The history of Bethel is one of God’s great faithfulness and blessing.  It began early in 1951 when a group of about 20 believers who had been meeting on the south side of Duncan felt the call to organize a new church in the Duncan area.  Without a church building or any resources, they contacted Rev. David Roper, a Presbyter for the Assemblies of God, who oversaw the Duncan area.  They asked him to give them direction and help for their new church.  Reverend Roper then contacted Reverend A.D. Stewart who was at the time pastoring the Assembly of God church in Velma, Oklahoma.  He asked Reverend Stewart if he would be interested in starting another church in Duncan.  Reverend Stewart accepted the invitation and met with the small group on June 29, 1951 at 902 Park Street in Duncan.

 

The first meeting was both formal and informal.  Homemade ice cream and coconut cake was served while the Stewarts and the small congregation got acquainted.  Reverend Roper presided over the meeting and as a result, a new church was officially formed with the name Bethel Assembly and A.D. Stewart as its first pastor.

 

Through the years Bethel has been led by six different pastors.   Reverend Stewart helped to establish the church at its first location at 15th and Pecan.   After about a year, he moved on to other pastoral ministries.  Reverend Willie Lowder came to Bethel Assembly in 1952, and pastored the church for eleven years.  Pastor Lowder retired in 1963, and Reverend Marcus Alexander became the pastor until 1967. The new auditorium at 15th and Maple was erected during Reverend Alexander’s tenure.

 

In 1967, Reverend James R. Tucker was called to be the pastor at Bethel Assembly. He pastored Bethel until 1981.  During Rev. Tucker’s  fourteen year tenure, the church grew and went through another expansion program.  Pastor Tucker was called to another ministry position in 1981, and the vacated office of pastor was filled by Reverend Mark Allen.  Reverend Allen served Bethel for two years after which he relocated to pastor in Oklahoma City. 

In October, 1983, the call was given to Reverend Ron Meador from Stamford, Texas, to serve as the pastor.  He and his wife Jan moved to Duncan with their two children.  God began to generously bless Bethel and Pastor Meador and the church began to make plans to relocate because the church had reached maximum capacity of their facilities.  In 1989, Bethel Assembly relocated to its present location at 700 W. Plato Road. 

God has continued to bless Bethel over the years.  In 1997, an educational building was built for children and in 2003 a state of the art student center was built to for the young people of the Duncan area.  But more than buildings, God has built numbers of people into disciples of Jesus.  Today, worshippers from all across the area attend Bethel to celebrate God’s ongoing faithfulness and blessing.