Bethia UMC, Petersburg District

Sunday school classes full of children is always a sign of a healthy church.

Bethia United Methodist Church is in an enviable position, its pastor the Rev. Jay Carey says, thanks to the changing demographic of its area. "We’re so lucky... we’re going to grow as long as we keep the doors unlocked." The church is off Highway 360 West near Woodlake, an area that’s getting big box stores like Costco, Wal-Mart and Lowe’s. "There are 20 new developments within a short drive of the church," he said. "It will be like Short Pump in a few years. But while the suburbs have grown, there’s still enough of a rural flavor that you can picture Andy and Barney [from Mayberry] coming by for a lemonade."

Bethia moved to its current location in the ‘70s to get ready for growth, but it was 20 years too early, so the church struggled. "They were tenacious in staying alive," Carey said. "Finally Bethia is in the right position, and the leadership is excited."

Crowded worship services have Bethia UMC looking to expand its facilities

The church had to bring in four trailers to serve as classrooms. Bethia has started a capital fund-raising campaign; a $7 million master plan was adopted in January. The church currently has more than 300 in worship in its three services. "We have an overcrowding problem in worship, which is a great problem to have," said Carey. "If we can expand our facilities, that will enable us to expand our ministries."

Carey says that spiritual growth has been a "humongous" part of the physical growth. There are about 90 people involved in midweek Bible study, and the church has had 90 Disciple Bible study graduates in the past 10 years. "That’s made all the difference in terms of how we look at finances, missions. . . We’re involved in local and global mission ministries now. You may not be called to go to Russia, but we can all be in ministry in some way or another." The church has a long list of groups and agencies it supports. Members have made six trips to Mississippi and have 24 people going back this month. "We’re discovering the power of volunteerism," Carey said. "Whenever there is a need for something, it happens."

Bethia’s goal is to be a seven-day- a-week church. A Saturday night worship service has 20 or 30 people attend each week, which includes some who can’t worship as a family together on Sunday mornings because of work commitments.

"We’ve grown to a size we’ve never been before, and are adjusting to that," said Carey. "The church I came to 10 years ago does not exist any more."