Mission Outreach Opportunities

Bethel Outreach Ministry:

Christmas Baskets: Bethel provides Christmas food baskets and gifts for children as a holiday expression of love for those in need in our community. To participate, watch for announcements in Bethel’s Open Door in November or contact the church office at (865) 376-6340.

Mission Trips: Bethel Youth and adults take periodic summer mission & work trips. Recent destinations: Nicaragua, Missouri, and Idaho. For more information contact: Justin Murr (376-1376).

Ecumenical community outreach ministries: in cooperation with other area churches Bethel provides volunteers, board members, financial assistance, and supplies for:

Hands of Mercy Enterprises (HOME): 147 Court Street, Kingston
To volunteer as food pantry staff, contact Delores Sandmel (423-334-2860). Food for those in need in our community can be brought to Bethel’s narthex at any time; for a list of needed items, see Bethel’s Open Door newsletter monthly.

Roane County Cooperative Ministries (RCCM): located at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1658 Roane State Highway, Harriman. To volunteer one day a month (M/W/F a.m.) to help interview and assist applicants with rent, utilities and medicine, contact the Rev. Joseph Pinner at 882-1272 or call the RCCM office at 376-4779 on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday between the hours of 9 am and noon.

FISH of Roane County: To volunteer to take emergency requests via United Way, one day a month (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), or to volunteer to provide transportation to medical appointments, etc. contact Jane Pickel (376-5340).

Roane County Habitat for Humanity: To volunteer to serve on the Habitat for Humanity board, help with fund raising or participate in home construction, contact Denise Martin (376-6605) A portion of our Bethel Always Cookbook sales support Habitat.

Ecumenical regional outreach ministries: in cooperation with other churches, Bethel provides volunteers, financial assistance, and supplies for:

Sunset Gap Community Center: Bethel holds an annual fall clothing drive to benefit this Presbyterian (USA) rural Appalachian ministry near Cosby, Tennessee. Save Campbell soup labels (deposit jar located in narthex). Information: Delores Sandmel (423-334-2860).

Mountain Women’s Exchange (Crazy Quilt): Bethel holds an annual spring clothing drive and a Christmas toy drive to benefit this ecumenical rural mountain ministry and women’s craft outlet For information: Delores Sandmel (423-334-2860).

Prison Ministry: In cooperation with Oak Ridge PCUSA and Westminster PCUSA, Bethel sends volunteers to the 5^th Sunday Presbyterian Worship service at Morgan County Regional Correctional Facility in Wartburg. To seek training as a volunteer for this ministry, or to provide desserts for seasonal functions, contact Karen Schall (423-369-2955).

Bethel provides financial support for the following world, regional and local mission projects:

Casa de Sara Bolivian Early Education & Hunger Fund

Grace School in Limuru Kenya, Rev. Samuel and Monica Wambugu

Heifer Project International

Ulster Project International Student Exchange (PCUSA)

2 Cents a Meal Hunger Fund (PCUSA: Bethel donates via a portion of Bethel Always cookbook sales & a 4^th Sunday offering in the narthex

Second Harvest Food Bank, Knoxville, TN

Newton Child Development Center (PCUSA), Chattanooga, TN
Morgan Scott Project (PCUSA) Wartburg, TN

Medicare Pharmacy Supplement for Seniors, Roane County, TN

Kingston Ministerial Association (Rev. Sherrod participates)

Note: in addition, through its annual contribution to PCUSA and the Presbytery of East Tennessee, Bethel contributes to PCUSA missions at home and abroad.

Bethel provides meeting space for the following community programs:

Boy Scouts of America, Kingston Troop 101: Scoutmaster: Roger Richmond 376-1437

Head Start: meets Tuesday morning during the school year. For information: Julie Bunch 376-2983 or Barbara Williams 988-6941.