| A Word from Rich | |
Open Elder Meetings
After much thought, prayer and discussion, the elders have opened the monthly elder meeting to anyone who would like to attend and observe. The elder meetings are on the first Wednesday of every month from 6-8pm in D3 on the Bethany campus. Everyone is cordially invited to be present and listen as the elders pray, discuss and give leadership to our church.
Guests are invited as observers and listeners as our elders serve by leading. From time to time confidential information may be discussed where the elders close the open portion of the meeting, excuse guests and then the elders meet in a closed session to handle confidential matters like personnel or discipline issues that cannot fairly be done in an open meeting. But the overwhelming majority of all elder meetings will be open to anyone who would like to attend. Everyone at Bethany is invited to attend and observe. The June elder meeting is Wednesday, June 2, from 6-8pm in D3.
Foster Parents, Adoptive Families and Extended Families Raising Children at Bethany
We would like to know who all of the certified foster families, adoptive families and extended families raising children at Bethany are. If you are raising children in any of these ways (whether you currently have any foster children in your care or not), would you please let us know by telling us your name and contact information. We won't sign you up for anything or send you a bunch of spam email. We are planning to honor and celebrate the ministries of foster care, adoptive families and kinship child-raising at Bethany on a Sunday in July. We want to make sure we include everyone at Bethany who is part of these ministries to children.
 Israel Trip Informational Meeting
Bethany Community Church is planning a Holy Land trip in 2011 hosted by Bethany elder and seminary professor of Old Testament, Dr. David Denyer. An informational meeting about this trip is planned for Sunday, June 6 at noon in C1. Anyone interested in learning more about this trip is welcome to attend. Dr. David Denyer will lead the meeting and give information about the trip, as well as get input from attendees about preferred dates in 2011. There is no obligation in attending this informational meeting. For more information, please contact Dr. David Denyer at dddenyer@cox.net.
Many blessings, 
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| International Outreach | |
This summer, Bethany is sending out summer ministry teams to four different locations. Thirty two people will be going to support Bethany's ongoing ministry partnerships in:
- Kosovo: Sharing our relationships with Christ through relationship building with students and leaders and through sports camps (karate and soccer).
- Indonesia: English camp for Indonesian students; teacher training for Indonesian Christian schools; TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) advanced training in partnership with Cinta Baca.
- Papua New Guinea (Mibu): Visiting our sister church in Mibu and building an addition onto the Husa home.
- Southeast Asia: Computer support at a leaders' gathering for a group focusing on sharing Jesus with Muslims.
How can we as a church body support these teams as they go? Many of the team members are still trusting God to provide all of their support needs for the trip. Equally important is our spiritual support as we uphold them in prayer. One person put it this way, Prayer, by far, is the most important support you will receive ... Prayer will be your greatest need ... and your greatest blessing.
- 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
Los Ninos
Four miles west of our church campus is the town of Guadalupe. Surrounded by Tempe, Ahwatukee and Phoenix, Guadalupe is made up of large extended families living for the most part in substandard housing, with average wages below poverty level.
Yet, for the children of Guadalupe, there is great hope. About five years ago, Bethany joined forces with other churches in the area to lead a ministry called Los Niņos. One Saturday morning each month, a team of volunteers drives a bus around the town of Guadalupe to gather children for a morning of activities. First comes a good breakfast, followed by Bible teaching and hands-on learning. Finally, the children are given a sack lunch and taken home. Bethany's Matt Barto and Cindy Paul now lead this ministry.
Last June, students and children from Guadalupe were invited to attend Bethany summer camp. Soon after, many kids from Guadalupe began attending Bethany on Sunday morning and are now part of our church. Another group of volunteers prepares a special breakfast for these kids on Sunday morning so that they will be bright and alert as they participate in Sunday School and church.
 God is truly blessing the Los Niņos ministry and the dedication of the team from Bethany and other partnering churches. More volunteers are needed to supplement the team. The Los Niņos team would love to talk with you about ways in which you might become involved:
Los Niņos Mission Statement: To instill in the children through our love and guidance a relationship with Jesus, a sense of self worth, a community consciousness and to help them acknowledge that they are children of God.
- John Wood, Missional Life Pastor
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Are You Able to Donate to the Community?
Remember, donations for the I-HELP program and Children First Academy will be accepted in the courtyard on Sunday, June 6, before and between services. And, you can always leave donations at the church office (please mark them with the ministry for which they are intended).
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Is Something Missing in Your Life?
Maybe participation in the I-HELP or other Community Outreach Ministries is the answer. Please check the Bethany web site for general information and contacts for each ministry.
Children First Academy of Tempe (CFA)
Summer school will be in session for many of the children. The needs continue for these homeless children and their families. Please check out the website and respond as God leads you.
I-HELP
If you've ever wondered how it feels to serve the homeless, here are some reactions from people who have been serving in the I-HELP hostings.
Cheryl Chamberlain: I-HELP has given me an opportunity to give back to people in our community who are struggling to survive on the streets. Serving on our own church campus makes it secure, comfortable and familiar. I love that there are so many ways to be involved--from organizing and planning a meal to picking up a couple gallons of milk--and it is all needed. The best part for me is connecting with our guests and extending friendship and hospitality--being Jesus to them.
Girl Scouts: One scout wrote, Dad, thanks for working so we won't be homeless. One was surprised that the people where so happy and friendly and that they had clean clothes to wear. She felt that if she saw them on the street she would not know they were homeless. A leader commented that, It was fun to do and I would do it again. It was well planned, and I wouldn't change anything.
Meg Webster (group leader), her husband and family thought that serving the meal was a great activity for the girls and helped put a face on the homelessness in our town. She said, We really enjoyed the I-HELP activity and thought the I-HELP program was a great way to help people in need!
Transformers: Enjoyed preparing lunch bags and felt it was a lot of fun. They expressed feeling good about helping others.
Anonymous: I am very thankful to be a part of I-HELP. I leave I-HELP feeling better than when I went. I leave with a song in my heart. Even though I am around homeless people, I don't think of them as homeless, I think of them as struggling friends.
Gen Garan: I find it is really a joy being involved in the I-HELP hostings. The guests are very appreciative, kind and helpful. More importantly, I personally feel this is what Jesus wants me and others to do--reflect his character to those around us. I expected this to be personally satisfying; but what I didn't expect, and have felt, is joy and pleasure from working with the volunteers from Bethany who have helped in the program. I truly feel blessed by those helping and have a joy from the experience that only could come from God.
On behalf of all those who have been involved with the program, thank you Bethany elders, leaders and staff for having Bethany Community Church involved in this program and allowing us--the church--to participate.
Urban Outreach
 A winter visitor who helped put on meals for Bethany Night at Urban Outreach had many great things to say about the program, including, I loved everything about it! She challenges any and all who have ever wished the kids were back home and miss the joy of cooking a big meal and watching them eat to get involved in this program. Having a homeless person say, Thank you and God bless you! is just one of the perks.
- Gen Garan
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| Partners in Prayer |
Prayer Assurance
Have you ever looked at the prayers of some of the Old Testament prophets and leaders? Look at the prayer experiences of Moses, Daniel, Elijah or Hannah. Study Exodus 32:11-14, where God, after the fervent prayers of Moses, changed His mind. Look at Hannah's prayer in I Samuel 2. Their prayers contained such passion and assurance; passion for the God of answered prayers, and assurance that their prayers were going to be answered. If only I had such assurance. I say assurance, not faith, because I believe we all have faith that God is able to answer prayers. What we may not have is the assurance that the Old Testament greats had.
Why not research some of the great pray-ers of the Bible and throughout church history and see if you cannot develop that expectation that they had in waiting on and seeing their prayers answered. Study the prayers of Jesus and then ask, just like the disciples did, Lord, please teach me how to pray. Know for sure, without any hesitation, that God is a God in the business of answering prayers. May God bless you with full assurance on your prayer journey.
- Partners in Prayer Team
Do you or someone you know need prayer? Please let us pray with you and for you.
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| MSM Sees God's Creation |
 Last month, 23 middle school students and several leaders enjoyed a weekend in Laguna Beach, California, slowing down and seeing God's creation up-close. The trip filled up in less than a week!
Students were relieved of their cell phones for the weekend and really benefited  from spending time with each other and with the Lord. We had three sessions on the beach with worship and messages focused on God's creation from Genesis 1 and Psalms. The students were encouraged to take a deep look at flowers, the details of His creation in all the little things, and watch the sunset on the beach in contemplative, silent solitude. We even went to the movies and saw Disney's new Oceans documentary.
The nights were spent at the home where I was raised (my family spent the weekend at a nearby hotel). The final message of the weekend on Sunday morning  focused on how each student is created in God's image, is wonderfully and perfectly made, and that none is a mistake. The students learned that each has a unique purpose that only he or she can fulfill. After the trip, one of the students sent me the following message on facebook: Creation weekend was one of the most life-changing experiences I've ever had . . . thanks.
MSM heads to southern California for Creation Weekend every spring. Don't wait to sign up when registration opens next year!
- Josh Harper, Transformers & Middle School Pastor
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| Bethany Volunteers Construct New Offering Bags | |
Thank You!
A special thank you goes to Kay King, Beth McNally, Linda Merrill and Lola Hostetler. These four ladies took on the task of making new offering bags for our 9 a.m. service, which saved us the $900 it would have cost to purchase new ones.
 These ladies brought in their sewing machines one Thursday afternoon and estimated the project would take about two hours to replace the cloth material on the offering bags. To our surprise we ran into a snag trying to reconnect the handles for these bags. Suddenly we had a small problem--offering bags without handles--and they were needed for Sunday morning!
The ladies graciously took them home and finished the bags with a little help from some of their husbands. They met the deadline and had the bags back to the church first thing on Sunday morning. I am so appreciative of the countless number of hours above what we expected and how they came through in time for Sunday's service.
- Robert Raimondi
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Family Reunion | |
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ~ Romans 12:15
Chuck Reynolds, longtime Bethany attendee (age 88), went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 18.
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 |
Programming Resumes in the Fall
Children & Student Programs and Events
CU at the Pool - Starts June 2
Camp: Hume San Diego - June 27-July2
Splash! - Starts June 2
Camp: Forest Home, California - June 6-11
Summer Kick-Off Pool Party - June 12
Transformer Camp - July 9-12
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