What is in a name? At the least it is chosen because it is liked or it sounds nice at the best it is chosen because it reflects an initial dream and a definite desire for the life of the owner, Bethshan Newcastle is definitely the latter.
People have asked “Why would you name your church Bethshan? Isn’t that the city which the Phillistines hung the body of Saul from?” The answer is, “Yes, but there is much more.” If you read on you find the church intertwined with the birth of Pentecost, revival crusades, soul winning, church planting and miraculous growth.
The name Bethshan or BethShean is mentioned several times in the bible. It’s name means 'city of peace or refuge' and was probably a city as described in Numbers 35 v6 where the accused could flee to receive shelter and justice. But it is famously the scene where Saul’s body was hung by the Philistines and as such ushered in the reign of Israel’s greatest king, King David. The scene of Saul hanging from the walls in abject humiliation is finely contrasted with the most moving scene of honour displayed in the scriptures as David takes his torturer and tormentor for many years and declares, “The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!” (2 Sam 1v19). This public display by David revealed the true heart of the king towards the Lord’s anointed. In this way Bethshan became a place of great honour for the anointed of the Lord as well as defining the beginning of the greatest kingly reign in the Old Testament. Bethshan from that moment defined the shift from tyranny to a prophetic representation of God’s kingdom on earth. David established peace, worship and restoration of the things of God and perhaps it was this dream of transition into revival that became the reason John Nelson Parr chose the name 'Bethshan Tabernacle' as the name of the original church in Longsight, Manchester.
John Nelson Parr (1886 - 1976)
The History
To talk of Bethshan without looking at the life and works of John Nelson Parr would be to miss everything our own founder, Herbert Harrison was hoping to emulate and even surpass. John Nelson Parr was one of the co-founders of the Assemblies of God of Great Britain and Ireland. In some ways it could be said he was instrumental in the incredible worldwide revival that saw Pentecostalism change the face of the modern church. Nearly half a billion Christians on this planet are either Pentecostal or Charismatic. This is incredible given it’s relatively short existence. In the space of the twentieth century the Pentecostal revival has swept the globe and transformed the church probably more than any previous revival in church history. Nelson Parr’s role in this revival was key.
Parr was born in Ardwick, Manchester in 1886, but it would be the move of God in Sunderland which was to shape his life and ministry. A. A. Boddy was the vicar of All Saints Church in Monkwearmouth, Sunderland and is noted for introducing Pentecostalism to Britain through his Whitsuntide Conventions. He longed for revival for every church in Britain.
Alexander Boddy (1854 - 1930)
During their hey-day the Sunderland Conventions had an impact on numerous people. Of note among them were Smith Wigglesworth, the Jeffreys brothers and Willie Burton . It was to these Conventions that Dan Parsley was sent by the leaders of Stanley Hall, the church of which Parr was a member. It was Sunderland then that had a massive effect upon Parr as his desire for revival was fuelled by stories from there.
Smith Wigglesworth (1859 - 1947)
It would be a miracle crusade in 1928 by Stephen Jeffries in Levenshulme Manchester hosted by John Nelson Parr, then only a local minister with a small congregation, that was to birth the church they called Bethshan tabernacle which was to house 400 people. The Bethshan tabernacle was to expand to host 1400 in 1958 and become one of the largest churches in the country. Parr was a passionate preacher and often told individuals to 'keep on fire' or 'keep burning' signing letters 'KOF' or 'KOB'.
He looked for 'white hot' soul winners and tutored many young men to follow his example in pursuing revival. One of those young men was our founding father Herbert Harrison. Placed in an orphanage as a young boy he learned to look after himself on the streets of Manchester and Stockport. When his birth mother came to claim him from the orphanage he was already streetwise and able to look after himself. He became an accomplished street gambler learning to feed himself and later his mother and sister with his winnings. It was one of Nelson Parr’s soul winners who placed a Christian tract in his mother’s hand and later saw her saved. Herbert’s sister and lastly Herbert himself soon gave their hearts to Christ.
Herbert Harrison (1922 - 1997)
Supernatural Growth
Pastor Harisson remained a member of Bethshan Tabernacle from 1942 to 1949 and was sent out to be an evangelist in home missions. Preaching with other young fire brands from a caravan he travelled the UK. The things in which he had been tutored followed his own ministry he saw healings, salvations and resurrections, but it was a seemingly less glamorous job that was to birth Bethshan, Newcastle.
The inheritance of his spiritual father was taken in full. The Newcastle Bethshan Tabernacle was famous for it’s Sunday schools with 6 outreach Sunday schools across the city 100’s of children would attend and the name Bethshan was well known among every child in the city.
Evangelism was the heart beat of the church with three open airs on Sunday with meetings at the Quayside, Westgate Road and the Bigg market at three different times. Bus evangelism would bring people from outside the city at Balydon, Ryton, Kenton and Blakelaw to the Sunday night gospel meeting. Salvations were the norm and not the exception.
Pastor Harrison had received the anointing of soul winning but also worked out his gifting with diligence and was not to be disturbed on Sunday afternoon as he prepared and interceded for the Sunday night gospel service.
Pastor Ken Gott and his wife Lois (the daughter of Herbert and Mary Harrison) were given the charge to plant a home group in Ouston near Chester-le-Street. The group was so successful they outgrew their home and started a church plant in Sunderland. The ingredients that made their father successful were cornerstones of their ministry and from this foundation came the Sunderland Renewal in 1994 which is now recorded in revival history.
The joy of seeing the dreamed for revival was a succour in later life for Herbert and Mary. It was only a matter of time until the extremely successful and growing ministry of Pastor Ken and Lois Gott was to be given the name of their Father’s church 'Bethshan Newcastle'.
In 2007, they moved back into Newcastle and into the famous Tyne Tees TV 'Tube studio'. The church in Newcastle continues to thrive with a multi-national and young congregation.
When people ask “Why Bethshan?” we can reply that Bethshan is a more than a name.
It is a heritage of revival, innovation, growth and the miraculous.