Rev. Winston Bethea was born on May 30, 1951 in Fairmount, North Carolina in a Christian household. At an early age he read the bible, prayed, attended Sunday school and sung on the choir. At the age of 7, his family moved to Newark, NJ and in 1960 united with Paradise Missionary Baptist Church where Rev. Frank W. Hardwick was the pastor. He loved going to church and paid close attention to the sermons his pastor preached. In 1964, at the age of 12, Winston Bethea was baptized and has been acknowledging Christ as his personal Savior. 

In June 1975, after much prayer and guidance of the Holy Spirit, Winston Bethea united in fellowship with Brown’s Chapel Baptist Church under the leadership of Bishop Heber Brown, Sr. His spiritual development grew as he dedicated himself to the work of the ministry. Winston Bethea loved the church and in 1986 was appointed Sexton. He took his job very seriously by making sure that the church grounds were safe and kept clean, inner sanctuary was prepared for worship, and baptismal pool was ready for the baptism of new converts. Bishop Heber Brown, Sr. watched the faithfulness and dedication of Winston Bethea and trained him to become a Deacon. He followed in the footsteps of the Deacons at Brown’s Chapel by leading prayer meetings, visiting the sick and shut-in, and being an armor bearer to the pastor. After months of training, Winston Bethea was ordained as a Deacon in 1986. In 1995, Deacon Bethea felt God calling him to preach the gospel. He prayed about this tremendous task and on July 23, 1995 preached his trial sermon “Feed my sheep, Feed my people” John 21:15-17.

As an ordained minister of the gospel, Rev. Bethea knew that excellence would come through ministerial training. He attended the following:
1995 – Dr. T.H. Rankin Theological Institute, Newark, NJ
1996 – 1998 – Bowles Institute, Roselle, NJ
2000 – Evangelistic Bible Institute, Newark, NJ

Rev. Winston Bethea received his Bachelor of Theology in 2002 from Evangelistic Bible Institute which is accredited through United Bible College & Seminary of Orlando, Fla. He was chosen to deliver the address for his graduating class and he spoke from the topic “Press On” Philippians 3:14.

Rev. Winston Bethea is a humble servant of the Lord and married to the former Beatrice Brown. He is currently employed at University Hospital in Newark, NJ. Rev. Bethea as a heart for visiting the sick, volunteering in the pediatric ward of the hospital, going to nursing homes and spreading the Good News. He serves in such capacities as: mass choir, male chorus, worship leader for Tuesday evening prayer, Sunday school and Associate Minister of Brown’s Chapel Baptist Church.

Rev. Bethea holds Revelation 2:10 close to his heart - “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life.”