Tom Claibourne
​Preaching Minister

A Unique Look at Tom Claibourne

      Tom Claibourne grew up in a small town, studied for the ministry in a large city, and has spent his adult years serving with Bethlehem, a rural congregation in southern Ohio, just 25 miles from where he was born.

       During these 60+ years he has developed an interesting world perspective through his unique experiences  and extensive travel that has taken him to all 50 states and 30 countries on five continents. While doing covert missionary work for two summers in the 1970's, Tom crossed communist borders 26 times, with each crossing offering its own unique adventures.

       Claibourne has swam in five seas and two oceans, waded across a river in Haiti, and traveled on both the Nile & Amazon Rivers. He climbed the Berlin Wall, a Roman aquaduct, one of the Great Pyramids of Egypt, and even over a fence in Germany to run on the Munich Olympic track.

       Though even into adulthood he struggled with public
speaking, writing, and self-confidence, God has given Tom the opportunity to serve with a strong church for  four decades, serve on the national speakers ' circuit for the Energizing Smaller Churches Network, publish more than 100 articles, and write a monthly illustration column for preachers for 20 years.

       As an avid defender of the public display of the Ten
Commandments, Tom has been interviewed many times by the the radio, television, and print media, and helped dedicate a granite Ten Commandments monument in the West bank in Israel. 

       Tom and his wife Linnea are the parents of 3 adult children.

       Tom still participates in several sports and enjoys reading, yard work, and other outdoor pursuits.

Christian Martin
associate minister

   Christian grew up in the church and really felt god's call to ministry when he was in his senior year of high school. christian attended kentucky christian university and graduated with a bachelor of arts in preaching in 2018. he continues to study there, working on a master of arts in new testament.

   christian is married and looks forward to life and the ministry he is blessed to share with his wife, megan. they began their ministry at bethlehem in march of 2019, and christian was ordained into the ministry on june 23rd, 2019 at dry run church of christ in west portsmouth, his home church. christian also served on the staff and interned at dry run before coming to bethlehem.

   christian's interests include sports and fitness, music, video games, movies, and pop culture. at bethlehem, christian works in various capacities, but his major focus is helping the high school teens learn and grow in their faith, while still keeping things fun, relaxed and open.

Donna Woods
Church Secretary

Donna has served with Bethlehem since 2005, following more than 30 years of secretarial experience, most of which was in the offices of Meldahl Dam in Clermont County, Ohio.


She and her husband Paul live near Decatur, and are the parents of one adult son.

BCC Elders

From left to right:   Floyd Morris(Elder Emeritus), David Tatman, Duane Scott, Pat Bhil, Terry Parker, Kyle Truesdell

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BCC Deacons

Front from left to right: Bob Smith, Mark Davis, Roger Davis, Pat Berry, Danny Grooms (deceased)
Back from left to right: Mike Huston, Josh Souder, Aaron Truesdell, Doug Davis, Dusty Campbell