Our First Annual Pioneer’s Day Celebration was held on March 8, 2015. During the celebration, we honored 15 families and individuals that have been with Bethel since its early years and have made a significant contribution to the history of the the Bethel Way Of The Cross Church.
The 2015 Honorees are:
Founding Pioneers Legacy
Brother Wallace and Sister Nellie Gibson Brother Wallace and Sister Virgnia Johnson Brother and Sister Alonzo Mackell Brother Charles Harvey Brother John Moore Brother John Tayor Brother James Dorsey
Heritage Pioneers
Deacon Wardell and Mother Alice Plater Bishop Robert Watts Deacon Walter Spriggs Mother Helen Duppins Deacon Edward Simmons Deacon Percy Spriggs, Jr Deacon John Lane
Pastoral Pioneers
Bishop John Jacob Astor Green Bishop Allen H. Easton Bishop Darnell L. Easton
Living Legacy Pioneers Sister Clarice Jones Sister Shirley Mullins
Mother Wila Mae Plater
Back in 1953 a group of worshippers gathered to glorify the name of our God together. From that gathering, Bethel Way Of The Cross Church was born. Though it started small, many would gather under its name, and form the mighty church that stands today. God has blessed Bethel, and the church has not only forged a spiritual bond with Calvert County, but it remains a special place in the hearts of all who have spent even a little time inside its doors. The beloved church has garnered members from all of its surrounding counties, including the District of Columbia. As Mother Arnetta Green would often remark during the early years, as she and Bishop Jacob Green made the drive with their children from DC, this “little church in the country” has become a huge place of worship, restoration, fellowship, family and love throughout its 62 years. As we take giant leaps into the future, we honor our roots, the building blocks of our existence, our foundation, from which the pillars of history rise, and will continue to do so for the remainder of our church. Great men and women have come and gone, some home to glory, others to fields where the Lord have planted them in the same like manner, for the glory of the Kingdom of God. It is with this in mind the intention of our great church to always remember and honor the memory of our Pioneers, and their contributions forever. It is also our intention, as the pages of time turn, and the rapture of the church has not taken place, to continue to write, and add to the legacy of Bethel. Just as it began unfolding in 1953, we will forever remark, recite, record, and remember the new pages of our history, as it continually unfolds, adding to glory of the Bethel Way Of The Cross Church.
Founding Founding Pioneers Pioneers Legacy Legacy insert charter Brother Wallace Wallace and and Sister Sister Nellie Nellie Gibson Gibson Brother In the beginning, before Bethel would become a church, there were a group of believers who were baptized in Jesus name and wanted to know the Lord more. 9 people and their families gathered together to worship. Sister Nellie Gibson made contact with Elder Alexander Harris, from the Way Of The Cross Church,
Washington, DC, and he began coming to their gatherings and sharing the word of God with them. It was the desire of Brother and Sister Gibson that he become their Pastor, but due to health reasons he declined. They then discussed the issue with the Bishop Henry Chauncey Brooks, Pastor of The Way Of The Cross Church, Washington, DC. He decided that they needed a regular Pastor, which led to the appointment of Bethel’s first Pastor, Elder John Jacob Green. The Lord laid it on the hearts’ of the Gibsons and they donated the land which would house Bethel’s first official church building. We are grateful to the Gibsons for all they shared and done to start our journey towards who we are today.
Founding Pioneers Legacy Brother and Sister Wesley Jacks & Family Brother and Sister John Taylor Sister Ruth Graham and Family Brother Wallace and Sister Virginia Johnson & Family Brother and Sister Alonzo Mackall Brother Charles Harvey Brother John Moore Brother James Dorsey
These Founding Pioneers created the legacy that is Bethel. From meeting in a community hall, to planning and erecting the first church home, to organizing and working new ministries to facilitate the mission, to working with a new Pastor, and establishing roots in the community that would last 62 years and counting, they worked together diilgently and provided the framework of the ministry today.
Heritage Pioneers Legacy Deacon Wardell & Deacon Wardell & Mother Alice Plater Mother Alice Plater
Heritage Pioneers Bishop Robert Watts
Heritage Pioneers Deacon Walter Spriggs
Heritage Pioneers Brother Joseph and Mother VIola Easton
Heritage Pioneers Mother Helen Duppins
Heritage Pioneers Deacon Edward Simmons
Heritage Pioneers Deacon Percy Spriggs, Jr
Heritage Pioneers Deacon John Lane
PASTORAL LEGACY
Pastoral Legacy
Bishop John Jacob Astor & Mother Arnetta Green (1953 - 1998)
Many words can be shared to introduce and summarize the life of Bishop Jacob A. Green, however, the befitting words are “obedience” and “faithful servant”. Bishop Green’s lifestyle always silhouettes a spiritual direction. For it was at his birth on July 24, 1914, that his mother dedicated him to God, prior to her death. As a young child growing up in Franklinton County, North Carolina, his life continued to be plagued by unusual circumstances. However, they proved to be valuable lessons and experiences that would later play an important part in the role and purpose God had established for his life. Encouraged by Sister Lovie Brown, sister of the Late Bishop H. C. Brooks, Bishop and Mother Green traveled North to Washington, DC, where he made his acquaintance with Bishop Brooks, in 1936. In 1937, he acknowledged his call to the ministry and preached his initial sermon on October 23, 1938. In 1944 he was ordained Elder. Through the acquaintance of Elder Alexander Harris and Sister Nellie Gibson, Elder Green was one of 3 ministers Bishop Brooks sent to share the word of God with the mission in Calvert County. When the members later gathered to decide on a Pastor, they chose Elder Green, thus setting into motion 45 years of excellent, anointed, and devoted service by the Greens. He was consecrated to the Bishopric in 1970 by The Way Of The Cross Church of Christ, and would later serve as Middle Atlantic Diocesan, First Vice Presiding Bishop, and Senior Bishop. Mother Arnetta, by his side every step of the way, became endearing to the membership of Bethel, and serve alongside her husband in building the ministry and the church, serving on the Floral Club, the Helping Hand Club, a member of the Senior Choir, Usher Board and Missionary Board. Mother Green was also a sharp dresser, who loved wearing her “church hats”. The memory and legacy of Bishop and Mother Green lives on through their 4 children, the late Mattie, Jacob, Jr, Bishop James Thomas and Robert Lee, and their children. Bishop Green’s grandchildren continue the legacy of Bishop Green at Bethel as they continue to be a vital part of the ministry. We thank God for sending us Bishop and Mother Green. They moved from labor to reward, Mother Green on October 2, 2002, and Bishop Green on December 23, 2006, leaving an everlasting legacy behind that will always be cherished and honored.
Pastoral Legacy
Bishop Allen Henry and Mother Emma Easton (1998 - 2002)
Born July 26m, 1936, the eldest of 9 children, to Joseph and Viola Easton, Bishop Allen Easton became a trailblazing pioneer at Bethel. He enjoyed playing in his school’s band, and was an avid fan of boxing. He served 5 years in the Unites States Air Force, and was employed by the U. S. Census Bureau. While home on leave he met the love of his life, Emma Morsell, and they were later married on July 6, 1968. They had one son, a step son to Bishop Allen, Michael, and with his Sadie, they gave Bishop and Mother Easton 3 grandchildren, Rayshawn, Michelle, and Timothy. They also became great grandparents of 3 children. In 1954, Bishop Easton accepted an invitation by the late Brother and Sister William Bishop to attend a worship service at Bethel. After hearing the word of God, he was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and later received the Holy Ghost the same year. Being fully persuaded in the gospel, and sharing his new love.... Jesus Christ...Bishop Easton led his enitre family, his father, his mother, and all of his siblings to the Lord. Bishop Easton would continue to grow in the Lord, as he was mentored by the late Bishop Henry C. Brooks, and the late Bishop Harry C. Eggleston. He would later accept God’s call to the ministry, and received his credentials from The Way Of The Cross Church Of Christ. He would also continue his spiritual development by taking courses from the Church of Christ Bible Institute of New York and the Northwestern Training School in Caldwell, ID. Being the servant he was, Bishop Easton became involved in many ministries at Bethel. He served as President of the Youth for Christ, Sunday School Superintendent, President and Director of the Youth Choir, President of the Deacon Board, Secretary of the Board of Trustees, and many more auxiliaries. He was the founder of Bethel’s Children Church, and implemented Bethel’s weekly television broadcast, “The HarvestTime Broadcast”. He also would make use of his talents in The Way Of The Cross Church and serve as Co Chair of the General Convocation Committee, Sergeant-at-Arms and Third Vice President of the National Youth for Christ, and Superintendent of the National Sunday School Department. In honor of his leadership and servitude, Bishop Jacob Green, then Pastor, would appoint him over all of the auxiliaries at Bethel. In 1995, Bishop Green would consecrate Bishop Easton to the dubious honor of Co-Pastor, mentoring and caring for the flock alongside him. Then in 1998, as Bishop Green would retire, he consecrated him as Bethel’s 2nd Pastor in 45 years. Mother Emma would labor along with Bishop Easton, as she too would help shape the ministry and with a warm, endearing, and loving spirit, endear herself into the hearts of the membership, a trait which she still fulfills until this day. We thank God for Bishop and Mother Easton’s contributions to Bethel. Bishop Allen, who departed from labor to reward on October 12, 2002, touched the hearts of every one who was blessed to know him.
Pastoral Legacy Bishop Darnell Larry and First Lady Margo Easton Bishop Darnell was trained by his parents in the way a child should go. At the early age of 10, he was a baptized believer, and was filled with the precious gift of the Holy Ghost at 13. He loved church and carried zeal and devotion toward ministries in the church. As years past, God continued to order the steps of Bishop Darnell, preparing him for a greater charge. Bishop Darnell met First Lady Margo in 1971, and the two wed on September 14, 1973. They have 3 children, Shawn, Monica, and Cherise, 1 son-in-law, 1 daughter-in-law, and 4 grandchildren. It was in April 1975, when Bishop Darnell Easton was called into the ministry. He answered the call and later preached his trial sermon in June 1977. He was ordained a minister by the late Bishop Jacob A. Green. One of Bishop Green’s favorite scriptures concerning Bishop Darnell’s life was – 2 Timothy 3:15 – “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” Having served loyally, faithfully, and with integrity in his calling, in August 1996, God saw fit to elevate him to the ministry of an Elder. Shortly thereafter, in July 2000, he was consecrated to the office of First Assistant Pastor, blessed to serve under his brother, the late Bishop Allen H. Easton, until the Lord called Bishop Allen home. Bishop Darnell has served and assisted in enhancing and developing many ministry curriculums. He has taught the New Members Class, served as the Youth Department’s Advisor and Coordinator of the Prison Ministry. He has been called upon to instruct and present many seminars. In addition to his responsibilities and duties of a Pastor, he has had a strong involvement and leadership role in the Intercessory Prayer Ministry, Care Ministry and Trustee Board. His commitment to the Pastoral Care of the Chaplin at the Calvert Memorial Hospital was one of his many services to the community. In January 2003, Bishop Darnell was installed as the 3rd Pastor of the Bethel Way of the Cross Church of Christ. He had to undertake the charge of God, to activate the vision of Reaping the Harvest, Church Building Expansion, Community Relations and Out-Reach. As he leads Bethel forward into the future, Bishop Easton continues to create a legacy that has Bethel poised to achieve the vision that God has given him for such a time as this, and to continue to be a church that is poised to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to all. First Lady Margo Easton, serving as the leader of our Women’s Ministry and as head of our Missionary Board, has become know as a “warrior” in the spirit, in both prayer and spiritual warfare, She constantly encourages the church to “know” the God they are talking about, and shares her testimonies of the victories God has give her in her life, and as she prays and ministers to others. Bishop Darnell has assumed the roll as Bethel’s modern day “Joshua” taking the mantle from Bishop Green and Bishop Allen, and leading the saints into possessing what God had blessed Bethel in its 50 plus years, now 62. We thank God for Bishop Darnell and First Lady Margo, as they lead Bethel in the 21st Century and beyond.
Living Pioneers