IPHC has long been a supporter of the Bethany Children’s Health Center in Bethany, Oklahoma. The BCHC has seen many changes through the years, and in the last four decades, it has seen tremendous growth under the caring, influential hands of siblings Carol and Albert Gray. These two have written a tremendous book detailing the history of the Health Center from 1898 to where it is today.
Presiding Bishop A. D. Beacham, Jr. shares: “In A Legacy of Hope, Albert Gray and his sister Carol Gray describe the amazing story of Bethany Children’s Hospital in Bethany, Oklahoma. The story begins in 1898 with Mattie Mallory, an early member of one of the predecessors to the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC), the Fire-Baptized Holiness Church. In the 1970s, the IPHC became more directly involved in helping to preserve this special ministry to children. Albert and Carol describe how God intervened to use them and the IPHC to put the hospital on solid ground. What the Lord has done over the past forty-plus years is nothing more than miraculous. Today, a modern, state-of-the-art facility provides loving medical care to several hundred special needs children. I am personally thankful for Albert, Carol, and the dedicated personnel who serve these children and the role the IPHC continues to have in prayerful support and encouragement.”
Read the official Press Release for A Legacy of Hope below:
Longtime Leaders, Siblings and ‘Hope Rebels’ Punctuate Four-Decade Journey at Bethany Children’s Health Center in New Book
Carol and Albert Gray Share Powerful Stories of Faith, Resilience, Miracles Observed with a Mission of “Maximizing the Potential of Every Child”
Bethany, Okla. (August 13, 2025) – In their newly released book, A Legacy of Hope, longtime leaders and brother-sister duo Carol and Albert Gray share the remarkable journey of Bethany Children’s Health Center—from its humble beginnings as an orphanage in 1898, through its near closure in the mid-20th century, to its place today as one of the nation’s premier pediatric hospitals.
Rooted in the legacy of a young schoolteacher, Mattie Mallory, who answered God’s call to care for orphaned children, this story reveals how one small act of obedience blossomed into a mission spanning generations—built on faith, compassion, and the belief that every child deserves hope. An endorsement was provided by the late Don Pray, who served as executive director of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, and the foreword was provided by Mart Green, ministry investment officer of Hobby Lobby, together with his wife, Diana Green.
Formerly known as the Children’s Convalescent Center, Carol began working as the Volunteer Coordinator in 1977, which, due to scarce resources, was starting a road to closure. And that process required a specific skillset – one her brother Albert held – with a Nursing Home Administrator’s license. However, against all odds, and like Mattie Mallory nearly a century before, the Grays felt the Lord calling them into a mission beyond themselves. Instead of the easy solution, they chose a tenacious path inspired by their parents work ethic. They began working together to continue the center’s legacy by finding ways to keep the facility open, which included re-establishing the referral pipeline, transforming traditional models of care for children with disabilities, and fundraising.
“A Legacy of Hope is more than a history—it’s our testimony of God’s faithfulness through seasons of challenge and change,” said Carol Gray. “We wanted to honor the people, past and present, who refused to give up on this mission, and to inspire the next generation to carry it forward with the same passion and hope.”
A Legacy of Hope captures the diligent work of the Gray siblings, among others, to turn a facility in danger of closing into one of the nation’s leading pediatric health centers. It’s a journey of perseverance and faith through financial hardship and organizational challenges. This book exchanges personal accounts from both Carol and Albert, outlining their distinct entrepreneurial, visionary and detail-oriented qualities as inspirational insights from “Two Kids From Lookeba,” and of course shares heartwarming insights and stories of community support.
“When we look back, it’s humbling to think God used two kids from Lookeba to show His goodness and faithfulness,” said Albert Gray. “A Legacy of Hope isn’t just our story, it’s a reminder that when faith, hard work, and community come together, extraordinary things can happen for children who need it most.”
Carol currently serves as the Senior Director of Mission and Culture, and Albert is the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. In recent years the Gray siblings have transitioned from Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer, respectively.
To support the book’s release, Carol and Albert Gray are available beginning August 18 for media interviews, speaking engagements, and book signings. A Legacy of Hope is available for purchase on Amazon, online donations through Bethany Children’s Health Center’s website, and on-site after pre-scheduled tours.
Link to photos here. For more information about Bethany Children’s Health Center please visit www.bethanychildrens.org.
About Bethany Children’s Health Center
Bethany Children’s Health Center is an innovative leader in the field of pediatric rehabilitation and 24-hour complex care. The private, non-profit hospital, accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC), offers inpatient complex care and outpatient rehabilitation services for children and is the only inpatient pediatric rehabilitation facility in Oklahoma. The hospital is also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). The multidisciplinary team works with patients and their families to maximize every child’s potential, and ensure the family has the training and resources needed for a smooth transition from hospital to home. Bethany Children’s provides a range of community support services for families nationwide, including the annual Cerebral Palsy Conference and adaptive recreation and sports experiences, and is currently campaigning for the next phase of outpatient services with the Landmark of Hope expansion project.
