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Bethel Baptist Pastor Deeply Rooted In Community

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By DEREK MAUL | The Brandon News

Published: April 18, 2007

Rev. Dale Golden
Born: 1946, Warfordsburg, PA.
Education: Southern Fulton HS, 1964; Spurgeon Baptist Bible College, 1979
Married: Linda Unger 1966. They have five children and eight grandchildren

Pastor Dale Golden has been laboring faithfully at Miller Road's Bethel Baptist Church for 27 years. Today, however, he feels infused with both a new life and purpose.

"I came as a missionary pastor," Golden said. "And being here so long we've had cycles of growth. We plateaued a number of years ago then we experienced decline."

Rather than become despondent, the church turned to prayer.

"A little over a year ago we did a new launch," Golden said. "Now we're the New Bethel!"

But the church isn't the only thing that feels new on Miller Road. Golden himself feels renewed and re-called to his work.

"God called me to ministry and it's always been my passion," he said. "But this past year has been some of the most exciting times of my ministry."

Golden is quick to point out that the congregation's fundamental mission still remains unchanged.
"To glorify God by reaching folks with the gospel," he said, "and equipping them for ministry in the church and on the mission field."

The new emphasis reaches the entire family, includes an exploding youth program and is making worship more exciting. It also mobilizes the talents of the congregation.

Bethel (House of God) is a part of the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches (GARBC). The congregation was started in the early '70s by a professor at Spurgeon Baptist Bible College.

"They brought an old driver's education building and dragged it onto this property around 1976," Golden said. "I came in 1980 when there was a lot of orange groves and not much else down here."
The 60-year-old minister was born and raised in Pennsylvania.

"In 1964 I left home to take a job as an apprentice machinist," Golden said, "then became a sales engineer."

As a teen he believed God wanted him in ministry. But Golden had other plans.
"But I lost that direction," Golden said.

In 1966 he married Linda Unger – now his secretary at Bethel. The couple started their family and moved to Ohio and New York before Golden sensed God's call. He was 28.

"It was exciting how God worked in both of our hearts," he said.

Attending Spurgeon Baptist Bible College in Mulberry was a far cry from home, but the Goldens came to Florida with open hearts. He returned to New York, but was there just nine months when he was called to the Valrico church as its second pastor.

"I love the mountains but this is home now," Golden said. "I like Brandon. It has a lot of amenities but it is spread out. Then I like this side (Valrico) because I have the country to my east."

Today, 27 years down the road, Golden is excited that his son Bryant is on the leadership board.

"He is a tremendous help to me," Golden said. "He's my executive director."

Golden said he feels a growing sense of community.

"Church is more than just a place to go," he said. "So we moved away from the traditional Sunday evening service and we have small groups meeting at church and homes during the week. This has been tremendously beneficial; people moving from spectators to participators."

There has also been a shift in growth.

"Our focus has been on un-reached and unchurched," he said. "We do a lot of special events to reach out."

And there have been a lot of community service projects, such as giveaways and free car-washes.
When it comes to the Gospel, Golden feels the best way to present it is with no strings attached.

"People are searching and we care," Golden said. "We have a message from God. We want people to experience this community, to have a sense of belonging and the love of Christ. It doesn't matter who walks in our doors our folks I believe have a genuineness of reaching out. Christ breaks down the barriers."

Outside of church, Golden feels he is well rounded. A recreational tennis player, Golden confesses to being a news junkie when not on the court. Musically, he listens mostly to contemporary Christian performers. And he admits to being hooked on the books of David Jeremiah ("Captured by Grace"). As for Bible heroes, Golden has one in mind – Joshua.

"He was a man that took a stand even though he was in the minority," Golden said. "He didn't compromise his position because of the way that the tide was going."

Given the chance to share his favorite Bible verse, Bethel's pastor chose Philippians 1:21.
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

Derek Maul is a writer who lives in Valrico. You can reach him at derekmaul@gmail.com.

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