New Bethel Church

(Ruckers, Oak Hill, Wackers Well)

(1880-)

Brethren at Work Oct, 5. 1880 page 7 Vol. V No. 40

I just returned from a missionary tour in Pittsylvania Co., Va. we opened a mission field there nearly four years ago, where the people never had heard the Brethren preach. Our labors have not been well concentrated in consequence of the distance and want ofr suitable house to preach in, but we thank God that our labors have been blessed. There have been forty-eight additions, principally in two communities.  In a co-operative meeting of the four congregations in Franklin county last Spring, it was thought best during this year to organize the membership of Pittsylvania in two separate congregations, as they were twenty miles apart. In obedience to the council, Bro. Joel Peters and the writer, with the help of two minister and a couple of deacons present, proceeded to organize a church at Walderswell on the 12 inst. two deacons were chosen. On the 14th, we proceeded to organize another church where two deacons were also chosen. Pursuant to the usage of the Brethren, we then gave the churches, thus organized, the liberty of select housekeepers or pastors. The vote being taken by the deacons and ministers traveling with us and the lot in both cases fell up the writer, who feels the weight of labors already resting upon him.

  We have another missionary field open up in Patrick and Henry counties, where the brethren of the four churches in Franklin are laboring alternately, as we have done in Pittsylvania, and to the praise of the self-sacrificing spirit of those brethren, we will say, all are moving without money or price. God grant that their hearts may ever be comforted by that Gospel they preach to others. If we only had more literature gotten up by the Brethren, to spread, we could push the four forward faster.  We hope that day dawns. In the South slavery is no longer a barrier to the spread of the Gospel by the Brethren. Yours in Christ.  John H.  Lemon