Bethel Fellowship International

History has a beginning. Many cannot remember the beginning of Kurume Bethel Christ Church, but fifty years ago God moved in the heart of someone to step out and begin this church. Kurume Bethel today is the result of its pioneers obeying the voice of Godʼs Spirit.

Over the years of Kurume Bethelʼs history, there have been many, many people whose lives have been introduced to Jesus Christ; whose lives have been changed by the love and patience of God shown to them by the churchʼs pioneers, pastors, and believers.

We thank God for the pioneers. They are the ones who came to Kurume and began tilling the ground by studying Japanese so they could build relationships with people in their own language. The pioneers invited people into their home, and planted the love of God into their hearts. They watered the seed of Godʼs love with tears, lots of prayer and patience. There were perhaps many times the pioneers became discouraged, but the Holy Spirit refreshed them and gave them His hope that Japan will see the Glory of God!

Former Bethel Fellowship International missionaries George and Mary Beth Frazier were pioneers. Countless people have learned many things under their leadership.

George was a builder. He could build anything. He envisioned the way buildings for the church could look, and then he would get the material and build it. George Frazier was never afraid to get close to people. He touched peopleʼs lives with his persistence and “stick-to-it” personality when he did street-side, and door-to-door evangelism. He knew the peopleʼs language which broke down communication barriers. George always encouraged people to learn. One of his expressions of guidance was: “Youʼll see evil things, but donʼt let your mind dwell on them.”

His wife, Mary Beth ministered to countless Japanese women by sharing with them knowledge and principles of the home and family. She shared how to keep a home, raise children, cook, and have fun. George and Mary Beth were a team. As a result their spiritual children and grand-children are numerous.

Memories keep history alive! Keep your history alive by sharing your memories with your children.

The video below was created last month by Japan’s Kurume Bethel Christ Church in celebration of its 50th year. By watching it you will see only a glimpse of the pioneer work of BFI’s pioneer missionaries GEORGE  and MARY BETH FRAZIER.

Kurume Bethel celebrates 50 years!

Mark Benton, BFI missionary in Nishinomiya City, Japan writes:

“My in-laws, George and Mary Beth Frazier are in Japan to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their main church plant in Kyushu. Without their pioneering work our church, Crossroad Nishinomiya, would not exist.”

The Kurume Bethel Christ Church will celebrate in a weekend of special meetings on Saturday and Sunday, October 6~7. George & Mary Beth are veteran missionaries sent out from old Bethel Temple fifty years ago. They are now retired and reside in north Seattle.

In the photo from L to R are: Crossroad Nishinomiya pastor Fumikazu CHITO, George & Mary Beth FRAZIER, and BFI missionary Mark BENTON.

The 1933 edition of The Majesty of the Symbol, or Bible Astronomy written by former Bethel Temple founder and pastor W. H. Offiler has been made available in Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Bethel Fellowship International (BFI) website (http://www.bfi-online.org/). It can be accessed by going to the Bethel Book Room link, and scrolling down to W. H. Offiler, or by clicking the link below.

Permission to republish the 1933 edition of Pastor Offiler’s book was made available to BFI in September 2011 by The City Church, Kirkland, WA, U.S.A. It has taken many months to retype the original book using as-close- to-original fonts from the 1933 edition as possible. BFI wishes to thank Floyd Earlywine for the use of his original copy of the book that was used to retype the book, and Bob Reetz for scanning and supplying missing pages from Earlywine’s book.

This book is perhaps one of the most sought-after (old) Bethel Temple publications by Pastor Offiler. It deals with answering oft-asked questions as to the location of God’s throne, Heaven, and where loved-ones who have gone on before are today. Offiler gives insight into significance of the sun, the moon, and the stars. He also gives scientific information as to the speed of light, distances between the sun and earth, and even quotes scientists from the late 1800s and early 1900s confirming the teaching offered in the book.

Some of the scriptural references in The Majesty of the Symbol will certainly cause the reader to consider the simplicity and yet depth of God’s Word. The reader will certainly be challenged when he contemplates:

“The heavens declare the glory of God.” Psalm 19:1 and

” . . . who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” 1 Timothy 6:15-16

We quote Pastor Offiler in the foreword of his book as saying, “No truth of the Bible has been so shrouded in the mysteries of the indefinite and the unknown as the one presented in this book. No one, to our knowledge, has ever tried to locate the world of God called Heaven. Yet it is a subject of the most intense interest to every Christian, for every believer in the Gospel does believe in a real, tangible, and actual Heaven. We believe that, at death, the spirit of the Christian is carried immediately into the Presence of the Glory of God.”

You will certainly be enlightened after reading this out-of-the-past, yet relevant-today BFI publication.

Please feel free to download the PDF by clicking the highlighted link below.

The Majesty of the Symbol