Frequently Asked Questions

No. Come in whatever modest attire you desire. Some who attend dress formally, while others dress more casually.

Bethel Baptist Church is an independent church voluntarily associated with the Northeast Fellowship of Independent Baptist Churches and the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches.

We are located across the street from Core Building Materials on North Jensen Road in Vestal, NY, just 1.5 miles from Binghamton University.

Pastor Rising preaches from the NKJV. Other teachers might use a KJV, ESV, NET, NASB, etc. We do not have a translation policy.

Yes. Those who use wheelchairs or walkers are encouraged to enter the side entrance. Upstairs restrooms are convenient and handicap accessible:

We have a strong and annually-inspected elevator to transport from the main floor to the basement (fellowship hall, classrooms):

The main entrance has five stairs to get to the auditorium (2 outside, 3 inside):

We have bible classes for children at various ages during our Sunday School (9:45-10:45 AM). During the morning service while the pastor is preaching, Junior Church for young children meets downstairs. We have a nursery for infants.

All workers for children’s ministry must abide by our children’s safety policy. We believe this will ensure the safety of your child.

We have a summer Vacation Bible School program that runs for a week.

At times, we host special children’s events to give more opportunities for ministry and fun for children.

Our music is conservative and traditional. We sing songs from the past and the present. In 2023 we compiled a custom hymnal. We do not have a worship team nor a band, but have an organ (Rodgers), piano (Steinway grand), and keyboard and emphasize congregational participation.

We have a little over 60 members and on most Sunday mornings, we have between 50-80 people attend.

1972. See our history page for more details.

The auditorium was remodeled in 2010. We have padded pews, air conditioning, and circulating hot water heat.

In 2002 the church completed an expansion with upstairs library, office, study, nursery, restrooms, and a good sized fellowship hall downstairs.

See our 50th anniversary booklet for more details.

Our nursery is a warm place to leave your children in our care during the services.

In the fall of 2024, we had our parking lot repaved.

Note below the relevant sections from our doctrinal statement:

VIII. Of the Atonement for Sin

We believe that the salvation of sinners is wholly of grace; through the mediatorial offices of the Son of God, who by the appointment of the Father, freely took upon Him our nature, yet without sin, honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and by His death made a full and vicarious atonement for our sins; that His atonement consisted not in setting us an example by His death as a martyr, but was a voluntary substitution of Himself in the sinner’s place, the Just dying for the unjust; Christ the Lord, bearing our sin in His own body on the tree, that having risen from the dead, He is now enthroned in Heaven, and uniting in His wonderful person the tenderest sympathies with divine perfection, He is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all sufficient Savior. Eph. 2:8; Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24; John 3:16; Matt. 18:11; Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:14; Isa. 53:4-7; Rom. 3:25; 1 John 4:10; 1 Cor. 15:3; 2 Cor. 5:21.

IX. Of Grace in the New Creation

We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be born again; that the new birth is a new creation in Christ Jesus; that it is instantaneous and not a process; that in the new birth the one dead in trespasses and in sins is made a partaker of the divine nature and receives eternal life, the free gift of God; that the new creation is brought about in a manner above our comprehension, solely by the power of the Holy Spirit in connection with divine truth so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel, that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance and faith and newness of life. John 3:3; 2 Cor. 5:15; 1 John 5:1; John 3:6, 7; Acts 16:30-33; 2 Peter 1:4; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1; 2 Cor. 5:19; Col. 2:13; John 3:8.

X. Of Justification

We believe that the great gospel blessing which Christ secures to such as believe in Him is Justification:

a. That Justification includes the pardon of sin, and the gift of eternal life, on principles of righteousness;

b. That it is bestowed not in consideration of any works of righteousness which we have done, but solely through faith in the Redeemer’s blood, His righteousness is imputed to us. Acts 13:39; Isa. 53:11; Zech. 13:1; Rom. 8:1; Rom. 5:1, 9.

XI. Of Faith and Salvation

We believe that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only condition of salvation. Acts 16:31.