A young man patching a wall during the renovation

2025 – 2026

Rebuilt by hand.

No contractor. A family church, on Saturdays and weeknights, for about a year. Grand reopening March 1, 2026, with lunch.

When Pastor Bankert came in 2025 the building was tired. The church did not hire it out. Members tore out, hauled, painted, coated the roof in the Florida sun and laid floor on their knees. The photos are the pastor’s, taken on the days it happened.

The ramp

The old decking had rotted through. It came out down to the posts on a Saturday and went back as new pressure-treated lumber with a rail.

The old wooden ramp torn out down to the posts — Before

The new ramp, fresh lumber and a new rail along the side of the building — After

The sanctuary

Chairs to one side, ladders up, every wall painted. Then a member climbed up and painted the mural behind the pulpit: the cross on a hill under a sunrise.

The hand-painted mural behind the pulpit: a cross on a golden hill under a sunrise sky — After

The floors

The platform came up to the subfloor and went back down in wood. The hallways got the same.

Two men on their knees laying subfloor on the platform — Before

New wood-look flooring running down the hall — After

The sign

The rusted post at the road came down. A new sign went up with the church’s name and an arrow, so you can find us.

Men taking down the old rusted road sign — Before

The new Bethel Baptist Church sign at the road, an arrow pointing to the church — After

And the rest

Roof, steps, restrooms, yard.

On the roof: a fresh white coating going on under a blue Florida sky

New wooden steps and rail at the side door

A freshly rebuilt restroom with new flooring and fixtures

A member on a ladder painting the sky of the mural behind the pulpit

Two children racing with buckets down the fellowship hall

The sanctuary after the rebuild: burgundy chairs, a new wood platform, a wooden cross on the white wall

The front of the church on a sunny day: white metal siding, black trim, a tall white steeple

Still to do

The building fund.

The church is still praying toward $20,000 of repairs on its buildings, and is looking for a minivan for the transportation ministry. Every dollar goes to the building or the gospel; nobody at Bethel draws a salary from it.

Give to the building fund Other ways