SPOTLIGHT: Bethel's Place Black Chamber of Commerce

FEATURED SUCCESS STORY: Pastor Walter August Jr., and The Church At Bethel’s Family Answers the Call To Service by forming the Bethel’s Place Black Chamber of Commerce to Help Service the Needs of Small Business Owners, Houston Community

    

FEATURED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENDEAVOR: Bethel’s Family Baptist Church was organized on January 21, 1994, at Walter & Ruby August’s home with a hand full of people in attendance. On March 6, 1994, the first public worship service was held at the Huntington Place Apartments located at 6300 Dumfries in Southwest Houston. Within 6 months the church outgrew the Club House and moved the Sunday worship service to Elrod Elementary School. On December 24th of that year the church held its first Birthday Party for Jesus. The real meaning of Christmas was shared, and over one hundred children were blessed with gifts of many kinds. The church closed out 1994 with a total of 90 members.

FAST FORWARD TO 2012

The year of 2012 has developed into yet another History making year for Bethel’s Family as the church partnered with over ten other non-profits in service to and for the community both locally and internationally. Since January 1, 2012, more than 955 individuals have joined Bethel’s Family’s ever expanding Ministry, with more than 222 individuals baptized during the year.

The recently opened 56,000 sq. ft.2-story Bethel’s Place Community Empowerment Center continues to be a tremendous blessing to the southwest Houston community.

Other key events and activities that have taken place to date are: the annual family centered Easter service and egg hunt on Good Friday which once again blessed well over 3,000 youth and young families from the community: a history making Texas DARS (Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services) Job Transition Fair hosted by Bethel’s Family non-profits that led to the summer intern employment of many area high school juniors and seniors; Heavenly Hands expanding its outreach across the city via satellite programs locations meeting the basic needs of over 8,000 individuals each month in the Greater Southwest Houston area and beyond; Bethel’s Place’s sorely needed free GED Programs gaining growing visibility; The Young Men Development Initiative, Inc. (YMDI) once again organizing a highly tauted community wide Youth Basketball League making great use of the Empowerment Center’s double-gymnasium; Bethel’s Global Reach leading international missions teams to both the Chez Republic and Kenya, Africa, impacting the lives of thousands through medical, dental and spiritual outreach; and The Bethel’s Place Black Chamber of Commerce hosting their first ever Convention/Expo and B-Excellent Awards Dinner in which NBA Basketball legend and business entrepreneur Mr. AC Green was the Keynote speaker.

Bethel’s Family is truly a body of people on the battlefield for the Lord. For more information on The Church at Bethel's Family or The Bethel's Family Black Chamber of Commerce Inc., call (713)729-0125 or go by 14442 Fonmeadow Drive in Houston, Texas 77035.

A SPECIAL PRAYER: By Pastor Walter August, Jr.

FEATURED MINISTRY: Pastor Walter August, Jr. Answers the Call from Aubrey to Pray for Our Nation, Families and Businesses

A PRAYER FOR AMERICA FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS: Pastor Walter August, Jr. is Senior Pastor of Bethel’s Family Baptist Church, and current Bethel’s Place Black Chamber of Commerce Chair. The Bethel’s Place Chamber is formed out of the Church businesses and members, and duly noted as the first Black Church Chamber of Commerce in the Nation. 

Pastor August was born in Lafayette, Louisiana, and grew up in Abbeville, La. Upon completing high school in 1977, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corp where he faithfully served through 1983. In 1984, he joined First City Bank Corporate Security Group and attended the Professional Management Training School reaching the position of Security Specialist in 1991.

In 1992, Pastor August professed his calling into the gospel ministry under the leadership of Dr. E.L. Lott, Senior Pastor of True Light Missionary Baptist Church in Houston. He was employed by LaSalle Partners Asset Management Company and served as their Director of Security through 1996.

In 1994, Pastor August organized and founded Bethel Family Baptist Church along with his wife, three sons, and six committed adults. Today Bethel’s Family serves over 3,500 families, through 50 different ministries, with an annual church budget of over 3.5 Million Dollars. In 1997, he accepted a call to Sugar Creek Baptist Church to serve as their Pastor of Missions. In his 7 ½ years of service, he lead Sugar Creek through the help of God to start 58 churches and partnered with 50 more in the greater metropolitan area of Houston.

Pastor August has traveled to Kenya, Africa and Czech Republic, doing evangelism training, medical clinics, and developing church leadership teams. He attended Southwestern Theological Seminary in Houston and received Honorary Doctorates of Divinity from Saint Thomas Christian College in Jacksonville, Florida and Encourager Bible College & Seminary in India. He is a board member of the Baptist Church Loan Corporation. In 2002, he co-founded the “College Institute for Church Planters” in Baton Rouge, La.

In 2003, Pastor August started Bethel’s Heavenly Hands Food Pantry and Clothing Center. Heavenly Hands is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has grown tremendously over the years and now serves over 8,000 people in the community per month.

In 2004, Pastor August came to Bethel’s Family full-time and the ministry flourished under his leadership and faithfulness to God Almighty. In 2006, his care and concern for families in the surrounding communities compelled him to create Bethel’s Place. Bethel’s Place is a separate 501(c)(3) Community Development and Empowerment Center that serves over 500 people a week. In 2009, he launched the Young Men Development Initiative, Inc; a separate 501(c)(3) organization that mentors and develops young boys ages 4-18.

In August 2010, he opened the doors to Bethel’s Christian Academy offering a viable faith-based learning environment to young families in the community for teaching and developing their children. In September 2010, he formed Bethel’s Global Reach, Inc. a 501(c)(3) organization focused on leading missions in the United States and across the world.

Pastor August is married to the former Ms Ruby J. Jones and they have three sons: (Walter III, who served in the Navy, is married with three kids and is currently the executive director for the Young Men Development Initiative, Inc.; Patrick, who is a recent graduate of Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas; and, Alex, who is a 12th grader at Elkins High School).

For more information on The Church at Bethel's Family or The Bethel's Family Black Chamber of Commerce Inc., call (713)729-0125 or go by 14442 Fonmeadow Drive in Houston, Texas 77035.