OUR HISTORY
The story of the Bethlehem Center traces back to 1920, when a group of United Methodist Women came together with a shared mission of making a lasting impact on the lives of those in need. Inspired by a deep sense of faith, social responsibility ,and guided by a commitment to spiritual growth, education, and leadership development, they laid the foundation of what would become a transformative force in the community.
The Bethlehem Center was born out of two separate Methodist ministries in Chattanooga: the Good Shepherd Fold Daycare, run by Reverend Sallie Crenshaw, and the Wesley House, established by Mrs. Miriam Brock.
Mrs. Miriam Brock
Mrs. Miriam Brock’s ministry started as a Bible study in the basement of Phillip’s Memorial Methodist Church in 1920, receiving a charter for a formal mission known as the Wesley House.
By the following year, the Bible study had grown into a daycare and kindergarten classes. In 1926 the Wesley House moved to a donated house on College Street, where it remained until the dedication of our current building on W. 38th Street in 1960.
Reverend Sallie Crenshaw
Sallie Crenshaw began as a traveling missionary in the South East. In 1930 Ms. Crenshaw became a licensed preaching missionary by the Methodist Board of Missions because ordination was not available to women, especially African-American women, at the time.
She attended school at Gammon Theological Seminary and Tennessee Wesleyan College. She served over 12 churches in coal mining towns in West Virginia to poor neighborhoods in Chattanooga.
After commissioning a beer tavern on St. Elmo Avenue to use for Bible studies on Sunday mornings in 1947, Ms. Crenshaw noticed a need to take care of children left at home while their parents worked. By early spring of 1948, Ms. Crenshaw rented an old house and opened the Good Shepherd Fold daycare center.
By 1954, she was able to buy a plot of land and build a brand new daycare facility, serving up to 130 children in the St. Elmo area! This facility became our current building and was called the Bethlehem House. In 1960 Reverend Crenshaw and Miriam Brock partnered their ministries which became the Sallie Crenshaw Bethlehem Center.
Their dedication to their community and the advancement of justice for all people remains a driving force of the Bethlehem Center today.
Today, as we reflect on our journey, we are humbled and inspired by the transformative impact we have achieved over the years. Our history is a testament to the resilience of our community, the dedication of our supporters, and the unwavering spirit of our team.
As the years have passed, our commitment to empowering positive change has only grown stronger. We have expanded our initiatives to include community outreach, healthcare awareness, environmental conservation, and emergency relief efforts. Each step we take is driven by a vision of seeing our community connected, empowered, and living life more abundantly.
Looking ahead, we are excited about the endless possibilities that lie before us. We invite you to join us in creating a brighter future for Chattanooga's youth and families. Together, we can continue empowering positive change and building a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
The Bethlehem Center celebrated our Centennial Birthday in 2020 and the 150th anniversary of the United Methodist Women in 2019!
1920: Miriam Brock begins her bible study
1926: Miriam Brock’s ministry opens a new building known as the Wesley House
1930: Sallie Crenshaw becomes a licensed missionary
1948: Good Shepherd Fold (GSF) daycare begins
1954: GSF daycare opens a new building in St. Elmo known as the Bethlehem House
1960: Bethlehem House merges with Miriam Brock’s ministry becoming the Sallie Crenshaw Bethlehem Center
2020: The Bethlehem Center celebrates 100 years of serving our community!