The House of God Reaches Out to the Newport Neighborhood and Beyond

Bethel Church of God in Christ works closely with neighborhood group

Bethel in Hebrew means, “The House of God,” something the congregation of Bethel Church of God in Christ is trying to spread to all of Youngstown’s residents. Bethel Church of God in Christ led by Pastor Ross Johnson (District Superintendent of the Greater Mahoning Valley), located on the Southside of the City of Youngstown on Glenwood Avenue has ministered to the spiritual needs of worshippers for nearly 89 years, and has certainly served as a place of refuge, solace, and worship for those persons who have come through its doors. Bethel is a historic church as it was the first church within its denomination founded and planted in the Youngstown community. It is one of the oldest African American Pentecostal churches in the City.

The Newport Neighborhood on Youngstown’s South Side was for many years a stable neighborhood of well-maintained homes of choice. Although many cared for properties still dot the neighborhood, the recent foreclosure crisis coupled with increased abandonment and blight has placed this neighborhood into a potentially unstable state, but residents and institutions are not letting their neighborhood go to the wayside without a fight. Bethel too has undergone a transformation. Like many congregations in the Valley, Bethel is no longer a neighborhood-based congregation but largely commuter. Residents from all over the Valley travel to the corner of Parkcliffe and Glenwood Avenues on Sundays, but return to other communities throughout the Valley after services. This however does not in any way suggest that the people of Bethel are not concerned about the community of which it is a part. On the contrary, this congregation is intentionally engaging the issues that concern many of those who persons who may never enter the doors of the church, but will benefit from a group of faithful persons putting their faith into action. From the very beginning of the Collaborative’s engagement with Bethel, Deacon Oscar Anderson has offered this rhetorical question to Bethel and all congregations within the Valley, “if our church was not in this neighborhood, would it be missed?” For the people of Bethel, taking its name seriously means more than offering a community of the faithful worshipping together, but it means extending the reach of the congregation beyond its immaculate brick walls to a neighborhood in the midst of transition. When congregations critically think about their impact from this perspective, they are doing good reflective work to ensure that their ministry touches lives of everyone, even those not on the membership rolls. In addition, when congregations engage their communities, lay worshippers like Mr. Bill Davis who, “just want to help
their church and community,” are empowered as lay-leaders.

Pastor Ross Johnson, Elder Robert Mitchell, Dec. Oscar Anderson and Mr. Bill Davis have participated in MVOC’s clergy leadership team. This developing leadership team of the Collaborative has reignited Ohio criminal justice reform campaign. The leadership of Bethel is also working to organize a collective group of churches in and around Newport to work with residents organizing in the surrounding neighborhoods. Whether planning an All-Saints neighborhood party as an alternative to young people walking the streets during Halloween, sending lay leaders like Davis to Columbus to lobby for land-bank and criminal justice reform with grassroots leaders from across Ohio, or canvassing throughout the neighborhood with flyers making residents aware of their presence, Bethel is stretching its arms to larger community. According to Pastor Johnson, Bethel is a church that sees its mission field as the community in which it is based, and is also a church which views a transitioning neighborhood as an opportune location for dynamic ministry. This congregation on the corner is continuing to challenge itself to be a House of God where all are welcome.
Bethel Church of God in Christ is located on 3147 Glenwood Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio.

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