The goal of Missions & Outreach at Bethany UMC is to train and equip ordinary people to go and do extraordinary things in the name of Jesus so that all might see, hear and experience God’s love in tangible ways.
Through the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Bethany United Methodist Church teams have set up over 30 homes for refugee families moving to the Baltimore area. Many people have asked questions about the program: Are the refugees "legal?, Can they get jobs right away?, How is one refugee family chosen over another?, How does the IRC assist with the transition to life in the USA?
Kyle Monsees, Community Engagement Coordinator at the IRC, came to Bethany to answer these questions and more. You may view the presentation below.
Bethany has set up four households for refugee families moving into our area. We acquired the furniture, linens, cleaning supplies, dishes, etc. through donations from the congregation. The families we served this year were from Columbia, Sudan and Syria. The welcome home effort is in conjunction with the International Refugee Committee.
In April 2023, Bethany volunteers worked on the home of a Howard County resident who needed some help. The crew completed a number of tasks to include plumbing, electrical, rebuilding a fence , replacing doors, and drywall repair. In addition to the work, we had a wonderful time getting to know the homeowner and working together. OUr project was coordinated with the Rebuilding Together of Howard County program.
Many of Bethany’s G.I.F.T (Growing in Faith Together) Groups are serving in the community as part of their walk together. Efforts include:
Bethany provided hygiene kits and flood buckets to those in crisis due to natural disasters or to asylum seekers or homeless persons.
Over the winter season, Bethany volunteers delivered potatoes to local soup kitchens in Baltimore and Wheaton. The potatoes were gleaned from farms in Maine and brought down to Maryland by the BW Conference United Methodist Men's group. We participated in four "Potato Drops" in 2023.
Bethany strives to provide hope and support to families, both locally and abroad. Whether through the provision of camperships or delivering a gift and a message of love to children on behalf of their parent in prison, Bethany seeks to surround families in crisis with caring, compassionate community.
It was a fun-filled, action-packed time at our annual Rise Against Hunger meal-packing event where we packed meals to be sent to hungry people all over the world. Thank you to the 50 volunteers who help pack 10,000 meals in under two hours!
Whether providing supplies for medical mission trips, supporting the lives of families in need via livestock donations, or packaging meals to help alleviate world hunger, Bethany is doing extraordinary things in the name of Jesus so that all might see, hear and experience God’s love in tangible ways.
Read about Charlotte’s 20+ years of mission work in Honduras and her conviction to be part of the Honduras Humanitarian Mission team every year for 22 years.
Bethany has responded to catastrophes in the U.S. and around the world through donations to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). Most recently Bethany provided funds to help people in Turkey and Syria after the February 2023 earthquake.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16