On the fifth Sunday of March, 1884, three ministers and six deacons met in the Hayes' school house in Durham County to organize a Missionary Baptist Church. Twenty-three members of Cedar Fork Baptist Church transferred their membership to be the charter members of the missionary church in the Bethesda Community.

The church is located on what was called Old Raleigh Road, now known as South Miami Boulevard, five miles east of Durham. It is one of the oldest churches in Durham County. From the beginning it was a farming community and the members consisted of mostly farmers and their families. As the years progressed the church attracted more and more 'city workers" from Durham. Today, the church is located in one of the fastest developing technical areas known as Research Triangle Park.

Rev. J. H. Layton was the first pastor and he preached on the second Saturday and Sunday of each month. The first pastors served on a part time basis and the earliest recorded salary for a pastor was $50 per year in 1886. Claiming always to be a mission minded church, the church began giving to missions even before it started paying its pastor. The offering for missions in 1884 was $8.75.

In 1922, the church began to hold services on two weekends per month. During the 1920's church membership grew from 145 to 341 and Sunday School enrollment grew from 60 to 502. During this same time the church's offering increased from $600 to over $1,700 per year. It was also during this time that the church changed the old two-room building to one with fourteen rooms.

Between 1931 and 1945, Rev. Charles Jollay served Bethesda. During his tenure church membership grew to 694 and Sunday School enrollment grew to 734. A three-story brick education building was erected in 1935. An auditorium was added in 1940 with a seating capacity of 450.

In 1957 Rev. Russell Barbee came and served the church until 1970. In 1962 a two-story education building was completed. This building is now used on Sunday and Wednesday for children's activities and also houses Bethesda Child Care Center. In 1967 the church purchased property on Page Road and started a mission church called Page Road Baptist Church.

Rev. Hugh O'Shields came to Bethesda in 1979 to become the first full time Associate Music/Youth Director. Rev. O'Shields celebrated his 30th anniversary of full time service to Bethesda Baptist Church in January 2009.

Between 1981 and 1990, Rev. Ernest Ferrell served as pastor. Our current sanctuary and office complex were built during this time and the first service was held in the new building on August 14, 1983.

Rev. John Butler served Bethesda from 1991 until October 1998. A new two story education building was added to the existing sanctuary and it now houses most of our adult Sunday School and Discipleship Training classes as well as serving as the home of Bethesda Christian Academy.

Bethesda Baptist Church has always had a history of contributing to missions, both home and foreign, that continues to this day. Money is not the only way Bethesda has contributed to missions. Recorded history of the church indicates that between 1945 and 1956 five men were called to full time ministry and four women were called to service. Between 1969 and 1983 ten individuals gave their lives to full time Christian service. Since 1993, at least fifteen people made it known that the Lord was calling them into full time service from Bethesda Baptist Church.

In 1926, the Mt. Zion Association Minutes stated, "Because of its location Bethesda Baptist Church would become one of the greatest, strongest, and most progressive country churches in the Association". Today, Bethesda Baptist Church has more than 1,200 members and an annual budget over $1,000,000. Bethesda is no longer the "country church" it was in 1926, or 1976 for that matter. The research and manufacturing area of RTP stands just south of the church while the suburbs of Durham, Raleigh, Cary and Morrisville have closed in from all other sides. Restaurants, office buildings, apartments and subdivisions now stand where woods and pastures once were.

Because of its location and history, Bethesda Baptist Church is in a unique position. The church is in a rural/suburban setting and draws members from urban, suburban and rural areas. The membership is made up of men and women from a broad array of professions. The church is yet to realize its full potential as the regional church it is about to become.

Looking forward, Bethesda Baptist is making plans to serve the mission field that God has led to our doorstep and to prepare workers for the field around the world. We invite you to come and be a part of the exciting work that the Lord has in store for the body of believers assembled here at Bethesda.