Bethel Assembly of God stands on a 13-acre campus at 2010 Tavern Road in Martinsburg, the last stop on the commuter train from Washington, D.C., a town whose diversity the church has long described as a cultural melting pot and one of the reasons it calls itself home. Founded in 1909 and known today by the shorthand "Bethel Tabernacle," the congregation belongs to the Assemblies of God fellowship, holds to its 16 Fundamental Truths, and runs two Sunday morning services, a full children's wing, a thriving student ministry, a Spanish-language congregation, and a busy midweek calendar built around prayer and small groups.
Since 1909 on Tavern Road
The story of Bethel begins in the home of James and Mollie Brown, where a small group of believers first gathered in 1909. The fledgling congregation grew through tent revivals held on Virginia Avenue and, by 1915, moved into its first wood-frame tabernacle. Bethel formally joined the Assemblies of God fellowship in 1926 and, over the following decades, expanded its facilities and its ministry footprint across Martinsburg. In 1975 the congregation moved to its current location on Tavern Road, where the present Main Building, the Madeline Adam Christian Education (M.A.C.E.) Building, and a gym complex share a single campus.
Three words have framed the church for years: Passion. People. Purpose. The mission that ties them together is to create passionate disciples of Jesus Christ who fulfill God's purpose in their lives. A thread runs from the tent revivals of the early twentieth century straight through to a multiethnic, multigenerational vision for the city today.
Pastors Ralph and Jane Campbell
Ralph and Jane Campbell have served in Assemblies of God ministry for more than twenty-five years, including time on staff at the Edge, a nationally recognized youth ministry, and a 2000 church plant in one of the most diverse parts of the country. They came to Bethel in 2010, with Ralph serving as Lead Pastor and Jane as Student Pastor. They are joined on the pastoral team by Kilyn Brinegar (Next Generation Pastor, overseeing Bethel Kids), Connor Campbell (Worship and Young Adults Pastor), and Rebecca Johnston (Connections Pastor).
Two Sunday Services, One Family
Bethel offers two distinct Sunday morning services so that the same church family can worship in the style that fits them best.
- The 9:15 AM Traditional Service meets in Heritage Chapel and is described as a quieter, more reflective gathering built around acoustic music, familiar hymns, and a small, close-knit feel.
- The 10:30 AM Contemporary Service fills the Main Sanctuary with modern worship music and dynamic teaching. It is also the service broadcast live on Facebook and YouTube, and there is a Spanish-language translation of the message offered directly afterward in the Life-On-Life Center.
Both services lead the congregation through the same basic arc: a warm greeting from the First Impressions Team, time for worship, brief announcements, a message (most often from Pastor Ralph), a closing prayer, and space afterward to meet the pastors and other members over coffee. There is a Guest Services Booth on the way out where first-time guests receive a small gift, and prominent signage directs families to Bethel Kids sign-in.
Between and after the services, three adult Sunday School classes are running: an adult class at 9:15 in Masters Hall, a men's class at 9:15 in Room 103 of the M.A.C.E. Building, and a senior class at 10:30 in Heritage Hall.
Bethel Kids and Elevate Youth
The next generation is a defining value at Bethel: "we value family ministry, believing that effective ministry to marriages and our children and youth shape the future of our church, community, and nation." Three ministries serve that vision across age groups:
- Bethel Nursery serves children age four and under during the 10:30 service in the bottom level of the M.A.C.E. Building.
- Bethel Kids (grades K-5) runs concurrently with the 10:30 Contemporary Service in Room 209. The program is built around three pillars: Love God, Love His Word, and Love His People. It uses dynamic worship, Scripture memorization, hands-on activities, and small group discussion.
- Elevate Student Ministries (grades 6-12) meets Sunday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 PM in Room 209 with student-led worship, a teaching from Pastors Jane and Kilyn, small group connection time, snacks, and gym fellowship. Elevate takes a break in July and August.
Midweek programming for young people mirrors that commitment. On Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:15, MPact Girls Club (girls age 3 through grade 8) meets in the upstairs right hallway of the M.A.C.E. Building, Royal Rangers (boys age 3 through grade 8) meets on the upstairs left hallway, and a High School Girls discipleship group meets in Room 201.
Bethel Young Adults
Bethel Young Adults is the church's ministry for people in their late teens, twenties, and early thirties. The group focuses on building a Jesus-centered community where members do "life-on-life" with one another. It meets Wednesday nights at 7:00 in the Life-On-Life Center in the Main Building.
Women's, Men's, and Senior Ministries
Three adult ministries round out the age-span of the church family:
- Transformation Women's Ministry meets on a semester basis for a Tuesday-night Women's Bible Study in Heritage Chapel, with the goal of letting the Word of God transform women into who God created them to be.
- Bethel Men's Ministry gathers for Sunday School at 9:15 in Room 103 of the M.A.C.E. Building and for men's prayer at 6:00 AM on Wednesday mornings in Pastor Ralph's office.
- Inspire Senior Adult Ministry is open to anyone willing to admit they are fifty-five or older and meets Sunday mornings at 10:30 in Heritage Chapel and for a luncheon every third Thursday at noon in the gym.
Bethel Español
Spanish-speaking members of the Bethel family have their own worshiping community. Bethel Español meets directly after Sunday worship in the Life-On-Life Center for a live Spanish translation of the message, then stays for a shared meal in Masters Hall. The group also meets on Wednesday nights at 6:00 PM for a meal and Bible study in Masters Hall.
Circles, Prayer, and Midweek Discipleship
Two mainstays anchor the week:
- Midweek Prayer runs Wednesday from 7:00 to 8:15 PM in the Main Sanctuary. The church describes this gathering as one of the most important things it does. Corporate prayer "is the primary method of getting things done in God's kingdom."
- Circles are Bethel's small group format, offered on a semester basis. Each Circle shares a meal, fellowship, and conversation about the previous Sunday's sermon. New Circles launch each semester, and the church calls them "the heartbeat of our church."
On the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM, the whole body gathers in the sanctuary for a First Wednesday service of worship and a message from one of the pastoral staff or a global worker, followed by altar time. During First Wednesday the boys' and girls' discipleship classes still run, but all other midweek groups join the larger service.
Reaching Martinsburg Together
Outreach at Bethel takes several shapes:
- The Clothing Cottage is a Bethel-run clothing ministry that provides basic essentials to anyone in the community who needs them. It is open the first Saturday of each month from 1:00 to 3:00 PM and on the third Tuesday of the month from 5:00 to 6:00 PM.
- Downtown Outreach serves a meal to Martinsburg's homeless and needy population quarterly, alongside the assembly of care bags to hand out.
- Bread of Life Meal is a monthly community meal open to anyone, served on the third Tuesday of the month in the gym.
- Love Week, held the last week of October each year, sends church members out across Martinsburg in dozens of service projects.
A 13-Acre Campus
Bethel's 13-acre campus is built around three anchor facilities. The Main Building houses both Sunday morning services and the Heritage Chapel and Masters Hall. The Madeline Adam Christian Education (M.A.C.E.) Building hosts nursery, children, and youth ministries during Sunday services and throughout the week. The gymnasium complex is one of the finest in Berkeley County and is used for youth events, senior luncheons, the Bread of Life community meal, and other gatherings. A campus map is available for first-time guests who want to get their bearings before they arrive.
What Bethel Believes
As an Assemblies of God congregation, Bethel holds to the fellowship's 16 Fundamental Truths. On its own statement of faith the church emphasizes four foundations: the Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God; God created and rules over everything; humanity is fallen and separated from God by sin; and God sent Jesus as the only solution to that separation, calling every person to respond in repentance and faith. Nine values flow from those beliefs: fervent corporate prayer; global missions; biblical teaching; family ministry; biblical community; reaching all people; a grace-filled environment; excellence; and servant leadership.
Planning a First Visit
Guests are greeted at the door by the First Impressions Team, who can help with finding a seat or locating a children's classroom. A Guest Services Booth on the way out has a small welcome gift for first-time visitors. The Contemporary Service at 10:30 is the livestream option for anyone watching from home on Facebook or YouTube. Anyone wanting to follow up after a visit can fill out a connect card under "Plan a Visit" or "New to Bethel?" and the Connections team will reach out.
Bethel is located at 2010 Tavern Road, Martinsburg, WV 25401. The church office can be reached at 304-267-8694 or churchoffice@bethel.life.