| 2010 Easter Offering |
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 This Easter, we at Bethany have the opportunity to bring life to many young Phoenix area girls caught up in the evil web of child prostitution and sexual slavery. Incredible as it may seem, collaborative research pointed out that the average age of a child sold for sexual exploitation in the Phoenix area is 13. We can help make a difference in saving some of these girls and of setting them on the path of a new life in Christ.
 Streetlight is a local organization focused on providing a safe house to provide protection and promote healing for many of these exploited children. Bethany's elder, Pat McCalla, is co-founder of Streetlight. Recently, Streetlight began the purchase of a five-acre secure facility located in Glendale. The complex will provide all of the needed facilities, including six individual homes which will be set up to house from four to eight girls. 48 girls can be housed at one time, effectively doubling the number of available beds for victims of sex trafficking in the United States! Girls will benefit from faith-based counseling, mentoring, education and career coaching, on-site care for their children, and healing needed to rebuild their future. All of this in a Christ-honoring environment.
Our Easter offering goal is $25,000, the cost of rehabbing one of the six homes. Anything that we give beyond this amount will go to our regular church ministries.
But, opportunities for participating go beyond the Easter offering. In the weeks to come, we will be organizing work teamsto volunteer for some of the rehab work on the facilities. The first team will be on Saturday, April 17. Sign up at the Streetlight table in the courtyard on Sunday, April 11, which is Community Outreach Sunday.
Furnishings are also needed for each of the residences. Streetlight is registered at Target Gift Registry for donations:
If you would like to donate while you enjoy an evening of family-friendly comedy, Streetlight is hosting a Comedy Fundraiser on two nights, May 7 and 8, at Bethany Bible Church in Phoenix, 6060 N. 7th Avenue in Phoenix.
- John Wood, Missional Life Pastor
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| Bethany Holy Land Trip in 2011 |
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 We are planning a trip to Israel in either the spring or fall of 2011. This trip will be hosted by our own Bethany elder, Dr. David Denyer (Seminary professor and Ph.D. in Mediterranean Archeology). Dr. Denyer has lived and studied in Israel and has been to Israel many times. He will serve as our host and leader. Our professional guide (licensed by the Israel Ministry of Tourism) is Dr. Bryan Widbin, Professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages at Alliance Seminary in New York. Our tour will be arranged by Phoenix-based Maranatha Tours (operating since 1974).
This Trip Is Unique
This unique visit to the Holy Land will be more than a vacation or a tour; it will be a wonderful spiritual experience in the land of the Bible. Our tour will be a chronological journey, first things first and final things last:
-Anticipation: Old Testament sites connected to the promises of a Messiah and the lives of the patriarchs and matriarchs of Israel
- Birth & Boyhood of Jesus: Sites in Galilee (Nazareth), Judea (Jerusalem & Bethlehem)
 - Commencement: Sites connected with the beginning of Jesus' ministry
- Distinction: Sites in Galilee connected with the preaching and healing ministry of Jesus
-Exiting: Sites in Upper Galilee and the Golan connected with Jesus' withdrawal from the crowds
 - Finalizing: Sites in the Jordan Valley connected with Jesus' drawing together of his ministry
- Gloom & Glory: Sites in Jerusalem connected intimately with Jesus' final week on earth.
This Trip Is Not A Tour Or A Course
A typical tour in Israel is led by agents in that country. Tours depend on local guides who are trained well but sometimes don't connect with what travelers are looking for academically and spiritually. What is being planned will be richly informational, deeply inspirational, and refreshingly recreational. No time will be spent in traditional tourist shops or in classrooms.
 Every bit of the time in Israel will be given to representing an authentic experience of the Bible from within its historical, cultural and geographical context. Far from wearing out travelers, everyone will come home invigorated by hands-on experiences of being in one of the most important countries of the world today and in ancient times.
A no-obligation informational meeting will be held soon for anyone interested in knowing more about the trip. Please let David Denyer know that you are interested in attending that informational meeting by contacting him at 480.705.6739 or dddenyer@cox.net.
Many blessings, 
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| Special Offering for Haiti Relief |
Once again, the people of Bethany gave generously for people in serious need. The benevolence offering for the months of January and February were dedicated to Haiti relief efforts through Food for the Hungry. A total of $18,815 came in and was sent on to be put to use in saving and restoring lives of many in Haiti.
Food for the Hungry has identified four communities where they are focusing their relief and rehabililitation efforts. The four communities contain a combined total of over 50,000 displaced persons. Food for the Hungry's approach includes immediate relief and shelter, medical care, special attention to the needs of children, cash for working, grief counseling, and equipping pastors and church leaders to minister to the needs of the whole person. Check out this link for more details on their work in Haiti. Also, view this slide show to see what the Food for the Hungry workers see and experience.
- John Wood, Missional Life Pastor
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| Community Outreach Update |
. . . I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." ~ Matthew 25:40
Do our homeless neighbors cross your mind from time to time? Have you been convicted--led by God--to show his love to them? Are you looking for a way to do so? Consider the following opportunities specifically being supported by Bethany.
Children First Academy of Tempe
Take a look at their website for more information. Additionally, please remember homeless school children have homeless siblings and parents. They have all the same needs as the homeless neighbors in the I-HELP program and are in need of the same items. For more information, contact Beulah Montgomery, montgomery49@cox.net.
 I-HELP
Starting in May, Bethany will increase the number of hostings on our campus. Our homeless neighbors in the I-HELP program will be on Bethany's campus three times a month over the summer. For specific dates and opportunities, please see the I-HELP newsletters and/or contact Cheryl Chamberlain, cheryllynn2u@yahoo.com, or Gen Garan, bggaran@earthlink.net.
Urban Outreach
Most of the homeless neighbors who frequent Urban Outreach (Potter's House) are not in the I-HELP program. Bethany has adopted the following opportunities at Urban Outreach: The weekly Egg Brigade and the monthly Bethany Night at Urban Outreach. Check the above link for more specifics. Contact Gen Garan at bggaran@earthlink.net or 480.839.4674 for additional information.
An outreach informational meeting is being planned for April 18 in the H Building from noon to 1 pm. Anyone who would like more information on these community outreach programs is invited to attend.
- Gen Garan
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| Summer's End Camping Trip - September 3-6 |
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Save the date!
Our annual Summer's End Family Camping trip to Crook Group Campground on the Mogollon Rim is Friday, September 3, through Monday (Labor Day), September 6.
 We have reserved both halves of the Crook Group Campground. Each individual campsite is only $55 for the entire weekend (Friday evening through Monday morning), and you can share it with another family and split the cost if you like.
There are spaces for tents, pop-ups and RVs (no hook-ups). Many are suitable for sharing (maximum two families per any campsite). We will plan children's and family activities, campfires, and a potluck, as well as worship on Sunday morning.
The Crook Group Campground has two beautiful ramadas for cooking and eating (or games), as well as a fire ring and picnic table at each campsite. Forest pit toilets are clean and well maintained daily. We are less than a mile from Woods Canyon Lake. Great fishing, hiking, biking and exploring in the tall pines is right at your doorstep (or tent flap).
Online registration is available now at bethanycommunity.com/registrations.
For more information please contact Penny Campa, pcampa@bethanycc.com or 480.831.5005. |
| BLC Summer Registration is Now Open! |
Bethany Learning Center (BLC), a ministry of Bethany Community Church, has its registration underway for Summer 2010 (ages 15 months thru sixth grade) and School Year 2010-2011 (ages 15 months thru Kindergarten). BLC offers a Toddler and Preschool program from 9am to Noon with a 2-day, 3-day or 5-day schedule. We also offer a 5-day Kindergarten program from 8:30am to 2:30pm. Both the preschool and Kindergarten programs offer before and after-school care from 7am to 6pm.
For more information, contact 480.838.2440 or visit www.blcforjesus.org. |
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Family Reunion |
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Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ~ Romans 12:15
Maria Coronado, a long time member of Bethany's Operations staff, lost her father to a heart attack on March 22 at the age of 81.
Bethany member, John Santagata III, passed away last week at the age of 42 from an apparent heart attack. He is survived by his father, John Santagata II, his mother, and his brother, Nick.
Please pray with us for the peace and comfort of family and friends as they mourn their loss.
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Upcoming Program and Event Highlights |
Events
- Streetlight Safe House Rehab
- Children First Academy Spring Clean Up
Community Outreach Informational Meeting- April 18
GROW Sonrise - April 7, 14, 21 & 28
GROW PM - April 7, 14, 21 & 28
GROW AM - April 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29
Girlfriend Connection - April 9
Men's Morning Breakfast - April 6, 13, 20 & 27
Godly Principles Study - April 7, 14, 21 & 28
Men's Work Morning - April 17
Student Programs and Events
HSM Small Groups - April 7, 14, 21 & 28
MSM Small Groups - April 7, 14, 21 & 28
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Palm Sunday
Good Friday
Resurrection Sunday
