New to BBC

Visiting Bethel Baptist Church of Ravenna

Visiting a new church can be a difficult experience. However, at Bethel Baptist Church, we want to make your visit as enjoyable as possible for your whole family. We invite you to join us and experience exciting music, helpful teaching, powerful preaching, and friendly fellowship with other believers. You may not know what to expect, but we will try to answer some of your questions here.

Our church is located at 745 N Freedom St. in Ravenna across the street from Woodgate Apartments. There are three buildings on the property, but our services are held in the tan metal building that can be seen from the street. Our youth Sunday School classes take place in the brown brick building next to our main auditorium. Additionally, "Super Church" for all children is held in the white brick building during the morning service. If you have any questions about where you should go, our greeters can meet you at the front door and help direct you.

Parking is located behind the church adjacent to the main door and wraps around our main building. We also have satellite parking available a half mile down the road at the Elks Club during our morning services. Shuttle drivers will take you to and from your vehicle before and after services.

Service Times

Sunday
Sunday School…...........….9:30 a.m.
Morning Service…..........10:30 a.m.
Evening Service……..........6:00 p.m.

Wednesday
Bible Study………….....….….7:00 p.m.

Contact

Where do I take my children?

Starting with excellent nurseries, there is something special for children of every age. During every service there are safe, clean, and highly staffed nurseries for children three years old and under. For children four years old through sixth grade there are fun, friendly, and Bible-centered classes. These classes are staffed with trained, friendly, and well-qualified teachers and helpers who will make church exciting and memorable for your child. Our welcome center can direct you to the appropriate nursery or children’s classroom.

Where do I take my children?

Starting with excellent nurseries, there is something special for children of every age. During every service there are safe, clean, and highly staffed nurseries for children three years old and under.

For children four years old through sixth grade there are fun, friendly, and Bible-centered classes. These classes are staffed with trained, friendly, and well-qualified teachers and helpers who will make church exciting and memorable for your child.

Our welcome center can direct you to the appropriate nursery or children’s classroom.

What about my teens?

We also have a class specifically for teenagers. Most of the teens attend class for one hour at 9:30 a.m. and then attend the main service at 10:30 a.m. with their parents.

What about my teens?

We also have a class specifically for teenagers. Most of the teens attend class for one hour at 9:30 a.m. and then attend the main service at 10:30 a.m. with their parents.

What should I wear?

There is no strict dress code to attend our public services. We want you to be comfortable and ready to concentrate on the message of God's Word. But, in case you’re wondering, a majority of our church members wear their “Sunday best”—the men in a shirt and tie, and the women in modest dresses.

What should I wear?

There is no strict dress code to attend our public services. We want you to be comfortable and ready to concentrate on the message of God's Word. But, in case you’re wondering, a majority of our church members wear their “Sunday best”—the men in a shirt and tie, and the women in modest dresses.

Am I expected to participate in the offering?

No, we don’t invite you to Bethel Baptist Church for your offering. We want our service to be a gift to you. We hope you will find in this place a warm family spirit, truth from God’s Word, and a place where you can grow in God’s grace. Please don’t feel any obligation to participate in the offering as a guest.

Am I expected to participate in the offering?

No, we don’t invite you to Bethel Baptist Church for your offering. We want our service to be a gift to you. We hope you will find in this place a warm family spirit, truth from God’s Word, and a place where you can grow in God’s grace. Please don’t feel any obligation to participate in the offering as a guest.

What We Believe

Below is a list of some of the things we believe at Bethel Baptist Church. As this is not a comprehensive list, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. We'd love to talk with you!

The foundational truth upon which all Bethel Baptist Church beliefs depend is that the Scriptures, both of the Old and New Testament, are verbally inspired of God. They are inerrant, infallible, incorruptible, and perfect. Further, we believe that if they are not all of these things they cannot be any of these things. We believe that the pure Word of God in the English language is the King James Bible. The Word of God is preserved by God perfectly so we can have it in our hands today.

(Psalm 12:6-7; Matthew 4:4; II Timothy 3:16; John 10:35; Psalm 119:89; II Peter 1:19-21)

We believe in the Genesis account of creation, and that it is to be accepted literally. We believe creation was a direct act of God, which included literal days, and that it was both instantaneous and miraculous. Additionally, we believe man was created in the image of God and all reproduction was “after their kind.”

(Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16-17; Job 26:7; Psalm 33:6,9; John 1:3)

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost. These are co-equal, three in one called the Trinity.

(I John 5:7; Hebrews 1:8; Acts 5:1-3; Romans 1:7; Matthew 28:19; I Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 2:9; Matthew 3:16,17)

We believe that Jesus Christ was the only begotten of the Father, conceived of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary.

(Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:30-35; John 1:1-15; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 1:15)

We believe that man, created in the image of God, sinned, and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God, and all human beings are born with a sin nature, and those who reach moral responsibility must receive Jesus Christ as Saviour in order to have reconciliation to God.

(Genesis 1:26,27; Romans 3:10-23, 5:12, 6:23; John 3:3)

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as a substitutionary sacrifice and that all who believe in Him are justified through the shedding of His blood.

(I Corinthians 15:1-4; Luke 24; Acts 1:9-11; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 1:20-23; I Peter 3:18)

We believe in the literal resurrection of the crucified body of Jesus Christ, His ascension into Heaven, and His present life there as High Priest and Advocate for us.

(Luke 24:1-7; Acts 1:11; Hebrews 7:24-28, 9:24; John 20; I Corinthians 15:12-28; Romans 4:25)

We believe that the sacrifice made by Jesus is the only basis of salvation, the only means of reconciliation, and the only ground of justification. Therefore, we believe that all who recognize they are sinners, repent of their sins, and according to the Scriptures receive by faith the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour are born again of the Holy Spirit becoming children of God and heirs of eternal life.

(Acts 4:12, 16:30-31, 20:21; I Thessalonians 5:9; Hebrews 5:9; John 1:12, 3:3-7, 12:46; John 20:31; Romans 10:9; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5-8)

We believe in the eternal security of all believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, a person who is born again has everlasting life, which never ends and cannot be taken away. Saved forever, God’s children are kept by the power of God through faith unto eternal salvation and sealed unto the day of redemption.

(John 10:27-39; I Peter 1:5; Ephesians 4:30; Romans 8:35-39; John 5:24)

We believe that the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He indwells the believer and empowers the preaching and teaching of the Gospel.

(John 16:7-11; I Corinthians 14:33; Titus 3:5; Romans 5:3-4; Acts 2:4; I Corinthians 3:16; II Corinthians 1:22)

We believe that all believers should strive for Holiness by separation from the things of the world. We know that people grow at different rates, but they should always be striving to grow in the things of God.

(Romans 12:1-2; I John 2:15-17; II Corinthians 5:17, 6:14-18; I Peter 2:9; II Peter 3:18; II Timothy 2:19; Colossians 2:6)

We believe in that blessed hope, the personal, pretribulation, premillennial, and imminent return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Further, we believe that this will take place in the calling away, or what we refer to as the Rapture. We believe in the bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, the everlasting conscious suffering of the lost in Hell, and the everlasting happiness of the saved in Heaven.

(Acts 1:11; Matthew 24:29-42, 25:31-34; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 19:11 - 20:15; John 14:1-3)

We believe Jesus Christ is the founder of the Baptist Church, and that Jesus started this church during His early ministry (Matthew 16:18). This church was empowered on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) whose mission is to “go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

We believe that all of the church’s endeavors should be supported by God’s financial plan of tithes and offerings. We further believe that the church is independent from all boards and other governing bodies under the complete guidance of the Scriptures, being led by the Pastor as he is led by the Word of God.

(Matthew 28:18-20; Hebrews 13:7,17)

We believe there are two ordinances Jesus left to the local church: Believer’s Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The Word of God plainly teaches that Believer’s Baptism is done by immersion only and also by the right authority. Baptism has nothing to do with salvation, but is an outward profession of faith in the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Lord’s Supper is done as oft as we do it in remembrance of the breaking of Christ’s body and the shedding of Christ’s blood on the cross. We believe that the Lord’s supper should only be taken if the person is a member of this church and in accordance with the Word of God.

(Luke 1:11-17; Matthew 3:13-17; John 3:23; Acts 8:37-38; Mark 1:9-10; I Corinthians 11:23-30)

We believe in an actual Devil, the old deceiver, a liar from the beginning and the Father of lies, who is still working in the world to destroy the souls of men, and that he will be cast, with all his angels and those who will not receive Christ as their Saviour and Lord, into the lake of fire, to be eternally tormented. Further, we believe that the Devil was Lucifer, a created being, the anointed cherub that covereth, but because of pride he fell and took one third of the angels of Heaven with him.

(Matthew 4:1-3; Revelation 20:1-3, 10; II Corinthians 4:3, 4; I Peter 5:8; Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:14-17)

Meet Our Pastor

Dr. David Ballert, pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, succeeded his father-in-law, Dr. Richard E. Skiver, in December 2015. Pastor Ballert, originally from Michigan, came to Ravenna, Ohio to marry his wife, Tammy Ballert. It was then he was able to study over twenty years under Pastor Skiver.

While at Bethel Baptist Church, Pastor David Ballert served in various ministries including the bus ministry, teen ministry, and was also associate pastor for most of his service. He attended Bethel Baptist Bible Institute where he became a graduate of Theology. He later taught classes such as “Eschatology” and “King James Bible” for the institute. Pastor Ballert also received an honorary doctorate from Marietta Baptist Bible College. In 2021, he began teaching "Homiletics and “King James Bible” at Massillon Baptist College.

Under the leadership of Pastor Ballert, Bethel Baptist Church has grown an excitement and passion for serving the Lord. Pastor Ballert loves church and shares his vision of expanding the current church building by adding a larger auditorium in the near future. The goal for future building is to ultimately move the church from its current location to a piece of land that the church has purchased a few miles away.

Pastor Ballert has a very exciting and engaging preaching style. He is always seeking God’s will in pastoring the church. His passion for the church is seen in his service and care for God’s people. He and his wife Tammy have three children and four grandchildren.

Meet Our Pastor

Dr. David Ballert, pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, succeeded his father-in-law, Dr. Richard E. Skiver, in December 2015. Pastor Ballert, originally from Michigan, came to Ravenna, Ohio to marry his wife, Tammy Ballert. It was then he was able to study over twenty years under Pastor Skiver.

While at Bethel Baptist Church, Pastor David Ballert served in various ministries including the bus ministry, teen ministry, and was also associate pastor for most of his service. He attended Bethel Baptist Bible Institute where he became a graduate of Theology. He later taught classes such as “Eschatology” and “King James Bible” for the institute. Pastor Ballert also received an honorary doctorate from Marietta Baptist Bible College. In 2021, he began teaching "Homiletics and “King James Bible” at Massillon Baptist College.

Under the leadership of Pastor Ballert, Bethel Baptist Church has grown an excitement and passion for serving the Lord. Pastor Ballert loves church and shares his vision of expanding the current church building by adding a larger auditorium in the near future. The goal for future building is to ultimately move the church from its current location to a piece of land that the church has purchased a few miles away.

Pastor Ballert has a very exciting and engaging preaching style. He is always seeking God’s will in pastoring the church. His passion for the church is seen in his service and care for God’s people. He and his wife Tammy have three children and four grandchildren.