2023 
Beat The Clock
Ephesians 5:8-16 

Bethel Pentecostal Church of Christ formerly First Pentecostal Church of Christ was established in 1925 and pastored by Bishop Robert C. Lawson, the founder of Refuge Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Seven years later, in 1932, Brother Sam Woolridge built the edifice in which we currently worship located at 834 North Guadalupe in Seguin, Texas. The church was named First Pentecostal Church of Christ, and the overseers of First Pentecostal Church were Brother and Sister Woolridge.

 

Sometime later, Bishop William North was installed as the first official pastor of First Pentecostal Church of Christ. Bishop North preached God’s Word and blessed God’s people until he relocated to Fort Worth, Texas to pastor 12th Street Pentecostal Church.

 

First Pentecostal Church of Christ was left without a pastor, and a decision was made to lock the church doors. Sometime later, the  trustees of the church collectively decided to turn the keys over to Bishop R. A. Wauls of San Antonio, Texas, giving him permission to unlock the church and begin revival services. Bishop Wauls served for many years, and under his leadership, many souls were saved.

 

Over the years, many anointed men and women of God pastored First Pentecostal Church of Christ. Leadership included Sister Sinclair, Elder Shinault, and Elder Othello Lewis. Elder Lewis served as pastor from 1953 until 1955. From 1955 until 1961, the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW) sent soldiers, pastors, and evangelists to preach and teach the gospel to the Seguin saints. Elder Isaac Hughes of San Antonio, Texas was the next official pastor of First Pentecostal Church of Christ in Seguin. 

 

In 1959, Evangelist Marie Baker Smith (known as Mom Smith) heard of a young man from Grand Rapids, Michigan, by the name of Elder Horace M. Young. She invited him to come and conduct revival services in San Antonio and the surrounding area. Many people were richly blessed by the preaching of Elder Young. Evangelist  Smith asked Elder Young to seek God about moving to Texas to preach God’s Word.  With the exception of his three oldest children, Elder Young and his family moved to San Antonio, Texas. Elder Young was elected to pastor First Pentecostal Church of Christ in Seguin, Texas.

 

 In 1961 Elder Young was installed as the pastor of Faith Temple Apostolic Church of Christ in San Antonio. He began sending new preachers to preach at the Seguin church. It was during this time that First Pentecostal Church of Christ became Bethel  Pentecostal Church of Christ. 

Bethel remained under the fervent care of Elder Young for many years. In 1975, Elder Young passed the reigns to Elder Elroy N. Smith, Sr. who pastored Bethel until his death in 2007.  After Bishop Smith passed, Evangelist Eulah Faye Smith acted as interim pastor from December 2007 until June 2009 when she passed the torch to  Elder Eric Q. Payne.