Outreach Ministry
Welcome to the Bethel Church Mission Outreach Ministry
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The Mission Outreach Ministry at Bethel encourages you to choose an area in which to volunteer. The mission work available has varying levels of participation from periodic involvement in annual events to ongoing activities which span throughout the year. It is our hope that the Bethel Church congregation will have 100% participation with each member volunteering at least one time during the year. If you have any questions about the activities listed here, please call the contact person to learn more about the events and ways to participate. Or, if you are involved in another ministry and would like to be added to our list, please let us know so we can help coordinate volunteers for your activity. If you have any other concerns or would like assistance in choosing an area in which to help please feel free to contact me. I would be happy to discuss them with you. Dale Jones, Chairperson Mission Outreach Ministry |
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Crop Walk
The Crop Walk is an annual South Bay Walk for the Hungry is a 1-mile, 5-mile, and 10-kilometer walk through the Rose Garden area of San Jose. Congregations throughout the South Bay join with family, friends, coworkers, students, and senior citizens to take steps to stop hunger. The walkers reflect rich cultural and religious diversity and come from Palo Alto to Salinas. The walk raises money for local, national and international hunger relief organizations with 25% going to two local agencies and 75% directed to national and international agencies. In the past 19 years the South Bay Walk has raised just under $680,000 for hunger relief.
Bethel Contact: Minnie Sudarsanam OR Anita Tysseland
Date: Event held annually in the Spring.
Habitat for Humanity
Silicon Valley Habitat For Humanity, Inc., an affiliate of Habitat For Humanity International, was incorporated as a non-profit organization on July 21,1986. Bay & Valley Habitat works in partnership with low income families to build affordable, decent housing in Santa Clara County. The houses are built using volunteer labor and tax-deductible donations of money and materials contributed by churches, businesses, foundations and private individuals. The selected families must invest 500 hours of "sweat equity" in the construction of their homes. Working side-by-side, homeowner families, donors and other Habitat volunteers create a spirit of partnership and develop a sense of community which benefits everyone. You can also donate items/cash directly to Habitat.
Bethel Contact: Kathy O'Brien or send mail to volunteer@habitatsanjose.org
Date: Ongoing weekend work, throughout the year.
Bethel Crew
The Bethel Crew provides help to people in need of home repairs or maintenance. We are looking toward forming a team for weekend work on a regular or periodic basis. Assistance is being offered to the families within the Bethel congregation and to neighbors in the surrounding community. This is a good opportunity to get to know other members and provide outreach to the Cupertino area around Bethel Church.
Bethel Contact: Dale Jones
Dates: Ongoing, periodic weekend projects.
Children's Shelter
Children's Shelter evening worship services are conducted the first Sunday of each month by our teams of caring volunteers.
Contact Carol Palmer.
Concern for the Poor, Inc. San Jose Family Shelter
The San Jose Family Shelter meets the temporary needs of families in the local San Jose area. The shelter can accommodate up to 36 families for a three month stay. As of September 1998, there are 47 adults and 83 children staying at the shelter. Volunteer time is needed at the shelter on an ongoing basis (for instance: 45 hour commitment night team are needed). Periodic clothing drives will be organized to provide help for the children and adults staying at the shelter. The San Jose Family Shelter also regularly publishes a Wish List with updated information about the current needs for supplies. In addition to ongoing assistance efforts we provide a special gift of volunteers and food when we prepare and serve holiday meals to the homeless families, (Christmas and Easter morning brunches). We are currently looking for someone to organize night teams and meal teams.
Bethel Contact: Dale Jones. Other participation, or to request the Shelter's monthly newsletter/Wish List, call Carman Agamao (408) 926-8885.
Date: Ongoing opportunities. Holiday meal events (Christmas and Easter).
The Lord's Pantry
This is a regular ministry which encourages food donations of canned goods and non-perishable items for hungry families in the San Jose area. Donated food is distributed through the pantry at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in San Jose. Donations from Bethel Church have provided over 50% of the total food bank for the past five years. You can participate by bringing your donation to the collection container located in the Narthex of the church.
Bethel Contact: Bill Francis
Date: Ongoing, weekly donations accepted.
Youth Ministry Worship Services
This committed group conducts Sunday morning worship services for incarcerated youth at the Juvenile Hall facility. The purpose of the services is to bring church services to their site and provide inspiring music and outreach.
Bethel Contact: Clayton Johnson
Date: Fourth Sunday of every other month at juvenile hall.
Mission to Mexico
This project works in coordination with the Mexico based organization called Esperanza. Esperanza, which means "hope" in Spanish, coordinates funding and volunteers to build schools, community centers and homes to help better the lives of low income families in Mexico. Bethel volunteers work side by side with local people at the work projects. Ongoing monetary support can be provided to the Esperanza organization, as well as participation in one of the work trips. High school students participate yearly during Spring Break, while the adults take an extended weekend for either three or four days in the October/November time frame.
Bethel Contact: Tom Hoegel (408) 252-8500 ext. 113
Date: Two trips yearly. Week long Spring youth trip. Three-four days Fall adult trip.
FISH
The FISH symbol is the same as that secretly used by early Christians during centuries of persecution to identify themselves to one another. The work of Sunnyvale FISH is supported by over 20 congregations and many individuals, and friends in the community. Food, donated clothing, household utensils, sleeping bags, linens, blankets and layettes are offered to those in need. Most FISH service opportunities require no special talent or money, just an honest interest in helping others. Sunnyvale FISH has as its slogan, "Christians Who Care." You can participate in on going involvement in FISH as a food driver, food shopper, with donations of the above listed supplies, or as an as needed helper. You can also help support this ministry on an annual basis at their major fund raiser. The annual Junque Sale fund raiser is held the first Saturday of each November and needs donated good quality items for resale as well as volunteers to help set up and staff the sale.
Contact Darlys Nilsen at(408) 773-0875 for more information
Mission Support and Benevolence
Mission Support and Benevolence receives one-tenth of the Bethel Budget and additional financial gifts. A variety of local, national, and international organizations benefit from this support.
Pet Assisted Therapy
Twice per month a group of volunteers visits Sunny View Lutheran Home with their pets on a mission to "lick loneliness", by giving seniors an opportunity to interact with their animals. Pet Assisted Therapy brings happiness into the lives of these older adults in assisted living and nursing care.
Bethel Contact: Carol Hooper
Date: 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month
Global Mission Committee
The Global Mission Committee organizes global mission events and sends international health and school kits through Lutheran World Relief. It also organizes annual global mission events, speakers, prayers for missionaries and promotion of the National Day of Prayer and the 1998 National Global Mission Event.
Contact Joan Christensen for more information.
Date: Committee meets first Thursday of each month.