Born in 1914, at 97 years old, Pearl is the oldest living member at Bethel United Methodist Church. Just 90 years ago she entered the doors of Bethel to be with her cousins and best friend, Edith.   Her parents and other siblings were attending a primitive baptist church at that time, but soon joined their little girl at Bethel Church, to enjoy the same family fellowship we still have today. From the 1920's, Pearl remembers the plain wooden church with simple glass-pain windows, hardwood floors, hardwood benches, classrooms without walls, the warmth of the wood stove and the cool breeze that often blew through the church in the summer.  Pearl remembers there was no outside toilet, not even an outhouse.  In order to have water, one had to make a trip to the big spring to the right of the graveyard in the woods.    Pearl remembers long sermons, long prayers and complete reverence in the church.  She also felt and witnessed the presence of the holy spirit during worship as she watched hands lift in praise, trips to the altar and the expressiveness of testimonies from fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.   She recalled that before every revival there would be a time of testimony in the church. She remembers when memorized Bible Verses were stated instead of answering "here" during the role call.  She vividly recalled one young boy that just couldn't seem to come up with a different verse and always recited "Jesus Wept" for his memory verse. Pearl's fondest memory is of a man that lived somewhere behind the church that prayed the most beautiful prayers.  She said "I could have listened to him all night."  Her greatest memory was the little 4"x4" cards the Sunday School teacher used during lessons. From the days of enduring long walks to church in the wind, rain and snow to riding in a horse and buggy to enjoying the comforts of riding in a car, Pearl has watched nearly 100 years of history unfold in Bethel Church.  Pearl has experienced worship in the simple wood-slat church in the 1920's and watched our church transform into the quaint traditional brick church, with beautiful stained-glass windows we enjoy today.   If you ever want to hear our history as Pearl vividly remembers it (at only 95 years old), just visit our oldest living member.  She will be delighted to fill you in on all the details.