PHOTOS PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
RINGING IN 150 YEARS … Brothers Levi and Collin Hinkle ring the bell before the celebratory church service held Sunday, June 14, 2026.
FAITHFUL FOR LIFE… Susie Bassett, who has been attending Bethlehem Christian Union Church since childhood, stands with former Pastor Phil Harris as they celebrate 150 years of service in rural Edon.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
brenna@thevillagereporter.com
Members, former pastors, families, and friends gathered Sunday, June 14, 2026, to celebrate a remarkable milestone as Bethlehem Christian Union Church commemorated 150 years of ministry and service to the community. The Edon church hit the 150 milestone last year, in 2025.
The church, located at 4016 County Road M-50 near Edon, celebrated its “sesquicentennial” anniversary with a special worship service, fellowship meal, and afternoon concert by the Sojourners Quartet.
The event honored a century and a half of faith, fellowship, and community outreach while reflecting on the church’s rich history.
According to historical records displayed during the celebration, Bethlehem Christian Union Church was organized on February 6, 1875, by Elder Levi Ely.
The congregation’s roots trace back to the Spring Lake area, where local newspaper accounts from the late 1870s documented efforts to establish the church and raise funds for its construction.
A Bryan Press article from January 1879 noted that more than $200 had already been pledged toward building the church. By June 1880, area newspapers were announcing the dedication of the newly completed Bethlehem Christian Union Church.
Over the decades, the church underwent improvements and expansions while remaining a fixture in the rural community. Historical accounts show that by 1885 the church had received a new coat of paint, interior renovations, a new pulpit, and a 400-pound bell for its belfry.
During Sunday’s anniversary service, attendees reflected on what organizers described as “150 Years of God’s Faithfulness.”
The program included congregational hymns, scripture readings from Psalm 100 and Psalm 127:1, recognition of former pastors, historical reflections, and a message centered on the church’s enduring mission.
The church’s longstanding mission statement is: “Here to make an invisible God visible so as to prepare men for eternity.” That same message remains central to the ministry today.
For Bethlehem Christian Union Church, the anniversary served not only as a celebration of the past but also as a reminder that the ministry established in 1875 continues to impact lives throughout the Edon area 150 years later.