Thank You for Blessing Bethany!
2020 was a year unlike any other, but thanks to YOU – our congregation, partners, and surrounding community – we were still able to bring multiple blessings to life. While we may be eager to leave the past in the past, we would be remiss if we did not mention the triumphs our Bethany family helped make possible in 2020.
Mission Outreach
Our Mission team stepped up to help our community, creatively providing support and resources through their ministry. Bethany’s Food 4 Kids has partnered with the Elkhorn Public School backpack program for many years. When schools shut down and other resources became difficult to obtain, we transformed this ministry by opening the Food 4 Families pantry at Bethany. We provided 1,705 pantries with $127,875.00 worth of food.
Another event that adapted to 2020 was our annual Mission Gala. This event supports our mission partners and help ensure their ministries can continue for the next year. The 2020 Mission UnGala was an online event that generated over $20,000 with generous donations from our community! This money will bless many in 2021 through Food 4 Kids, Open Door Mission, COPE, TeamMates, Meals on Wheels, and through the work of our international partners and more. Keep an eye on the Bethany Missions Facebook page to stay updated on the blessings your UnGala donations will bring.
The Mission ministry extended internationally as our partnerships in Costa Rica and Tanzania grew stronger. We provided almost $3,000 to purchase tablets for students in Tanzania, which helped them access education during the pandemic. Although group mission trips were suspended in 2020, Sandy Paasch was commissioned as a short-term missionary and has been in Costa Rica blessing our PAVAS partner with her ministry.
Seeing you support to those in need throughout 2020 showed us how our congregation reflects Scripture’s command to love God and others above yourself.
FX Worship
Ministries in 2020 not only had to pivot but had to do so in a very short timeframe. Unable to provide Sunday School or Wednesday night classes and worship, the Faith Formation team transformed their ministry into three components, giving families new flexibility for their faith life outside the walls of Bethany. FX Worship is available on Sundays at 4 pm; FX On Demand includes a library of kid-friendly videos that can occupy your children while you listen to the pastors’ sermons; and FX In a Box is a free subscription offering each month providing lessons, a family service activity, and fun surprises. FX Worship continues to grow with the passion of our team and support from our Bethany families.
Online Ministries
2020 brought Zoom and livestreaming center stage. While online worship can take some getting used to, it has given Bethany the ability to share the love of Jesus with a much larger audience on Facebook, YouTube, and our website.
We launched new online communities, including our Bethany Elkhorn Family group, and The Refuge at Bethany Elkhorn page that focuses on prayer and community through faith stories and worship. In addition, we developed bi-annual Series Discussion Groups to provide guided content that helps groups stay connected to each other and Bethany. Each of these ministries continue to grow due to your support and engagement with us online. We encourage you to share our online ministries with your family and friends to inspire even more people to follow Jesus.
To stay more connected when we could not gather, we worked to streamline our text communications with new and current attendees at Bethany. There are now four ways to immediately access Bethany news and ministries right from your phone! You can text the following keywords to 402-256-6862 and someone from our staff will be in touch with you soon!
- WELCOME – Are you new to Bethany? Fill out our contact card and we will send you a gift.
- CONNECT – Looking for more information on volunteer opportunities at Bethany? Fill out this form and we can direct you to a ministry to support.
- PRAY – We want to know how we can pray for you. Submit your prayer request and a prayer minister will be in touch with you.
- ENGAGE – For those wanting to reclaim your call in 2021, we have a step-by-step plan for you.
If you want to setup a one-time gift or see our recurring giving options, text BLC ELKHORN to 77977 for easy and secure giving to Bethany ministries. We are so grateful for your financial support.
Bring on 2021!
While it may feel overwhelming to regain our footing after last year, we are here to help reclaim your call by guiding you step-by-step on how to plan, connect, and then dive deeper into discovering your unique call. Make this a year where you learn how to focus on the God-given purpose for your life.
Thank you for all the ways you showed up to inspire others to follow Jesus, not just in 2020, but every day.
Blessings,
Pastors Jon & Liz, and the Bethany Staff