BTCchurch Community Outreach

Read how one Life Group is using homemade greeting cards to share God’s Love!

When we talked about the church-wide goals in Life Group, of all the goals, Goal #4 bummed me out the most.  I thought there was no way I could help – I can’t rake someone else’s leaves or clean their house – I can barely do that for myself due to health issues.  But I didn’t want to be the hold-out of our group, felt really miserable, and didn’t want to admit or face my fears.   Then on a discussion question of what we would do with a “free” day, I said I would like to stay home and make greeting cards all day.

Well, something clicked with the others in the group.  We’d been praying for a member’s daughter-in-law who lost her mother in a tragic auto accident.  She didn’t come to Bethel and we weren’t sure she if she had a church, but we could reach out to her in compassion.  The suggestion was made to send a handmade sympathy card from the group that we all could sign.  It certainly didn’t seem to me like very much to do for someone.  But then it dawned:   God used a great weakness, combined it with a passion, and made a way to reach out in compassion to someone beyond our church walls to let them know we cared and were praying for them.  It still seems to me so little to do for someone, but how like Him to make a way.

Norma

Heck Life Group serving at the Evansville Rescue Mission

Ten members of the Reggie Heck Life Group recently served dinner at the Evansville Rescue Mission. This activity was a part of the church-wide commitment of Life Groups to live out their faith through an outside-the-church walls, compassion-based activity in the local community.

The meal was prepared by the Rescue Mission Staff and was scheduled to be served at 6 PM. Chapel is conducted prior to the meal and meal service depends on when evening Chapel is concluded. At around 6:20 PM the Life Group ladies began filling the food trays and the men delivered them to the 120 men seated in the dining room. The Small Group brought desserts to be used with the meal. Desserts are greatly appreciated by the clients as they are only served when donated by an outside source.

The Small Group members enjoyed interacting with many clients and hearing how the Agency is operated. The clients were very appreciative of the volunteers . . . especially the desserts! Life Groups are welcome to assist with many areas and can make arrangements by calling the Volunteer Coordinator Amanda Moore at 812-421-3800 ext. 258.

www.evansvillerescuemission.org

Here are some photos of the Weiss group’s community outreach project – cleaning up a yard after the ice storm.