The rural Tennessee congregation traces its roots to studies led by Barton W. Stone, a key Restoration Movement leader.
By Bobby Ross Jr. | The Christian Chronicle
TUCKERS CROSSROADS, Tenn. — The Bethlehem Church of Christ has a long history — 200 years and counting.
It has a bright future, too, lifelong member Carolyn Ragland Poston believes.
“This congregation probably has 20 babies under 6 years old,” Poston, 74, said at the rural church’s recent two-day bicentennial celebration. “I mean, I’m telling you, we are busting loose with babies.”
The 80-member congregation praises God in a red-brick building about 35 miles east of Nashville. A yellow sign along the two-lane blacktop — just a few miles off Interstate 40 — warns motorists to slow down in the church zone.
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Fires and floods forced the Middle Tennessee church to rebuild multiple times — and relocate in a few cases — before erecting its long-standing meeting place in 1941.
As Poston greeted guests in the fellowship hall, old photos, letters and documents surrounded her. Two centuries of mementos recounted past and present ministers, elders, deacons, song leaders, mission efforts and children’s programs.
“I’m in there,” she said, pointing at a black-and-white Vacation Bible School picture from 1960, “but I was like 11 years old at the time.
“Have y’all seen this Bible?” she added, turning to a different part of the exhibit. “This was actually my grandmother’s, and her daddy gave it to her. Hang on, and let me show you the inscription.”
This story appears in the January edition of The Christian Chronicle.
Faith. Family. Fastballs. 