Our History

   On the 17th of March in 2002 a small group of 15 people gathered in the conference room of the Howard Johnson Hotel in Hamden, Connecticut to establish the Bethcar Fellowship Church. The group included Senior Pastor, Maurice Johnson and Executive Pastor, Deidre Johnson. Bethcar Fellowship Church was formed as a nondenominational, independent church not affiliated with or governed by a denominational organization. In June of the same year, the late Archbishop Wilbert S. McKinley of the Elim International Fellowship Church officially proclaimed Bethcar Fellowship as a church. Bethcar is a family orientated ministry strongly promoting a healthy relationship with God and others.

The name “Bethcar” originates in the Old Testament and is only mentioned once in scripture in the 7th chapter of I Samuel. What’s in a name, and why the name Bethcar? Unlike today, biblical names described a person or a thing and carried great significance. Bethcar signifies the house of the ram or place of the lamb. I Samuel speaks of the lament of Israel in their desire to return to a righteous relationship with the Lord. Israel engaged themselves in consecration as they began to remove the false gods, they and fasted and prayed. As Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines attempted to wage war against Israel, but the Lord discomforted them. The Lord said if Israel would put away the false gods and serve Him only, He would deliver them out of the hand of the Philistines. When the Lord discomforted the Philistines, Israel began to pursue and slay them from Mizpeh to an area believed to belong to the Philistines called “Bethcar.” God was faithful and kept his word! He continues to fight for all who turn from their wicked ways and follow Him. It is our endeavor to model the biblical event that gives mention the name Bethcar! First, we determine to tear down anything that exalts itself above Christ in our lives and secondly we strive to consecrate to the Lord. Thirdly, we strive to drive those destiny destroying demons out of our lives and finally we seek to fulfill the 11th command: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever Jesus Christ has commanded his church.”

Welcome to the Fellowship!