Memories

Bethel Baptist Memories

Instead of giving you more impersonal history this time, I thought I would give you some of my personal memories.  I started at the church when I was two years old so I have been at the church for 48 years.  These are some of the things I remember about growing up at this church.  

My earliest memories are of Mrs. Letkeman being my Sunday School teacher in the now storage room under the stairs.  I remember she made a really cozy area under the stairs with pillows and dolls.  I just loved it!  I think there might be paint in that area right now.   I remember Mr. Williams at all those Sunday School Picnics handing out the ice cream that had the little wooden spoons.  Pioneer Girls was always very special with all the handcrafts that Mrs. Johnson did with the girls and then there was the play, Queen Esther.  I never forgot that Bible story

There was playing Sardines (a hide and seek game) and car rallies with the young people.  Then as I got older, I became the one teaching and helping others as I continued to learn myself.

I became a Christian when I was seven years old because of things my Sunday School teacher taught me (and my parents) as well as I met and married my husband of 30 years!  No wonder Bethel is so special to me.

What wonderful memories do you have of Bethel?

SUMMER READING

Summer is a great time to read those books you seem to never have time for in the winter.  The library continues to be open during the summer.  Usually a few minutes prior to church and about 15 minutes after the church service.

NEW BOOKS


FAR FLUTTERBY BY KAREN KINGSBURY

Cody the caterpillar found life on the ground boring but God had a plan filled with wondrous things. Cody would find that through hard times come wings.


WHEN JESUS WEPT BY BODIE AND BROCK THOENE


Set against the political and religious turmoil of the times reimagines the friendship between Jesus and Lazuras.

 

IESOD: FAITH
New Children's Movie


These birds are an unlikely group of friends but since meeting Iseodo, there lives will never be the same.

Save the date for our church's anniversary weekend October 10-12.  See you there.








 

Tzekdakah

Justice Versus Charity

I have just finished reading a book called "A Year of Biblical Womanhood" by Rachel Held Evans and one of the chapters really got to me. She says "Judiasm has no word for "charity".  Instead the Jews speak of tzedakah which means justice or righteousness.  While the word charity means a single act of giving, justice speaks to right living."  It is a way of  'repairing the world' as in the Jewish concept tikkun olam.

"What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God"  Micah 6:8

When you think of all the needs in our world and how we can go about 'repairing the world', to act justly, to help those in need, we really do need to be walking humbly with our God.



Here are some books in our library that might help with issues in your own life or a life of a friend.

Father Fiction by Donald Miller
With honest humor and raw self -revelation, Donald Miller tells the story of growing up without a father and openly talks about the issues that befall the fatherless generation.  Raw and candid, Miller moves from self-pity and brokennes to hope and strength, highlighting a path for millions who are floundering in an age without positive role models.





God's Grace and the Homosexual Next Door by Alan Chambers



Alan Chambers-a former homosexual himself-and four of his colleagues at Exodus International off practical and biblical insights on how both individuals and churches can become a haven for homosexuals seeking freedom from same sex attraction.


Helping People Through Grief by Delores Kuenning

Based on her own experience as a pastor's wife, in-depth research and interviews with Christian counselors and medical professionals, the author believes that though most people lack the skills to really help people through a crisis, these skills can be learned. The book is designed to guide the reader in how to show care and concern--by what is said and done, by being sensitive to the process and by knowing when to do what.



Someone I Love Died by Christine Harder Tangvald

A simple, colourful book to help adults guid children through the process of grieving with heart healing words.

When Pete's Dad Got Sick by Kathleen Long Bostrom

A wonderful story that will help children deal with chronic illness in the adults around them.  A section at the end provides suggestions for parents and caregivers of hurting children.

Go Into All the World.....!

History of Missions at Bethel

Missions has always been an emphasis at Bethel from the starting of the church (as it was started as an outreach to the Norwegians in Winnipeg). The first pastor of our church, Rev. J. Simpson became a general missionary in 1921 after he finished his pastorate at the church.

From George and Ella Sinderson's many years in Africa to Ursula and Seigfried Grafe still pursuing Mission through the Bethel Orphanage, as a church we have supported missionaries all through out the world, long term, short term, financially, physically, and spiritually. 

 

As I was doing one of the canvases for the sanctuary, I went through the past annual reports, I noticed that we have sent missionaries throughout almost every continent in the world as well as many countries throughout Bethel's 100 years!  As I was doing the canvas, I was thinking that we had never had anyone in Japan and a couple of Sundays later, I hear that Naomi was on her way there!

Books About Missionaries in Our Library

Peter Dynamite:  Twice Born Russian  by Norman Rohrer and Peter Deyneka Jr.

The board of a new Russian mission organization knew they had an immense task ahead of them. Peter developed it into the largest mission of its kind in the world through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Jungle Pilot by Russel T. Hinton

 

An updated version of Nate Saints story of faithful service and dying for Jesus.  Nate's son, Stephen goes back to Ecuador to see and record the remarkable progress that was pioneered by Nate and his friends.

Jim Elliot:  One Great Purpose by Janet and Geoff Benge

Jim Elliot and his coworkers surrendered their lives in Ecuador's jungle.  Decades later, this dramatic event has challenged countless Christians to live with one great purpose: to bring the gospel to those who have never heard.

From Akebu to Zapotec by June Hathersmith

An ABC book of peoples in the world that do not have the Bible in their language.

MissionFest Manitoba

If you didn't have a chance to go to Missionfest, we have audio CDs of many of the sessions.  If you wondering what it was all about, go here.