Return to Bethany Assembly

While driving in the Adrian area they found themselves in the Deerfield housing projects. Being amazed at the number of children, they decided to visit homes to see if there was interest in starting a Sunday school. The response was overwhelming and this was confirmation God had led them to the right place for the right time. Donna Liebler stated, “Miss Annabel was a small, petite, very feminine person in outward appearance but she had the heart of a soldier. In her early twenties, she was sent to a T.B. sanitarium and given eight months to live. A few years later a drunk driver struck her as she walked on the sidewalk. She was picked up for dead and lay unconscious for several days. God was not finished with her yet.”

She immediately launched into organizing Sunday school classes, prayer meetings, Bible studies and music. The manager of the project gave her the use of an apartment to be used for Sunday school classes. The newly formed church was called Evangel Chapel.

The word soon spread among the children and their parents that there was a Sunday school class right in Deerfield Park, and many began to attend. Soon Rev. Annabel and Miss Libeler were holding evening services downtown in an empty store.

In 1944, they received permission to use the community building at Deerfield Park for their services. Soon the public school needed this building for classrooms. There was no room at all for this little community of believers. They held their services and Sunday school classes outdoors on the lawn. For the evening services, they hung lights in the trees. When it rained, they huddled in cars. During this unsettling time, the Lawler’s (Odel and Curl) and the Oakes’ (Oscar and Tempie) opened up their small project apartments for services.

WABJ offered free air time to churches in Adrian for a gospel broadcast. Miss Annabel and Donna took advantage of this offer and out of this grew the weekly radio program called “Rays of Blessing.”

Year 1947 - Mulzer St

In 1947 a good-sized house on Mulzer Street was purchased and converted into a chapel and parsonage. Financing could not be obtained from any bank. A businessman, Mr. Perry Frownfelder from the Presbyterian Church loaned the money to Miss Annabel to buy the building. Mrs. Lawler remembers her husband and Rev. Annabel driving their cars to Detroit with trailers and bringing back old theater seats someone was willing to donate. Miss Annabel asked Donna to choose a name for the new church. The name “Bethany” is a place mentioned in scripture that Jesus enjoyed visiting and Donna thought this would be very appropriate.

Year 1950 - Park St

Around 1950, it seemed clear this congregation needed a real church building for its work, and there was one available at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Park Street. However, relocating would mean moving away from the children in Deerfield Park. The parents of some of the children were members, and they offered to bring their children to church. But could this church simply ignore the rest of the children? The answer was busing the children to church. In God’s providence the City of Adrian provided free busing and bus drivers for a time. Many of the church members filled their cars with children and brought them to church. This was the beginning of a bus ministry at Bethany that is still reaching out to the children of Lenawee County today. A parsonage on Park Street was purchased during this time.

In 1951 two people, who would be instrumental in the phenomenal growth of the church, moved to Adrian. They were Rev and Mrs. Arthur Clay who had pastored in Dundee for one and a half years. The Clays joined Bethany as associate pastors.

A rapid succession of events transpired during Pastor Clay’s ministry in Adrian. He was elected to the office of State Vice President of the Youth Department of the Assemblies of God. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Adrian College in 1954. Because of the growth of the church, property was purchased and construction began on a new church building at Airport Road and West Beecher in Adrian.

Without financing the church would have to rely on God to provide. Families from the church mortgaged and gave sacrificially to see the new building completed. There were many unique money raisers during this time. Bricks for the new building were shipped in by rail. Families of the church purchased these bricks and the money went to the building fund. The congregation moved into its new building on September 9, 1956. In 1959 a new and more convenient parsonage was purchased on Clearview Drive.

Year 1956 - Airport Rd

Bethany continued its rapid growth until once again it was crowded to capacity. Ground was broken for the new addition on May 19, 1961, doubling the capacity of the sanctuary to 700, with 40 classrooms and offices. God miraculously provided $20,000 for new pews and a furnace. The $160,000 addition was dedicated on October 28, 1962.

Within three years the Sunday school had outgrown its facilities and another building was erected in 1965 known as the Christian Activities Center. This building included a gymnasium, kitchen, and an apartment. The apartment was used to house pastors and guest evangelists. The building provided for fellowship activities as well as additional Sunday school classes. The Sunday school grew so rapidly it became necessary to expand again. In December of 1971 a mobile unit was installed to house the overflowing classes. It became apparent the facilities at Airport Road were too small to accommodate the growing congregation. In 1970, under the leadership of Pastor Clay, fifty acres, located at East U.S. 223 and Treat Highway, were purchased for the purpose of constructing a new building.

In 1972, following the sudden home going of Pastor Clay, Youth Minister William Leach became pastor. Before coming to Bethany he was on staff at Detroit Teen Challenge.

Present Day Bethany

Under new leadership Senior Pastor Randy Santiago. He and his family comes to us from Plainview,Texas.