BBC Pictorial History

1895 to the present

Please read our church history to learn how this church has been an integral part of the Gardner community since its inception and what we offer now.

The beginnings …

In many instances God begins with very little. Jesus created food for more than 5,000, beginning with only a small boy’s lunch. Most of the time, God begins with just a few believers when He plans a Christian work – a church. Thus began the work of what is now the Bethany Baptist Church in Gardner.

As early as in the year 1883, there were a few Swedish Baptists living in Gardner, at that time members of the now Belmont Street Baptist Church of Worcester, MA, who began meeting in homes for Bible study and prayer. Visiting pastors came now and then to preach the word of God to them.

Pine Street Church, Gardner MA

In the year 1891, four years before the church was finally organized, and during a meeting with the pastor from the Worcester church, it was decided to build a chapel. Immediately eight of the friends present subscribed $135 to the work. A piece of land was bought for $235, where the chapel was built. The new meeting place was dedicated on February 2, 1892, at a value of $1350. At the dedication, $1047 was already paid, leaving a small debt of only $303. From this time on, regular services were held.

The first regular pastor began his work in February, 1894, more than a year before the church was organized. At this time, the group still held their membership in the Worcester church. In order to do a more effective work, it was agreed that the group should organize themselves into a regular Baptist church. On October 18th, 1895, a group of Baptist believers met and organized The First Swedish Baptist Church of Gardner. There were 26 charter members.

The work of the church progressed very well. Born-again believers were added, so in less than 10 years after the organization, plans were being made to build a new and larger church edifice. Work on this new building began in 1904 and was completed in 1907. The debt on the new church was paid and the mortgage burned at the 25th anniversary celebration in 1920. During the years the work in all departments was progressing normally well. The Sunday School increased rapidly and work expanded in all areas.

In the early 1940s, the Swedish language was no longer being used, so it became evident that the name of the church should be changed. The long-standing name, “The First Swedish Baptist” was changed to “Pine Street Baptist Church.”

Bethany Baptist Church, Ryan St., Gardner

Our Pine Street building became too small, so on January 1, 1967, a vote was taken to build a new church, big enough for all our needs and to include ample parking spaces, and the name was changed to “Bethany Baptist Church.” By God’s leading, the church was able to buy a suitable tract of land on Ryan Street (the present location). This land belonged to the Gustaf Adamson family, and the children were willing to sell this land to the church.

The ground-breaking ceremony was held on April 16, 1967, and the service for the laying of the cornerstone was on September 24, 1967. On Sunday, March 24, 1968, we began services in our new church building. The formal dedication was held on Sunday afternoon, May 12, 1968, at which time we could really sing out: “To God be the Glory, great things He has done.”

The Reverend Daniel Meiners was the full-time pastor here from 1986, retiring from Bethany and from active pastoring on December 31, 2014. Including Pastor Meiners, the church has been served by 24 full-time pastors and five interim pastors. From January-October 2015, we were blessed by the pulpit being filled by many excellent and godly men who preached God’s Word and continued our tradition of Bible-based preaching and teaching, for which the church family is deeply grateful. After conducting an intensive search, the Pastoral Search Committee recommended and the congregation approved the hiring of Reverend George A. Kohl as our Intentional Interim Pastor to lead the church through the process necessary to call a new, full-time pastor who would meet the needs of the church and who could lead us into a new period of renewal and growth. We were blessed by his ministry and stewardship from the October 18, 2015 to April 16, 2017, when he accepted a new intentional interim ministry assignment at another church. Interim Pastor David K. Astolfi joined us in May 2017, while the pastoral search committee actively sought a full-time, permanent pastor to lead Bethany Baptist forward into its future as a godly influence in the greater Gardner community.

That search was finally realized in 2018, when we called Pastor Ruben A. Cabrera, Sr., and his wife, Debbie, to join Bethany as the senior pastor on July 9, 2018. Read more here about Pastor Cabrera.

We presently hold Sunday Worship Services at 10:00 a.m. Bible studies for elementary-aged children are held during the worship gathering in our Kingdom Kids classroom in the education wing of the church. The Christian Education Board oversees the teachers and volunteers who provide these classes. Nursery is also available for children aged infants to 5 years old. Read more about these programs here.

Mrs. Paula d’Entremont was our Faith Community Nurse for 15 years. Her health ministry began in 2002 and provided information, resources and support to the church family, including a Health Ministry section with monthly features on this website. Paula retired from active involvement in this ministry in December 2017 but not before setting up a medical supplies and equipment room to support the needs of the church members and their families, which the church still maintains. These supplies are available to the community by contacting the church office.

Over the years, Bethany has had several full-time youth pastors. Mr. Brendon MacKay joined the church ministry team in 2007 and directed the Next Generation Youth Ministries program for students in grades 6-12 until December 2017. Mr. Sam Williams, assisted by Mr. Koyote Oxford, lead the Junior High and Senior High group on Monday nights from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Youth Room at the church. Mr. Oxford led the group, assisted by Miss Ashley Meisner, until 2020, when Mr. and Mrs. MacKay resumed their leadership until spring 2022 when health reasons required them to suspend the program for a while. The church is hopeful that the program will resume soon.

The Bethany Christian Nursery School, another outreach program, was in operation for 49 years. In June 2017, Mrs. Elinor DeMeo, cofounder and Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Mrs. Susan R. Blais, director and teachers Mrs. Fredericka Paddock and Mrs. Jacinthe LeBlanc retired and the school closed.  

Tuesday evenings find the Prayer Fellowship group meeting at 7:00 p.m., led by the pastor.

During the entire time we have been in existence, the church has been richly blessed with musical talent, including string bands and an orchestra that took part regularly in the evening services. In the 50s, there was also a band. There have been senior and junior choirs to provide music in our worship services, and our music style is a blend of the traditional and the contemporary. We also praise God for the many groups and individuals who have been blessed with musical talents. Our current choir and music directors are Ted Cushing and Diane Cushing. 

Our Family Ministry team sponsors the annual Sweetheart Dinner around Valentines Day to celebrate the covenant of marriage and the Summer Fest in late June that showcases many musical and other talents and is followed by an ice cream and strawberry social in Fellowship Hall.

We know only part of the story, but God knows all of it, and He will abundantly reward one and all for faithful service that has been rendered to Him and His work. Our “tomorrows” are as bright and hopeful as are God’s promises. May we continue to learn that if we depend on Him and let Him lead, His work amongst us will surely prosper.

The beginning sections of this history come from the 100th anniversary brochure, submitted by the Church Officers and Committees (1895-1995). Updated on June 2, 2022, by the webmaster.

View two clips taken from the 100th anniversary video. These were shown at the Heritage Sunday congregational meeting held on March 13, 2016. These are hosted here on the Bethany YouTube channel.