LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA

Pg 69
BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH
Fredonia, Iowa

Transcribed by Jackie Terry, August 12, 2016

        Bethel Baptist Church started in 1972 in Columbus Junction, Iowa with James Epps as Pastor. The church originally started in the building now used as Mincer Ford in Columbus Junction.

        As the church grew and the building was hard to heat, it was decided to build a church in Fredonia. At that time Pastor Oscar Coolbaugh was the minster. The people of the church volunteered their time and put up the new building.

        Feeling that public schools were going downhill, the congregation started to pray about starting a Christian School. Three families took their children to the Tipton Christian School for a half of a year while a curriculum was developed and plans were made for the school.

        In 1978 the school was started with David Duncan as principal. Teachers for the school were Dorothy Harstock, and Gwen Gipple. The school was held in the church building for one year. An addition was added to the church building just for the school.

        In 1989 the school closed and in 1990 the church also closed.

Picture: Bethel Baptist Church