bethel's international impact

Bethel Members continue to have a big impact on a little village on the other side of the world.

Bettesue village in Liberia is where Bethel member Hawa Lendein and her late husband sowed the seeds of the Gospel for the first time.  It is where a sweeping of the Holy Spirit saw a majority of the people from the village come to Christ in subsequent years.  And it is where Bethel members, in partnership with Hawa’s son John, are building a school.   

Starting when John first announced the building project at our November congregational meeting, Bethel members began to give.  Day after day, week after week, Bethelites gave gifts of tens or hundreds or even thousands of dollars, contributing to date a total of around 25,000 dollars. 

Though John thought at the time that $25,000 would substantially complete the building project, in time, a devaluing Canadian dollar along with rising building costs and unanticipated expenses pushed the expected price tag closer to the $50,000 mark.  Recognizing the dilemma, a Bethel member stepped in.  He emailed several business associates to describe the need and, to his surprise, one of them said, “I will pay the remainder of the bill.”   Others have also committed to give smaller, generous amounts.

The village leaders want John and Hawa to return to Liberia next March so they can publicly thank them  and Bethel Church for their gift of a school.  (They also want to publicly ask the Lendeins for forgiveness since they initially persecuted Hawa and her husband for sharing the Gospel).   At least four people from Bethel Church will be joining the Lendeins on the trip.  John hopes that a variety of things can be scheduled to coincide with the visit with the help of local Christians:  training for the Christian school teachers and church leaders, as well as seminars for woman and children.

If you would like to play a role in this ongoing story, you may support one or more students to go to school.  On Pentecost Sunday, June 8, Peitie Boskers will be collecting money from anyone who wishes to contribute in this way.  Thirty dollars will buy one student a uniform, shoes, and school supplies for the year.

The Bettesue story is the story of God doing more than we could ask or imagine through Bethel Church.  We serve an amazing God.  You can read the original story of Bettesue in the Pastor’s Corner of February 26, at http://www.discoverbethel.com/pastors-corner/previous/2.  If you would like to see pictures of the school under construction, visit http://www.discoverbethel.com/bettesu-village.html . –Pastor Tom

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