Who We Are
Our Church
We are an old-fashioned, independent Baptist church dedicated to lifting up our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and proclaiming the good news of His saving grace. Through worship and the faithful preaching of the Word of God, we seek to be edified and to grow in the grace of our Lord. Our prayer is that the lost will be saved, families will be strengthened, and lives will be challenged to walk closer with the Lord. As the Scripture says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” – Romans 10:17
Our Address is 1426 US-70, Valdese, NC, 28690
Service Times:
Sunday School – 10:00am
Worship – 11:00am & 6:00pm
Wednesday Midweek Service – 7:00pm
Our Pastor
Joe Dempsey was born and raised in Boone County, WV. He attended Concord College in Athens before eventually moving to North Carolina. It was there that he met and married Debra Day Demsey, originally from Big Creek, West Virginia. He came to faith at Grace and Truth Baptist Church in Icard, North Carolina, where he faithfully served in several roles before announcing his call to ministry in November 1996. He and Debbie now live in Connelly Springs, North Carolina, and are the parents of three children: Megan, Miranda, and Elijah.
Our Ministries
At Bethlehem, we strive to be a helping hand when others face hardship, meeting both physical and spiritual needs with compassion and purpose. Our dedicated team has served in Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, responding to challenges brought on by storms, natural disasters, and everyday life difficulties that can overwhelm individuals and families. Beyond disaster relief, we are committed to supporting missionaries both across the United States and around the world, partnering with them in their calling to share the Gospel.
Baptist History Preservation
We recognize that we are approaching the return of our Lord, but we also know there is a great deal of false or misleading information about our history. As independent Baptist believers, we stand on the shoulders of faithful warriors for Christ. We are convinced that if more people understood where we came from and who shaped our faith, we would be better equipped and more motivated to learn our history and preserve it for today’s and future generations. We hold anuual meetings, followed later in the year by a gathering at the Waldensian Cave here in Valdese, NC. Check the dates here.