March 4, 1947.

In June of 1947, the church then called Rev. W. K. Smith from Friendship Baptist Church to serve as Pastor and Leader. Under Rev. Smith’s leadership, the church began to prosper and grow spiritually and financially. Rev. Smith was a meek and humble man who arrived to do the will of God by precepts and examples. The church expanded three more times under his administration, a man with a vision and dreams of a larger building with educational facilities to meet the needs of the church and community.

After the 1964 expansion, the church was renamed Greater New Bethel Baptist Church. The church continued to grow, and it was soon evident that larger facilities were needed. In 1978, the land was purchased where the present site now stands. After 32 years of faithful and dedicated service to Greater New Bethel, ill health forced Rev. Smith to retire on June 26, 1979.

At the time of Rev. Smith’s retirement, there were 19 Church Auxiliaries, 7 Associate Ministers, 13 Deacons, and a membership of over 1,500, with a full-time Secretary. Rev. Smith baptized over 2,000 converts in his ministerial labor and performed more than 1,000 marriages and weddings. Rev. Smith lived to see his dream materialize; however, Rev. Smith was never able to worship in this building. His funeral was the first funeral to be held in the new edifice.

Upon Rev. Smith’s retirement, Rev. Oliver Gilbert Jr., a young man that grew up in this church from the Youth Department, served as Interim Pastor until August 24, 1979.

In August 1979, the church called Rev. G. David Horton to serve as Pastor and Overseer. Rev. Horton continued to build upon the foundation already laid by his predecessors and endeared himself to the church family by the respect and concern he showed for Rev. Smith. The church continued to move forward to the realization of our dream by faith and works. More land was purchased, and in May of 1981, the ground was broken for a new sanctuary. Pastor Horton encouraged his members and gave thanks to God for a building, built by sacrificial giving. Many new ideas were instituted by Rev. Horton, who placed great emphasis on Evangelism and Mission.

Under Pastor Horton’s administration, many changes were actualized, a full-time Financial Secretary, Administrative Assistant, Computer Operator, and Director of Christian Education. The Missionary Society was organized into Circles, the two Deaconess Boards were combined, and Greater New Bethel Voices were organized (which is made up of all church choirs).

He also formed the Bethel’s Missing Persons Bureau, Couples Ministry, Bus Ministry, Singles Ministry, Evangelism Ministry, Special Events Ministry, Media Ministry, Foreign Mission Ministry, Child Care Center, Senior Enhancement Program, After Care/Sumer Program, and helped to establish the North Dade Community Federal Credit Union.

In 1995, Pastor Horton was elected Moderator of the Seaboard Missionary Baptist Association where he served for 12 years. The talents and gifts that he shared with Greater New Bethel as a leader were expanded to include the state of Florida when he became the President of the Moderator’s Division of the Florida General Baptist Convention. Pastor Horton retired in November of 2017, after working faithfully and diligently for 38 years.

On September 11, 2018, a fire caused severe damage to the building of worship, causing it later to be condemned. Currently, while the church is being renovated, the members are worshipping in the auditorium of North Dade Middle School in Opa-locka.

On January 16, 2019, Rev. Ronnie W. Wallace, Sr. was called as Pastor and Leader of Greater New Bethel Baptist Church. Rev. Wallace served as the Assistant to Rev. Dr. G. David Horton for 10 years. In September 2005, Rev. Wallace was blessed to serve as Orientation Instructor at Greater New Bethel. On February 24, 2019, Rev. Wallace was installed as Pastor of Greater New Bethel Baptist Church, a new chapter was beginning. This innovative Pastor has the vision to take the church to even greater heights. Pastor Wallace also has the tremendous responsibility of overseeing the renovation of this awesome “House of God”. To God be the Glory for the blessings that God has in store for this church as we follow under the leadership of Rev. Ronnie W. Wallace, Sr.

Rev. F. B. Blanks 1930-1936
Rev. G. O. Dove 1936-1941
Rev. J. . Williams 1942-1943
Rev. C. H. Usher 1945-1947
Rev. W. K. Smith 1947-1979
Rev. Dr. G. David Horton 1979-2017
Rev. Ronnie W. Wallace, Sr. 2019-Present