BETHESDA APOSTOLIC FAITH CHURCH

MISSION AND PURPOSE 

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MISSION STATEMENT

• To be ambassadors for Jesus Christ

• To evangelize to the world and win souls for Christ

• To empower people with Godly principles, relationship building techniques and compassion for the lost

• To challenge the people of God to strive for excellence in every aspect of their lives

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PURPOSE

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• To teach and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Principles of Christianity as presented in the Holy Bible, which is the Word of God

• To lift the fallen, to visit the sick, to strengthen the weak

• To encourage the faint-hearted

• To comfort the feeble minded

• To move all believers to seek a spirit-filled life

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OUR HISTORY 

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The beginning of Bethesda Apostolic Faith Church was a humble one, when the District Elder Henry L. Johnson established the Bethesda Apostolic Faith Mission on 12th Street, in Merced, California, and officially opened December 19, 1976.

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In September 1977, then Elder Arthur Johnson, Sr. was appointed the pastor, and the Mission became Bethesda Apostolic Faith Church.  The church relocated to a new edifice at 209 West 20th Street, where the membership began to grow through the outreach efforts of the pastor and members.  One such member was Minister Emile Walker, stationed at Castle Air Force Base, who brought many airmen to church.  It was at the 20th Street site where the Bethesda Community Day Care Center was established, and operated for a number of years,

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In 2002, it was necessary to relocate from the 20th Street address and hold our services at 208 East 10th Street, until January 2007, when the John Muir School cafeteria, located at 300 West 26th Street, became the site of our services.

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In February 2007, our beloved the late pastor, Suffragan Bishop Arthur Johnson, Sr., officially passed the pastoral mantle to his son, the Elder Richard Johnson, who is now District Elder over District #2 of the Northern California District Council.  In January 2008, the Lord blessed us to move to a downtown Merced location, 637 West Main Street, where souls were saved and delivered through the dynamic preaching of our pastor.  It was in January 2012 that we relocated to our current downtown location, 1822 Canal Street.

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STATEMENT OF FAITH AND BELIEF

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We believe that the Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God, written by Holy men of old, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

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We believe in one God who is infinite in power, holy in nature, attributes and purposes, as well as omniscient and omnipresent. 

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We believe that He was revealed to us as Father in creation, as Son in redemption and as the Holy Spirit in His comforting grace that never leaves those who trust Him. 

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We believe that in Jesus dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, for it pleased the Father that in Him should all the fullness dwell. 

We believe in the virgin birth. Jesus was both human and divine. He was God manifested in the flesh. 

We believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. 

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We believe that He ascended on high and has sent His Spirit (the Holy Ghost), which was poured out at Jerusalem over 2000 years ago, and it is this same Spirit that is filling the hearts of those who diligently seek Him today. 

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We believe in baptism in water by immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. This constitutes the new birth. We believe in a holy, sanctified life. 

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We believe in divine healing, communion foot washing. 

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We believe also in the glorious catching away of the saints when Jesus returns in the clouds in glory to take His people to Heaven. 

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Our chief aim is to glorify the Savior, who is Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous for good works.

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BIOGRAPHY OF 

DISTRICT ELDER RICHARD JOHNSON

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District Elder Richard Johnson is currently the Pastor of Bethesda Apostolic Faith Church.  He began pastoring in Merced, California in 2007, after receiving the mantle from his late father, Suffragan Bishop Arthur Johnson, Sr.

District Elder Johnson has served in various capacities in the local church, as well as Youth President on the local and state levels.

District Elder Johnson has been in the ministry for over 30 years, and has evangelized extensively throughout the country.  He pastored in Dos Palos, California, then in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Las Vegas, Nevada, before returning to California.

District Elder Johnson was ordained an Elder in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. in Birmingham, Alabama, by his uncle, Bishop Heron Johnson. He was consecrated as District Elder on March 14, 2015 in Union City, California, during the Inaugural Northern California District Council (NCDC), the 16C Episcopal District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc., by Diocesan Bishop Noel Jones.  District Elder Johnson also currently serves as the NCDC Evangelism Auxiliary leader.

District Elder Johnson is married to Lady Dierdre Johnson.  He is truly God’s Anointed Servant who is striving to make Heaven his home!

our pastor