How to Get Involved in Missions at Bethlehem

There are many ways to get plugged into God's global mission. Here are just a few of the opportunities for involvement at individual and corporate levels at Bethlehem.

Getting Involved with Bethlehem Missionaries

• Pray
  Praying regularly for our missionaries and tentmakers is a wonderful way to bless them!
  
• Write
  Sending a letter, card, or email are all great ways of letting missionaires know that you're thinking of them and that they are appreciated and loved. Please remember to be sensitive to the political situation of each country -- we don't want to jeopardize the safety of any missionary.
  
• Give
  Approximately 32% of every undesignated dollar given to Bethlehem goes towards missions. Though we encourage you to first be faithful to tithing, beyond that there are opportunities to give to individual missionaries through their agencies. Sending care packages is also a great way to bless missionaries.
  
• People Group Advocate Teams
  The Maninka Advocate Team and Kachin Advocate Team are groups of advocates at Bethlehem who have committed themselves to so pray and labor that the Maninka and Kachin peoples will remain in the awareness of the general church body. Contact Kurt Swanson (Maninka) at 952.927.7134, or Nate Qualley (Kachin) at 651.489.4005.
  
• Circles of Prayer for Missions
  Monthly meeting of women gathering to hear a devotion on prayer, missionary updates and prayer requests, pray and fellowship together. Each meeting one domestic minister and one missionary speaks. Contact Sue Campagna: 651.482.1572.
  
  

Getting Involved with Bethlehem's Mission Department

• Missions Fellowship
  A gathering of missions-minded people fellowshipping, praying, and discussing missions-relevant topics. It provides a great chance to get to know others interested in missions as well as opportunities to meet furloughing Bethlehem missionaries. Meetings are held monthly on a Friday evening. Contact Julie Varno at 651.636.3020.
  
• Nurture Program for Missionary Candidates
  Every missionary who seeks to be sent out by Bethlehem must first enroll in the Nurture Program for a time of training and accountability. The program involves reading, ministry, Bible classes, and seminars. If you are interested in enrolling or being an accountability partner, please contact the missions department.
  
• Barnabas Support Teams
  Barnabas Support Teams are a small group of committed people who meet on a regular basis to pray, support, and encourage a Bethlehem missionary. To get involved, you could join an existing team or help care for a missionary who doesn't already have a team.
  
• Missions in the Main Hall (formerly called Missions at the Manse)
  This is a periodic gathering of those considering pursuing missions. It is an encouraging time of worship, prayer, fellowship, testimony, and the Word.
  
• Volunteer Help
  The missions department occasionally needs help with set-up and tear down for events. Furloughing missionaries sometimes need help with moving, donations of clothing and household items, etc.
  

Other Ways to Get Involved in Missions

• Perspectives on the World Christian Movement
  This 20-week academically credited introduction to missions is usually offered annually in the Twin Cities. International and local experts serve as lecturers for this course which covers the biblical, historical, cultural, and strategic aspects of missions.
  
• Read
  Missionary biographies are probably the most "dangerous" genre of literature ever devised. Somehow a person is never the same after reading about the life and work of a missionary. Also, don't forget to check out other missions books like Let the Nations Be Glad, by John Piper, or From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya, by Ruth Tucker.
  
• Pray
  Prayer in missions is crucial! By praying through material like Operation World, by Johnstone and Mandryk, and Global Prayer Digest, you will be stirred to pray. You will also gain challenging, interesting information about people groups and how God is working all around the world. Perhaps the Lord will burden your heart to go to the nations!
  
  For more information on any of these listed ministries or opportunities, please contact Kari in the missions department at 612.455.3432/email.