A day after Bethel Church held its 200th anniversary event, Pastor Brian Mabry asked a question to the congregation during a Sunday service on June 15.

He asked the church members what they would like to see out of Bethel Church for the next 200 years.

“I really wanted to know,” Mabry said. “Look at this being day one for the next 200 years. What do they want it to be known as? Most of them were clueless.”

Then, Mabry got an acceptable answer from his wife, Michelle.

“Michelle said, ‘I would like to see a church where people are standing up and sharing all of the great things God has been doing in the community,’” Mabry said. “I said, ‘That’s the answer I want.’”

Bethel Church held its anniversary event on June 14 that included a 90-minute lunch, guest appearances from Dr. Robert Farr and Dr. John Ray and gospel music from the Renfrow Valley Band.

Central Methodist University helped coordinate the event, which drew about 100 people. Its president, Dr. Roger Drake, was in attendance.

Mabry said Ron Knigge, a member of the church, planned on having a 200th anniversary event for years.

They were already discussing that when I started here,” said Mabry, who has been the church’s pastor for over a year. “But most of it really came into play when Dr. Drake was here. He came and played one Sunday because he played the organ and stuff. We were talking about it. He’s known Ron for so long. Ron is an alumni from there.”

Known as the Little White Church in the Wildwood, Bethel Church is located seven miles west of Montgomery City and eight miles south of Wellsville on Bethel Church Road. It started having services in 1825. According to Ray during a service four years ago, the current site of the church was a camp meeting place before the church was later built. For many years, it had the largest congregation in the Montgomery County area.

The church was remodeled in 2007. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world in 2020, it was shut down for 16 months before it reopened in July 2021.

Mabry said even though the church has reached a big milestone this year, he is more focused on the church’s future.

“I’m not a history guy,” the pastor said. “I appreciate the stuff that’s done, but I’m more concerned about the church today and next week.”

Bethel Church holds its services every Sunday at 10 a.m. Mabry said the church has attracted many young people.

“It’s a mindset that the church wasn’t used to,” he said. “Five years ago, we came on some Sundays and I was by far the young person. Now, we have young families. We have six month old babies and a one year old baby.”

Mabry served in churches in Macon, Wellsville and Middletown before taking over pastoral duties at Bethel Church.

“It’s a beautiful setting,” Mabry said. “It’s a very nice place. I don’t know what God will do here, but I think we have a group of people who are more than willing to follow Him.”