Missions at Bethany United Methodist Church

2010 Missions:

• Corn Gleaning (Picking) - On July 2 & 5, Bethany volunteers once again visited farmer William Harwood's sweet corn field off of Gum Fork Road in Gloucester, VA.  On Friday, July 2, we picked corn for local Gloucester Food pantries: Susana Wesley UMC, First United Baptist Church, Union Baptist Church, Church of St. Therese, and the Laurel Shelter.  On Tuesday, July 5, we picked corn for the Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula.  Our corn picking volunteers included: Al & Judy Burner, Levi & Jordan Cluts, Wiley Cross, Ray Doggett, Katheleen & Jimmie Greene, Gene & Jeannie Harrell, Alan Harvey, Patrick & Kevin Kiley, Joni Neal, Jennifer Neilson, Jerry Varner, and Josh & Tanya Ward.  All told, we picked thousands of pounds of sweet corn to feed hungry souls in our community.  God is Great!

• Handicap Ramp - On May 26, 27 and June 1, Bethany volunteers along with the Gloucester Housing Partnership built a handicap ramp for a young woman who uses a wheelchair, and needs the ramp to get in and out of her home.   Our volunteers enjoyed the camaraderie, laughter, and the mission work we did.
  Our mission team included: Mike Anderson, Tom Barnard, Ed Conner, Pete Dunston, Jimmy Greene, Gene Harrell, Kevin Kiley, & Jack Wallace from Bethany, plus Danny Joyce, Marsha Miller (Bethany & GHP), and Charles Rideout from GHP.
  Thanks to Danny, Charles, and Marsha of GHP, who did such a good job planning, supplying, and directing this project.

• Handicap Ramp - On April 23 & 24, Bethany volunteers along with the Gloucester Housing Partnership built a handicap ramp for Mrs. Betty Ann Hogge in Maryus, VA.  We had a great time with lots of laughing, kidding, and camaraderie.  It was amazing to see all the lumber quickly morph into a nice ramp ("a thing of beauty" to quote Danny Joyce - GHP).  Truth is, the Bethany mission volunteers are an awesome team, who can accomplish just about anything they put their minds to.  'nuff said.
  Our cheery volunteers included: Mike Andersen, Al & Judy Burner, Charlotte Cecil, Ed Conner, Pete Dunston, Jimmy Greene, Alan Harvey, Kevin & Patrick Kiley, Joni Neal, and Jack Wallace.
  And our friends and fearless leaders from Gloucester Housing Partnership: Danny Joyce & Charles Rideout..
  God is Good!

2009 Missions:

• Tornado Damage Repair in Macon, GA. Two Bethany members joined a mission team from St. Luke’s UMC in Yorktown, VA and traveled to Macon, GA, Wednesday, April 28, 2009, to do tornado repair work, from a storm that hit Mother’s Day, 2008. They repaired one house that had a roof that had been damaged by a falling tree, and another house with a damaged floor. They returned Sunday, May 3, 2009, having completed all their jobs. It was a rewarding experience for the mission team, and much appreciated by the host church, Bloomfield UMC and tornado damaged homeowners. Thank you!!
  
  
• Mission Day(s) of Caring
  • The Bethany Missions Committee volunteered to help repair and replace steps to a modest home owned by a deserving lady in the upper end of the county. The project was sponsored by the Gloucester Housing Partnership, with tools and materials provided.
  • On Wednesday, May 20, 2009, eight volunteers from Bethany (Al & Judy Burner, Charlotte Cecil, Ed Conner, Wiley Cross, Patrick & Kevin Kiley and Joni Neale) replaced the rickity back steps with a small deck / landing and stairs, complete with railing and balusters.  This was a wonderful experience and the homeowner was both appreciative and delightful.  Pictures of the project.
  • On Friday, October 2, 2009, eight volunteers from Bethany (Charlotte Cecil, Ed Conner, Jimmy Greene, Alan Harvey, Patrick & Kevin Kiley, and Bob Nardozzi), plus Ed's nephew (Kirk Bell) returned to the same home in the upper end of the county and replaced the front steps with a deck and stairs. Thanks to all who came and supported this mission work.  Pictures of the project.
  • If you are interested in participating in upcoming Mission Day(s) of Caring, we would love to have you.  Please contact Kevin Kiley, 804-642-6047, for more information.
    
    
• Sweet Potato Drop - Saturday, June 20, 2009
  • Alan Harvey, Patrick Kiley, and Kevin Kiley participated in a sweet potato drop at Grace Episcopal Church in Kilmarnock.  When we arrived, we saw an eight foot high pile of 40,000 pounds of sweet potatoes, surrounded by volunteers, who were culling, and bagging the potatoes in 10 pound mesh bags.  The fellowship was great and the weather cooperated by being overcast.  We came back with 1500 pounds of sweet potatoes (150 bags). The following Monday, Alan, Patrick, and Mike Andersen distributed the potatoes to Union Baptist Church Food Pantry (70 bags), Bay Aging Meals on Wheels (25 bags), Laural Shelter (25 bags), and the Salvation Army (30 bags).  Thanks to Alan for arranging this and to all who volunteered. Pictures of the project.
    
    
• Corn Gleaning - Thursday, July 9 & Friday, July 10, 2009 - What a wonderful two days of gleaning!!! Thanks to the Lord for providing the fruits of the earth and wonderful weather and our health and energy. Thanks to Farmer William Harwood for his Christian generosity, friendly guidance, and help. Thanks to Alan Harvey for spearheading this operation, and for Mike Andersen for his help and advice. Ed Conner and Don Shultz did a great job providing wheelbarrows and wagons. Special thanks to John Dooley, David Lewis's son in law, husband of Jennifer, who is studying for the LSAT law school entrance exams and took time off from studying to help us out (Good luck, John!!) and Josh Ward, a senior enlisted member of the U.S. Air Force and husband of my co-worker, Tanya, who volunteered and drove all the way from Hampton - "Integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do" - Josh, you lived up the Air Force Motto!
  
  All told, we had 18 volunteers gleaning corn this Thursday and / or Friday:
  Mike Andersen, Tom Barnard, Denessa Booth, Judy Burner, Charlotte Cecil, Ed Conner, Wiley Cross, John Dooley, Tim Hart, Alan Harvey, Patrick & Kevin Kiley, David Lewis, Dakota Sharpe, Josh Ward, Chrissy, Harley, & Vicki White.   Pictures of the project.
  
  The final totals are:
  Thursday - Two pickup trucks loads, one to Susanna Wesley United Methodist Church, the other to Union Baptist Church:
  Susanna Wesley: (as reported by Terry Stacey) : 1026 ears of corn !!:
  650 to Salvation Army
  110 to Agency on Aging
  100 to our church
  40 to a family we helped last year with 4 children
  96 to our food pantry
  30 to a person with no income.
  Union Baptist:
  27 large fruit vegetable boxes full (about 27 bushels).
  Friday morning and early afternoon:
  6 1/2 large "water melon" bins to the Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula (figure 500 lbs. or so per bin) = 3500 lbs. of corn (I'll get exact numbers Monday).
  1 pickup truck load (25 bushels) to the Laurel Shelter.
  1/4 pickup truck load to Church of St. Therese food pantry.
  
  Of all the mission projects we do, I find gleaning one of the most enjoyable. It's the frosting on the cake - all the joys of farming, without the back breaking work and worry. From what I could see, a good time was had by all.
  Thanks again, Volunteers!!
  
  
• Helping Hands Mission Camp - Sunday, July 26 - Friday, July 31, 2009
  • By the numbers: youth (32 from Bethany), over 20 adult leaders (15 from Bethany), numerous church member volunteers for afternoon and evening chaperone's and kitchen chefs – 21 job sites, One Wonderful Week – July 26 – 31 doing God’s work in Gloucester County! Thanks to Bethany United Methodist Church members for your support, encouragement, devotion, cookies, gifts, and hospitality! Thanks also to the Helping Hands administrative team led by Terry Stacey of Susanna United Methodist Church who dreamed this dream and made it a reality. Pastor Steve’s kick-off sermon on Monday on the topic of self denial and taking up the cross for a cause set the standard and tone for the week. Despite 90 degree heat each day, by week’s end almost all the jobs were complete. Homeowners were touched and spiritually moved by the selfless acts of charity shown by our youth. By their acts, our youth showed that they understood and cared about the people they were helping. As always, Helping Hands Campers and Volunteers received much more than they gave. There is nothing as satisfying and worthwhile as helping someone in need and seeing the love and appreciation in their eyes when the job is done. It was a week of personal and spiritual growth for all. Our youth were generally amazed at the things they could do: build a ramp or deck, erect a fence, repair a roof, paint a shed, install and repair windows, fix an outhouse, repair a foundation, landscape a yard … the list goes on and on. The evening devotional services were moving and spoke directly to spiritual and emotional issues that our youth face and struggle with every day. The hymns were sung beautifully and with conviction. I'm sure the refrains were echoing in many a mind during the week. I’m sure our youth would appreciate it if you would ask them about Helping Hands. Please keep them in your prayers.
    
    
• Help the Children in Cambodia (donations to rescue impoverished children. Our contributions can greatly enhance the opportunities for these young people to survive, find hope).
  

About our Mission Program:

In one way or another, all members of Bethany United Methodist Church are involved in Missions. And, everyone is invited, encouraged, and welcomed to participate in various Bethany missionary programs held throughout the year.  Our Outreach Ministry Team focuses upon the church as the Body of Christ, serving as the hands and feet of Christ out in the world in ministries of charity, service, social justice, and peacemaking.

Requests for mission volunteers are posted in the Bethany Banner and weekly Church Bulletin.

If you or your family are interested in participating in Bethany missions, please contact Kevin Kiley, 804-642-6047.

More Bethany Mission Projects:

• Clara Biswas, the “Mother Teresa” of Phnom Penh (salary support and community work for our missionary in Cambodia).

• Gloucester Housing Partnership (housing aid for the disadvantaged in Gloucester County).

• Habitat for Humanity (housing for the disadvantaged in Gloucester County).

• Healing Eagle Clinic (free medical clinic on the Mattaponi Reservation).

• Salvation Army (charitable assistance to needy persons in Gloucester County).

• Society of St. Andrew (gleaning efforts nationwide).

• World Hunger (world hunger relief through UMCOR).

• Esther Thompson Cottage for temporary housing of displaced persons.

• Support for local food banks by corn gleaning and distributing surplus foods.

• Mosquito netting supplied to African families to prevent insect borne infections.

• Medical mission trip to Cambodia by church member to assist in dispensing of pharmaceutical supplies.

• Potato Bars after Sunday services to raise funds for missions.

• Member of the Gloucester County Recource Council (Help change the face of poverty in Gloucester County).