ABOUT US
Welcome to the site for Bethia United Methodist Church. Located on Winterpock Road in Chesterfield County, Virginia, our church has served as a vital spiritual resource for the community for over 130 years. Through the leadership of our current and past pastors and our church family throughout the past 130 years and today, Bethia remains filled with the Holy Spirit and love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
History of Bethia
Today, as the Bethia United Methodist Church family stands on the brink of great things, we are inspired with the records of the past and our hopes for a fruitful future. In the last quarter of the 19th century, the area of western Chesterfield County at the present intersection of Beach and Winterpock Roads was a thriving community of coal mines, farms, sawmills and railroads. In 1885 a letter was sent to Rev. H.G. Cowan, a minister serving the Hallsborough Charge (located in the present vicinity of Midlothian Turnpike and Huguenot Road), requesting that he help several families form a Methodist Protestant Church in the Winterpock area.
On November 16, 1886, Rev. Cowan and the Rev. S. C. Orhum formally organized the Bethia Methodist Protestant Church. In March, 2010, Bethia opened its doors to a brand new social hall, gymnasium, state of the art kitchen and two floors of classrooms and meeting space. Progress is our legacy and with God’s help, we will approach future expansion (sanctuary) projects with courage, trusting in the One who has brought us this far!
Our Staff
Rev. Jacob Sahms
Sr. Pastor
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Rev. Jacob Sahms arrived at Bethia in July 2020 after serving in Prince George and Hopewell. Before entering ordained ministry, Jacob served as a campus minister and associate chaplain at the University of Richmond (his alma mater- Go, Spiders!) and as a youth minister in Richmond. Jacob currently serves as the Chair of the James River District Committee on Ordained Ministry and as a mentor to local pastors around the James River District. He met his wife, Joanne, at UR. Joanne has served as a teacher at Grange Hall Elementary School since 2002. Together, they have two sons, Adam and Andrew.
As the co-founder of ScreenFish.net, Jacob has continued to examine a medium he loves: film. Writing reviews on films, television, music, and books since 2004, he has written for Hollywood Jesus, Christian Cinema, and Dove. Lately, Jacob has moved from primarily reviewing film to interviewing filmmakers, actors, and real-life individuals whose lives have been featured in movies or television. Thanks to connections in the world of film, he has organized events around movies like Wonder and Emmanuel that brought the people behind the films to Virginia for community events.
A desire to participate in transformative community outreach has driven Jacob into partnerships with local schools to build bridges and provide resources to underserved individuals and groups. As a coach for the Richmond Kickers and Swift Creek Y, he has pursued his love for coaching and his community-building interests through young people and their families.
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Elizabeth Barbee
Church Administrator Facility and Activities Coordinator
Elizabeth responsible for the efficient operation of the church office plus provides clerical and administrative support to the Sr. Pastor, Assistant Pastor, leaders, and Ministries. Serves as the facility and Activities coordinator; schedules events and primary communication link to the congregation and public.
Elizabeth her husband Mark and son Benjamin started attending Bethia United Methodist Church in 2001. They all attended the 8:30 service together until Benjamin joined the US Army 2017, Elizabeth and Mark still enjoy the 8:30 service with its praise and worship music. After Bethia’s new addition was completed in 2011, Elizabeth began working as the facility coordinator. A few years later Elizabeth became the Church administrator as well. Elizabeth’s ability to multi-task, creativity, kind spirit and willingness to help where needed makes her ministry here at Bethia invaluable.
Kevin Hughes
Youth Director
Kevin started attending Bethia United Methodist Church in 2009. He started volunteering about 5 years ago with the youth and has now taken over as Youth Director in August of 2017. In addition to working with the youth Kevin is also a trained Steven Minister.
Kevin and his wife Susan have 2 grown girls. On Sunday’s after the 8:30 am service where Kevin plays drums with the worship team, you will find him teaching the High School Sunday School Class. He has a passion for working with youth and meeting them where they are in their faith walk. His mission statement is “Connecting with youth in a real and appropriate way, so they understand God is relevant to them today. Youth group is each Sunday from 4-6 PM and you can find Kevin among the Youth delivering a fun and hand on brand of games, lessons, mission work, food, and fun. It is tailored to the live.
Sherry Encinas
Nursery Ministries
Sherry facilitates nursery ministries. The nursery is available during each of our Sunday morning services for infants to toddlers under the age of 4. The infant nursery, located across from the old kitchen, has cribs and changing tables available.
Ellen Stephenson
Director of Music
Ellen Stephenson, our Director of Music Ministries, is a lifetime resident of the Winterpock community. She and her husband John, and children James and Lizzy are honored and humbled by her calling to serve at Bethia UMC. Her adult daughter Amanda and son-in-law Dan also live locally.
Ellen holds a degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and has 30 years’ experience leading vocal choirs of all ages, praise teams, and more recently, handbell choirs with both large and small congregations. Her great love in life is Jesus, followed very closely by her family and church family.
Ellen’s primary goal in music ministry is to glorify God by leading His people in singing and or playing his praises. She has a love for all styles of praise and worship music from the great traditional hymns of the church to contemporary praise songs. She tends to blend styles together so that there is balance both musically and spiritually.
She would love to hear from you! Please contact her if you are interested in any of the following: Adult Praise Teams, Youth Praise Team, Children’s Choirs, Mixed Generation Sanctuary Choir, Handbell Choir, or sharing your talents through singing special music or playing an instrument.
Ellen is honored and blessed to serve the Bethia family and prays that God will allow her to do so for many years to come.
