One hundred and fifty years to the day since 16 former slaves first met under the shade of a brush arbor at Sassafras Stage, the congregation of Gloucester’s Bethel Baptist Church met under the shade of the Founders’ Tree to celebrate the legacy of their church and its ancestors.

With the roots of the Founders’ Tree beneath their feet, worshippers offered up prayers and hymns before marching back to the church to a chorus of hymns.

Sunday’s morning service at the church on Hickory Fork Road began with a greeting from Pastor Michael W. Jackson, who is now in his ninth year. “What a blessing it has been to be the 16th pastor here at Bethel Baptist Church,” Jackson proclaimed, before reading Psalm 150, which was selected as the anniversary verse for the celebration.

Sister Toni Olivis, a descendent of church founder Beverley Burrell, then read the church’s anniversary litany, a call-and-response prayer written for the occasion.

Following the lighting of the Memorial Candle and the collection of the offering, New Life Gospel Choir sang a hymn of preparation as Mr. Jackson took to the pulpit.

Jackson’s morning message focused on the division of time, specifically the past, present and future of the church. “We are not just the building or the pews, we are the everlasting church,” he said. Jackson reminded the congregation that, “while there will always be a church, there is no guarantee that there will always be Bethel” before highlighting the importance of growing the church’s outreach and youth ministries.

Jackson called from the pulpit “God bless America, God bless Bethel, and may God be blessed,” before the ceremony was closed and dinner was served.

Between the morning and afternoon service, Jackson described his thoughts and feelings as they related to the occasion. “What a pleasure it has been to serve as one of God’s holy temples to serve the community,” he said. Jackson also spoke on his role in the community, saying that he considers himself “blessed and honored to pray at (Gloucester) Board of Supervisors’ meetings.”

Jackson also spoke of his pride in having preached at services or events at Newington Baptist Church and Lighthouse Worship Center, as well as times when the pastors of those churches preached to his congregation. He said that “the forging of these friendships” is important, “especially when we live in a society, like it or not, where racism is very real.” Jackson said he was of the opinion that these opportunities “allowed for a connection” between the pastors and their congregations.

When asked about the future of Bethel Baptist, Jackson said, “I am confident,” adding that, “anything that is successful takes effort … you have to carry on in faith.”

Then the afternoon service began under the guidance of Mr. Jackson and the Rev. Vincent Pryor, worship leader of New Mount Zion Baptist Church.

Deacon Nathaniel R. Cooke, descendant of founder Daniel Lockley, gave a lesson from the scripture before hymns of praise and anniversary prayers were offered.

Dr. Dorothy C. Cooke then recognized representatives from daughter churches and led the church in a roll call of the founders. The church bell sounded after the reading of each of the 16 names of the men and women the congregation calls “saints.”

After the offering and a stirring introduction by Mrs. Michelle Burrell, the Rev. Stevens Burrell, guest pastor, rendered the Anniversary Message.

“Look where the Lord has brought us from,” Burrell proclaimed, as he encouraged each worshiper to “do better next year than you did this year.” Burrell spoke of the importance of the church and faith, especially within the black community: “Even though they [the founders] were in slavery, they had God … We are in some tough times, but God has kept you for 150 years.”

Continuing with the theme of history and legacy, Burrell offered a message that highlighted both the progress the nation has made and the progress we have yet to make. 

Burrell called out, “We have gone from working the fields to owning the fields we once worked. We have gone from riding on the back of the bus to owning the bus companies. We have gone from being kept uneducated to being people with PhDs and master’s degrees.

“Look where the Lord has brought you from,” Burrell proclaimed. As he reached the climax of his sermon, he announced, “I just stopped by to let Satan know that he should’ve stopped me before, because there is no stopping me now.”

Burrell closed his sermon by looking to the future, saying “the best is yet to come” and thanking God for keeping those original 16 founders of Bethel Baptist Church “in the palm of his hand.”