Investing in Relationships with Our Local and Extended Communities
As we’re enjoying the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, let’s remember those seasons are not separate from one another. They are meant for us to be present in the traditions and the beauty of each one, but we need to recognize they are not mutually exclusive. One season leads to another and so do our experiences in them. The same is true for how we work as a faith community. We pray; we give and serve; we study scripture, worship, and engage in relationships, but just like the seasons of this world, they’re not mutually exclusive.
Two groups this fall have demonstrated how living out our faith is all of those things. The result? An outpouring of love and support for those around them. Through focused ministry areas, our Mt. Bethel family has impacted lives through individual relationships, service, prayer, and financial gifts. Just recently, our church body has shown the value of how continuing to work with our community and ministry partners has allowed our Lord to reach those who are impoverished and orphaned.
WEST VIRGINIA
This Thanksgiving, 150 families in West Virginia were able to enjoy a meal in their homes. With financial contributions of over $10,000, five Mt. Bethel members traveled to Welch, West Virginia, and were able to purchase, assemble, and distribute a Thanksgiving meal to those who would not have had one. They were also able to deliver sack lunches to the residents of Elkhorn Town, a fixed-income apartment community. Through their commitment to and relationship with our Partner, Hands of Hope, those five members stayed committed to the mission of feeding the hungry.
These meals were just part of our ongoing relationship with Hands of Hope and their ministry in Welch. Months ago, Mt. Bethel was able to pay off the loan on Hands of Hope’s ministry vehicle as well as make renovations to The Hope Chest, the ministry’s thrift store.
Your ongoing sacrificial giving and relationship building shows how Mt. Bethel is committed from one season to the next.
ANGEL TREE
The Faithmates Sunday School class with project leads, Katie and Jonathan Sheridan, has been able to fulfill their goal to provide Christmas gifts to foster care children who would not otherwise receive them. Thanks to the commitment of the Faithmates Sunday School class, their creativity in offering an Amazon gift wish list, and our partnership with the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFACS), over 600 children in foster care will have gifts to open Christmas Day. Faithmates has kept the Angel Tree tradition alive at Mt. Bethel and is committed to the children and families it serves. Because of that commitment, Mt. Bethel remains the largest contributor of gifts to DFACS.
Reminder: All gifts must be received by Thursday, December 2. People can return the gifts (unwrapped with angel attached) any day of the week at the Welcome Center or on Sunday, November 28, before or after church.
These are just two examples of how God continues to use the commitment of our church body to make a Kingdom impact. Yes, seasons change, but they are not autonomous from one another. Just as one season transforms into the next, let’s keep moving forward in developing relationships and serving with one other as Christ did – one person, one village, one day at a time – remembering always to give God the Glory.