Bethel AOG has come a long way since its inception in the ‘50s. This has been its journey.
Contributed By Leon Tan
The Bethelites are preparing for a new chapter in their journey as a church.
Bethel Assembly of God was founded in 1956 by Rev. Fred and Margaret Seaward, missionaries from America. From the onset of its existence, missions has always been the heartbeat of the church.
Over the last 55 years, Bethel has distinguished itself as a “giving” and “sending” church—becoming actively involved in the sending out of missionaries; the planting of churches in Southeast Asia and other countries such as Japan, Nepal, India and China; in the administering of financial support toward numerous missions endeavors; as well as in the starting and mothering of various other AOG churches in Singapore and Malaysia.
Today, Bethel continues to seek to reach out and impact the nations and its surrounding community with Christ’s love. Closer to home, Bethel Community Services launched its first outreach arm, Bethel Child Development Centre in 1999, and was registered as a welfare society in 2004. BCS provides a wide range of holistic services to care for and empower the community, especially the underprivileged. These include tuition services, student, childcare and infant care centers, a TCM clinic, social services and legal services.
An artist’s impression of the new Bethel Assembly of God church building. PHOTOS COURTESY OF BETHEL ASSEMBLY OF GOD
From its humble beginnings in a rented semi-detached house in Jansen Road, the church has grown—through God’s providence and guidance, Bethel has been able to settle at its present home in the heart of Macpherson, Geylang East Central.
In April 2010, the church took a step of faith to tear down its building to make way for a new multi-functional building dedicated to serve the church and the community.
Bethel holds its services at Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ Secondary School for the time being. The Bethelites look forward to celebrate their “Home For Christmas” when they return to their new building on Dec. 25, and to continue to “Be The Lite” in its community, in Singapore and in the world.
Leon Tan, 29, is a ministry intern at Bethel Assembly of God. For more information on Bethel AOG, please visit www.bethel.org.sg.
