BETHLEHEM, NC (August 26, 2018) — The mission of Bethlehem Baptist Church…believe, belong, and go beyond…is more than something they say; it expresses why they exist and guides what they do. Each portion of the mission statement is based on Scripture: believe…John 3:16; belong…Hebrews 10:25; and go beyond…Matthew 28:19-20.
In Matthew 28, God commands us to go beyond ourselves and share the love of Christ with the world around us! “The Bethlehem Baptist Church family strives to impact our world and be obedient to this command through local, state, national, and international missions,” says pastor, Dr. Wayne Caviness. “From financial and service support of ministries such as the Bethlehem Ministerial Association, NC Baptist Association, and the Cooperative Program…to mission projects like Operation Inasmuch and support for Bethlehem Elementary School…to mission trips this summer to New Hampshire and New York…mission opportunities impact the spiritual growth of participants as well as the recipients.”
In addition to various local projects, Bethlehem’s Summer of Service included two mission trips:
New Hampshire Mission Trip
In June 2018, a team of volunteers traveled to Rumney, New Hampshire, to the White Mountain Retreat Center at Rumney Bible Conference. White Mountain Retreat Center, located in the southern foothills of the White Mountains, is a year-round host to Christ-centered retreat groups. Bethlehem’s team worked with the Rumney staff to do clean-up, repairs, and remodels to camp facilities. “When we are working at the camp, we don’t see the campers,” said Carol Fox. “But we have been going since 2013, and have made many friends from all the returning churches during that designated week.”
There is something everyone can do…from construction, repairs, prayer-walking, and cooking! “We helped install new vinyl windows in the lodge and helped prepare meals for the workers,” said Revonda Bowman.
The Bethlehem team goes to help prepare the facilities for the retreat groups to come. It is exciting to hear news of what God does through the efforts of teams from Bethlehem and other churches that work together for a common goal!
This was the second year of camp at The Happy T (aka teenager Ranch) after the facilities had been unused for several years. The buildings underwent major renovations in 2017. There were 28 campers who attended the Rebirth of The Happy T Ranch last summer. This year there were about 35 campers. During the week, 6 youth were baptized in the waters of beautiful Stenson Lake, with one young lady making a commitment to full time ministry in missions.
Learn more and support this cause at www.rumneybibleconference.org.
New York Mission Trip
In July 2018, another team of volunteers traveled to Queens, New York, as part of a three-year partnership between churches of the Baptist State Convention of NC and the Metropolitan New York Baptist Association to help advance the Gospel in an area where only three percent of the population has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The Bethlehem team helped Jackson Heights Community Church host their first week-long children’s day camp. Children from local neighborhoods came to learn about Jesus and the Bethlehem team was introduced to other cultures and faiths. After the day camps, teams went prayer-walking throughout the community.
God commands, in Matthew 28:19, to “go and make disciples of all the nations”. This command took on greater significance as the team realized that “all the nations” were actually there in the small community they were serving. “This week was such a beautiful experience of learning the different cultures that NY has to offer,” said Jesica Cook. “I felt humbled and blessed to be a part of it this week as we loved on many children and their parents at a Kids Camp. We were open to communicate and learn about other religions such as the Hindu’s, Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists and Sikh’s. God made us all and loves us all! As His children, we are to share about Him and his love. It’s amazing what just a smile can do. I will forever have a special place in my heart for the kids we met this week.”
Learn more and support this cause at www.PlantingInNYC.com.
Will You Go Beyond?
We are called to “go beyond” for the same reasons that you and I exist: for God’s glory, to make His name known, and to declare His saving love to others. So ask God to give you a heart for the mission to “go beyond” that He intends for you. Ask if He wants you to go on a short-term trip, participate in local mission projects, or “go beyond” in your regular daily life. Then go with obedience in the direction that God has called you!
Plans for mission trips in the coming year are already underway, in addition to ongoing local opportunities. For more information, call 828.495.7250 or visit www.bethlehembc.org. Bethlehem Baptist Church is located at 7500 NC Hwy 127N, Taylorsville, NC.
Press Release Courtesy of Lisa Caviness