Our Mission
Bethany Baptist Church of Christ is a church in Evanston, IL with a vibrant, active, spiritually mature, learning, growing body of believers who by the grace of God and power of the Holy Spirit use their spiritual gifts to: Build up their Christian brothers & sisters. Go out and witness the love, grace, and power of God in the world. Live out their faith in a way that allows others to see and experience God through you.
Our Ministerial Staff
Reverend Martha R. Holmes, Pastor
Pastor Holmes is a lifelong resident of the Evanston community and member of Bethany Baptist Church of Christ for over fifty years, where she has served on the Deaconess, Nurses, and Choir ministries, as well as a Marriage Retreat Workshop Leader with Women Spiritually Empowered (WSE). She continues to proclaim Gods word through her teaching of the adult Sunday school class, as well as in her service as an Associate Minister and as Director of evening Vacation Bible School for the past twenty-two years. Rev. Holmes also serves in the position of Sunday School Superintendent for twenty-eight years and continues in this capacity today.
Reverend Cecilia McFarlane
Reverend McFarlane grew up in Vallejo, California, the only surviving child of the late Henry Louis Anderson and the late Rosa Wingfield Anderson. As a young child she developed a sense of compassion for the ill-treated. These early years laid the foundation for both her life and for her ministry to the hurting. Raised as a Catholic, she was first baptized as an infant. She chose to be re-baptized as an adult at New Fellowship Baptist Church in Nashua, New Hampshire under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Bertha Perkins. There she headed the Missions Ministry and taught Adult Sunday School.
Minister Sherry L. Walker
Minister Walker has been a member of Bethany Baptist Church of Christ for twenty plus (20+) years. She serves as the Women’s Ministry leader and is also involved in the Intercessory and Homeless Ministry.
Our Ministries
Greeters and Ushers Ministry
Serve as a humble, helpful, friendly, and welcoming, presence, to all who enter the doors of the church! ~ Psalm 84:10AMP. “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else]; I would rather stand [as a doorkeeper] at the threshold of the house of my God Than to live [at ease] in the tents of wickedness.”
Homeless Ministry
To bless, help, and treat with dignity, persons in need of food, shelter, clothing, prayer, and a kind word ~ 1 Peter 4:10AMP, “Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor].”
Journey to Hope Ministry
To touch the heart of those who are grieving and hurting, through compassion, care, and Holy listening! Psalm 73:26AMP ~ “My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the rock and strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Liturgical Dance Ministry
An expression of worship, praise, and thanksgiving, as exaltation of God’s great name.” ~ Psalm 149:3-4AMP, “Let them praise His name with dancing;
Let them sing praises to Him with the tambourine and lyre. For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.”
Marriage Ministry
Gathering together to motivate one another in building marriages that will reflect the union between Christ and the church.
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church." Ephesians 5:31-32
Men's Ministry
Please join us as we endeavor to sharpen each other in our walk with Christ.
"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith,
act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Missions Ministry
Fulfill the calling to extend love, helping hands, grace, mercy, and the good news of Jesus Christ, without partiality or “respecter of persons!” 1 Chronicles 16:24AMP ~ “Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all peoples.”
Women's Ministry
Women coming together to fellowship, one with another (Psalm 133:1), to get to know one another. To empower and encourage women to step up and step out of their comfort zones (moving from the shallow into the deep) by facilitating, teaching and leading. Believing that they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them.
Youth Ministry
Dedicated to equipping our youth to be Christ centered individuals, empowering them to stand boldly for Christ. Join us on the last Friday of every month for Youth Fellowship.