Bethel Newmarket’s local history and its organization structure...

History - 1955 to the present

The Beginning

As per the official records of the church such as the annual reports and the minutes of congregational meetings...

"October 18, 1955" are the first words of the first report. The date had been chosen to institute the congregation of Newmarket. In beautiful, almost dignified Dutch, the first clerk, brother M. Veenstra reported that the congregation met in the basement of the Grace Church. Also present were Rev. Lagerwey with consistory members from Holland Marsh and Rev. Wildschut with consistory members from Springdale.

20 families were the pioneers of this congregation, consisting of 36 confessing members and 62 baptized members. That same evening the male confessing members elected two elders (G. Tjoelker and M. Veenstra) and two deacons (H. Hiemstra and C. J. Kuvenhoven) who were installed right away.

The treasurer of the new church had a total of $243.35 with which to start.

Building

It is hard to imagine how big and far reaching the decisions in respect to building were. There was no minister and no parsonage. The worship services were held in the Fire Hall. A real church building could be rented from the Baptist congregation, but that would mean very early morning church services, which might cause problems for farmers and other persons who lived far away. It would also mean that there would be no opportunity for Sunday School.

On July 4, 1956 with $192.98 in a building fund, the congregation tried to create some logical order in the building plans:

1. buy a building lot for a parsonage,
2. build a house on that lot,
3. call a minister, and
4. build a church

Only six months later the decision was made to call a minister, which meant that the building activity had to start. For that purpose a loan of $5,000.00 was approved!

A lot on Davis Drive was bought and the consistory tried to buy the house next door. When things did not work out as planned, the purchase of an old Baptist church in Aurora was considered. This, however, could not get sufficient approval, so the attention again was focussed on Newmarket. In March 1959, shortly before the arrival of the first minister, a parsonage at 196 Parkview Cres. In Newmarket was bought for $14,000.

Then full attention could be given to a church building: a building committee was formed and a "drive" was held. The drive in November 1959 resulted in a fund of well over $9,000. In January, the decision was made to build a "partly finished shell building" and when four months later a mortgage of $24,000.00 at 6.75 could be secured, the total sum available, including other loans, amounted to $53,000.00, which was $6,000 more than was actually needed.

For a while the frustrations seemed to get the upper hand: conflicts, changes, misunderstandings and more changes.

Yet, on January 25, 1961 the building was ready for use and since February 20, 1961 the congregation could meet in the basement of its own church. It took another eight years and eight days, until February 28, 1969 before the entire church building was completed.

The early 1990's saw the next major changes. A need for additonal space and improved faucilities was addressed by building an addition on the east side. This provided more classrooms and office space, a larger fellowship hall and kitchen plus handicap access. Part of the funding for the addition was provided by selling off the parsonage which was not being used at the time.

Ministers

We have been blessed by the former pastors who have served our congregation...

Garret Andre 1956-1959
Dirk Habermehl 1959-1964
John VanderStelt 1965-1967
James Joosse 1967-1971
Albert Dreise 1972-1975
Sieds Vander Meer 1975-1982
Harry Salomons 1982-1990
Mike Veenema 1989-1992
Bill Dykstra 1990-1998
Syd Hielema (Youth Worker) 1993-1996
George Lubbers (Youth Worker) 1998-2008
Mark Davies 1999-2003

Organizational Structure

Many people make up the body of the church. The same is true at Bethel CRC. The groups and committees at Bethel include...

Staff

The staff includes our pastor, youth pastor, administration assistant and custodian.

More information about our staff is shown on the "Staff" page.

Council

The Pastors, elders and deacons both serve and guide the congregation.

Committees

Administration

The task of the Administration Committee is to advise and cooperate with the church Council in the administration of the finances and maintenance of church property.

Education

The task of the Education Committee is to be an umbrella organization that co-ordinates and oversees the entire church education program and tries to ensure that the educational needs of all ages are adequately met.

Evangelism

The task of the Evangelism committee is to co-ordinate outreach efforts, advise the body of the church of the ways in which they can nourish outreach, nurture effective methods of sharing God's love and our faith with others and solicit participation from the congregation so that evangelism programs can be effective.

Fellowship Committee

The task of the Fellowship Committee is to strengthen church fellowship.

Worship

The task of the Worship committee is to nurture the richness of the worship services, so that every child of God can meaningfully worship the Lord with the entire congregation, and everyone seeking the Lord is given the opportunity to discover His love. The committee works to discover and use spiritual gifts among the congregation appropriate to worship.

Counting

The task of the Counting committee is to record the budget receipts and offerings received by the church and make the bank deposits.

Library

The task of the library committee is to make available resources in the form of print and other media that strengthen our walk with the Lord.

Maintenance

The task of the Maintenance committee is to manage and ensure completion of the Maintenance and Action Items List needed to maintain the church building and property.

Nursery

The task of the Nursery committee is to coordinate the resources needed to look after our very youngest members during the worship services.

Prayer Ministries

The task of the Prayer Ministries is to consciously and regularly make intercession for the church members, congregational needs, denominational needs and needs within our communities and countries.

Sound

The task of the Sound committee is to ensure that the church sound equipment is operated and generally maintained, also to ensure that all services are staffed with capable operators and the sound equipment is in good operating condition.

Ushers

The task of the ushers is to assist those attending the morning worship services.

Youth Ministries

The task of the Youth Ministries council is to nurture and direct the ministries of the congregation toward young members by praying for our youth, helping them draw closer to God and each other and developing leaders amoung them.