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rendering - future home of BPWC
Bethel Praise & Worship Center, was established May 1, 1987 by Founders
Evangelist Lionel J. Keys and First Lady Betty J. Keys.
Their labor of love began by opening the doors of their own home for Sunday School, Worship Service and Bible Study for over 3 years. They pastored BPWC for over 28 years until Pastor Keys went home to be with the Lord in July 2015. We celebrate the legacy of service, sacrifice and love they established through the years and which Mother Keys continues to display as she carries on the torch lit so long ago. Join us Sunday, May 7, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. as we honor our founders. We thank God for their obedience to His call.
History of Bethel Praise & Worship Center
In April 1987, founder Lionel Keys answered the call from God to expand Heartbeat Ministries, Inc., through a church. God ministered to Pastor Keys out of Genesis 28, "Behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places wither thou goest. Jacob called the name of that place Beth-el where he saw an angel ascending and descending." Out of that vision Bethel Praise & Worship Center was established. God confirmed the call to worship through signs, wonders and prophetic confirmations. Isaiah 61:1-3, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives...to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garmet of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified." As Jacob vowed unto the Lord in Genesis 28, so did Pastor Keys, that if the Lord would be with him and keep him in the way that he should go, he too would bring souls to His kingdom.
Bethel was a lighthouse in the community, a place of refuge to many. Through Sunday Worship, Sunday School and Wednesday Night Study in the Word, souls were brought to God's Kingdom and people's lives were changed. The first member of Bethel other than the pastor's family, Dwight, Dawn and Dana, was Wilson Howard. Dawn Keys was our first evangelist who went throughout the neighborhood bringing children to hear the Word of god.
Our congregation has worshipped in different locations; including the YMCA, a nightclub that was renovated into a worship venue, a warehouse that was converted into a ministry operation, and to our present home and ministry base. We have been called to service the Houston, Missouri City and Pearland areas. Our mission is, "Building God's Kingdom One Soul at a Time." By the grace of God, we expect souls to be saved, lives to be changed, knowledge and wisdom to increase and that God will pour out his Spirit on His people.
Since November 2005, we have strategically been worshipping at our present location, 8001 McHard Rd., Suite 13, Houston Texas, 77053. With God's supernatural favor, we purchased 6.65 acres of land adjacent to our current location. This is the place where God has appointed us to erect a sanctuary for Bethel Praise & Worship Center and the Heartbeat Ministries Inc., Community Center.
In 2020 Bethel celebrated 33 years in ministry. With a grateful heart we expect to see miracles, signs and wonders in the coming years.
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