Bethlehem Community Church, from its beginning, has made a strong Missions Program one of its priorities. This is in obedience to God’s Great Commission as expressed by Jesus: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19a).
We partner with, and prayerfully and financially support, families doing missions work around the globe, as well as a few organizations that support indigenous Christian workers. These include World Relief’s Mobilizing for Life initiative in China, helping the Chinese churches tackle the serious problems caused by HIV/AIDS; Sisters in Service, extending God’s love to women and children in the least-reached places of the world; and Harvest India, a persecuted church in Bangalore saving abandoned children. In addition we periodically send a short-term group out from the body. As we highlight our current “Missions Family,” comprised of ordinary people performing extraordinary service for the Lord, due to the sensitivity of some of their work, their names are changed for this publication.
The Bigs have served in Afghanistan for over 25 years, raising their family in this war torn and impoverished nation. They are known as “the ones who did not leave.” Mr. Big demonstrates Jesus’ love by providing needed eye care to the people in Kabul and in rural areas via traveling eye camps. His wife teaches in an international elementary school.
Miss Grace works to send out short-term groups around the world with the hopes that they will be called by God for the long-term, as she so desires to be in the near future. She joined PIONEERS, an agency that mobilizes teams to glorify God among unreached peoples by initiating church-planting movements in partnership with local churches.
Miss Farmer, a career Bible translator with Wycliffe, is stationed in Russia. She orients the incoming staff to the culture and people, and supports them in their translation work as well as encouraging the indigenous workers. The published Word is in 3000 languages but there are 3000 people groups that still are without the Truth in print.
The Scrolls serve with SAT-7 in the Middle East which broadcasts 24-hour a day Christian programming via satellite TV throughout the region of N. Africa and the ME. It brings uncensored Christianity into the homes of 100’s of millions, many of whom are illiterate, have no access to the Gospel or walk alone with the Lord; and it is in their own language and cultural context. Letters, calls and emails are also responded to.
Mr. Sleet works in Kyrgyzstan for an international group organized to train the local professionals in the areas of medicine, community development, and education. They empower the people to bring their nation, left struggling after the break-up of the former Soviet Union, out of its economic and social distress. The entire family is immersed in that community and at a special time of the Kyrgyz church’s infancy.
The Stodges will be off to Guatemala City to the world's best Spanish speaking theological seminary. They will facilitate the establishment of satellite institutes around the world. The Guatemalans have quite a catch since Dave and Diana have over twenty years of experience in pastoral and lay training and church ministry in Bogota, Colombia, where they served and raised their family.
The Thrillzons are in the Rukwa Valley of Tanzania, Africa, inhabited by people who thought they had been forgotten. They are starting up the first and only medical clinic in that region (Mercy Medical). They join a team involved in community development, evangelism, indigenous church planting, and leadership Bible training. Mark is a Physician Assistant and Jodi and their four kids will be busy home-schooling and sharing the love of Christ with the locals through deed and word after they learn Swahili.
“...there before me was a great multitude that no one could count from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9).
