Bethany Baptist Church dissolves, transfers property to Unity Baptist
Bethany Baptist Church in North Little Rock has dissolved and transferred its property to Unity Bible Baptist Church.
North Pulaski Associational Missional Strategist Greg Varndell said part of his job is to identify churches that would potentially need to be either replanted or revitalized. In collaboration with the Baptist associations of Faulkner, Pulaski and Central, Varndell said they created a church planting strategy with a goal of planting or replanting 50 churches amongst the four associations by the year 2030.
One of Varndell’s early visits after joining the North Pulaski Baptist Association in 2020 was Bethany Baptist Church.
“They were a church in decline in a community that had changed over the years but still had a core group of people who were faithfully meeting there, serving there,” Varndell said. “A year or so ago, we had the conversation about potentially what it would look like one day to replant there. And so, building a relationship with the church and Pastor Rex Pilcher ultimately led to us having the opportunity to replant.”
Varndell said they tried about a year ago with a different planter. For several reasons, he said it just didn’t work out. But they were not deterred. Varndell said they continued working with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention church planting team, which led them to Unity Bible Baptist Church and a congregation that had a desire to relocate and start over.
“So, through conversations with their pastor, Maurice Brister, and Bethany’s pastor, Rex, we began to have conversations about what that would look like, and how that could come to b
Left to right: Greg Varndell, North Pulaski Baptist Association; Chanson Newborn, Arkansas Baptist State Convention; Pastor Maurice Brister; Pastor Rex Pilcher
Our History
Unity Bible Baptist Church History
November 1, 1998, Unity Bible Baptist Church (UBBC) was organized with Pastor Quinton R. Moss at the helm. They held their first service at First Baptist Rodney Parham, here in Little Rock, with twelve (12) charter members. Our original name was Unity Baptist Bible Church. It was later changed to our present name, Unity Bible Baptist Church.
The Lord blessed our faithfulness and in December 1998, we moved to a store front on John Barrow Road. We outgrew the store front over the next 2 years. In February 2000 the Lord blessed us again, and we moved to this location, 6403 Asher Avenue, which has been changed to Colonel Glenn Road, leasing the old Video Mart building. In April 2002, we began the process of purchasing this building.
In December 2008 after 10 yrs of service, Pastor Moss resigned to take a position in Ohio as a Church Planter for the Ohio State Southern Baptist Convention.
Through much Prayer and with the Lord’s guidance, on November 1, 2009, Unity started a new chapter with the election of Pastor Marcus Carroll as our new Senior Pastor. With God provision and under Pastor Carroll’s leadership, we were able to burn the mortgage on October 15, 2015. Unfortunately, after 7 years Pastor Carroll left Unity in March 2016.
Once again, Unity found itself without a Senior Pastor. Dr. Willie Jacobs, an AR Church Planter, stepped in to lead the church. Dr. Jacobs introduced Unity to Rev. Maurice Brister by having him come and fill in. After spending months as the guest preacher, on September 25, 2016, the church voted to have Rev. Maurice Brister as Senior Pastor. We have been thriving and following God’s voice for the last eight years under his leadership.
Pastor Brister was approach by the Arkansas Southern Baptist Convention wanted to know if we like to relocate to a church that was being closed in North Little Rock, AR. Pastor Brister had been looking for a church that was more in a neighborhood with a school. This church was in a neighborhood with an elementary school across street.
On Sunday October 2, 2022, a call meeting was held immediately after church where Pastor told the congregation of the opportunity. It was put to a vote if the church wanted to change location and it approved with majority voting yes. We moved to our new location, 308 Eureka Garden Road in North Little Rock the first Sunday in January of 2023.
