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Benevolence/Outreach
'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,
I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,
I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me,
I was sick and you looked after me,
I was in prison and you came to visit me.
I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one
of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Matthew 25:35-40
Bethel Lutheran Church supports many organizations in our area and around the world. One means of support is our "Mission of the Month". Each month a special offering is collected for a deserving cause. The Missions of the Month are:
January - Pastor's Discretionary Fund
February - Second Harvest Food Bank
March - Sojourner House
April - Salvation Army
May - Bethel Endowment Fund
June - Camp Frederick
July - ELCA World Hunger Appeal
August - ELCA Malaria Campaign
September - Mickey Schuster Scholarship Fund
October - Protestant Family Services
November - Rescue Mission
December - Second Harvest Food Bank
In 2013 Bethel members contributed items for 19 Health Kits to be donated to Lutherran World Relief.
Also in 2013, we donated almost $500 to Hope Water Project to help build wells in the Pokot region of Kenya.
We have ongoing collections of eyeglasses for Lions Internatinal and Cell phones for a local women's shelter.
In addition, members serve dinners at the Rescue Mission several times a year. A hat and mitten tree is filled in December to be distributed to those in need. Food baskets are distributed at Thanksgiving and Easter. Every summer, the youth go on a mission trip to help repair run down properties. The youth participate in other service projects throughout the year. Bible Sticks (flash drives) are purchased to be distributed to the military. WELCA collects health and school items to be distributed to needy children both in the United States and abroad.
In 207 the Endowment Fund donated between $9,000.00 and $10, 000.00 to local charities.
This is just a sampling of the outreach opportunities at Bethel and our efforts to care for all of God's people.
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