Bethel - Making Disciples

Click here for the May Crossroads Pdf

“O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man, who is of the earth, may strike terror no more.” (Psalm 10:17-18)

AWARENESS about injustice creates PARTICIPATION in justice that brings Christ’s LOVE to a hurting world.

God is deeply concerned about disadvantaged people on the margins of society; the afflicted, the slave, the fatherless, the oppressed, the child victim. He expects us to show mercy and promote justice. Every believer ought to be involved in relieving suffering as a vital part of living for Jesus in this world. Our involvement in activities of justice demonstrates the transforming power of the gospel in practical ways and thereby supports our calling to effectively reach the world for Jesus Christ.

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For the past nine months, a growing team of Bethel attenders has been developing an exhibit to raise awareness about human trafficking, show the power of the gospel to address this evil, and to motivate participants to action.

Jessica MacFarlan, Krista Hanson, and I (Amber Bruce) came up with the idea last September. We were brainstorming projects about human trafficking that we could propose during the NExT Campaign. A lot of people have asked if we are partnering with a larger organization that has the exhibit and we are running it. Nope. We just made it up.

It’s been beautiful to see God working in and through people as this exhibit has been put together. He has given different gifts and talents to each team member to do each part. In the last couple weeks, all those different parts have come together into what promises to be an amazing experience.

It’s been a faith-building experience as we have reached beyond our capabilities and trusted God to show up. He has come through every time.

The journey has just begun. SOLD debuts this week in the Bethel Gym from May 9-20. After that, it will be available to travel to churches and events throughout the Northwest. There is still time to join the team!

Tomorrow and Thursday from 4-9pm, Bethel attenders and their friends get the very first opportunity to see the completed SOLD: The Human Trafficking Experience! Hope to see you there.

CAUTION: Do the the mature content, this experience is not recommended for children under 13. Those with a history of sexual abuse may want to skip certain rooms, go with a trusted friend, or find other ways to help fight human trafficking.

Center Stage @ Bethel is producing a musical this summer called “Cotton Patch Gospel.” Up to two Center Stage @ Bethel Internships are available from late May through August. These paid positions ($2,500) will be expected to accomplish their tasks in a flexible schedule throughout the summer from auditions (May 20th, 21st) through the final performance (mid-August).

Application is due by May 31, 2012. Download application

Center Stage @ Bethel is a drama ministry whose purpose is to draw people closer to one another and God through each member’s unique gifting including many aspects of the creative arts. We locate, read, research and discuss plays, skits, musicals and other creative writings that depict God’s love, hope, grace and faithfulness. Members have a variety of gifts: Hospitality, singing, discernment, sewing, carpentry, acting, administration, prayer, with a musical instrument, painting, marketing… any gift that can be used in the process from play selection to production.

May’s passage is Psalm 19:7-8 NIV

The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

Stay tuned each month as we post each memory verse.

Run For Rice is a race being held on June 2nd at Bethel Church with all proceeds going to Agape International Missions.
There will be a 1 mile, 5k, and 10k race and is open to  men, women and children of all ages. Registration is $10 per person or a max of  $30 per family. (children 5 and under are free) A downloadable sponsor sheet is available on the registration form.

Check-in for the race will be on Friday, June 1 from 6-7p in the Hospitality Room right off the Bethel’s Richland campus foyer. Check-in will also be available Saturday, June 2 from 7:30-8:30A.

For more info contact Hope Fox- hopefox@hotmail.com or Amy Purvis - thepurvisfam@gmail.com.

Register here!
Donate to AGAPE here!

Note: Donations to AGAPE and will not show on your Bethel giving statements.

Download it here pdf

 April’s passage is 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary , but what is unseen is eternal.

Stay tuned each month as we post each memory verse.

Good Friday Service
Fellowship Hall
Friday, April 6, 2012
5:30p  +  7p

Easter Services
Live + Wired + Unplugged + Connected + PM
Sunday, April 8, 2012
9a   +   11a   +   6:30p*

* PM service main auditorium only

Two Sundays ago, the Campaign for Marriage kicked off with a video describing how a broken marriage culture has seeped into the American Church  - and Bethel Church in particular – and broken many of the marriages of God’s people.

Our culture has lost the meaning of marriage laid out in the Bible. As Christians, we have too often scandalously failed to uphold the institution of marriage and to model for the world the meaning of marriage. We see symptoms of this in broken marriages. We also see symptoms in flippant or negative attitudes of singles and dating couples toward marriage.

The Bible teaches that marriage is a central component of God’s creation (Gen 1:26-28; 2:18-25). The union of husband and wife mirrors the bond between Christ and his church (Eph 5:32-33). The Manhattan Declaration, a multi-denominational statement of faith regarding life, marriage, and religious freedom, describes some of the differences between the way our culture views marriage and the way marriage is defined in the Bible. A few of these are outlined below.

*See Tim Keller’s book The Meaning of Marriage, especially Ch. 3 for more on this idea.

**See The Manhattan Declaration for a defense of this assertion.