About Bethel Baptist Church.
Welcome!
We’re glad you stopped by. Bethel is more than a church. We’re a family. Built on the solid foundation of God’s Word and a love for people, our desire is to reach our community — and beyond — for Christ. Click the links below to learn more about our history, our beliefs, and the ministries we offer. Or scroll down to meet our pastors.
Meet Our Pastors
Pastor Jimmy Gilbert
I was born and raised in Indiana. I love the state of Indiana, and in particular the town of Lapel. The Lord has blessed my wife, Stephanie, and I with four boys and two girls. We have lived in Lapel since 2005.
I asked Jesus Christ to come into my heart and save me at Garrison Creek Baptist Church in Connersville, Indiana at the age of 15. Stephanie was saved as a young child while on the mission field in France. We met at Pensacola Christian College and were married in the summer of 2001 at Bethel Baptist Church. We have served in various parts of the ministry here since 2004.
I surrendered to preach in 2011 and was voted in as Pastor in August 2015. My desire is to reach the town of Lapel for Christ and to serve the Lord until He comes.
Pastor John Hines
John grew up in a Christian home, and at the age of 12, asked Jesus to save him from his sins. John was later baptized, but did not truly begin pursuing his relationship with Christ until his college years. God used a combination of Christian college and summer camp counseling to work on John’s heart and call him to ministry.
Erica grew up as a Jehovah’s Witness, but in high school, upon hearing the true Gospel at a summer camp in Colorado, she put her trust in Christ as her Savior.
John and Erica met at Bible college and were married in 2011. They both worked full time in the Christian camp ministry, before John moved into the youth pastorate in central Indiana. God moved the Hines family to Bethel Baptist in the spring of 2021. John serves as the assistant and outreach pastor at Bethel.
John and Erica have two energetic and fun-loving boys–Malachi and Micah. John and Erica enjoy just about any outdoor activity, strong coffee, college football, Chick-Fil-A, go-karts, whitewater rafting and serving God together.