Category: 'Recreation'
Mt. Bethel Recreational Ministries began its 2008 Spring Season with 1,001 children participating, making up 17 leagues and 106 teams. This is a record breaking number for this ministry and we couldn’t be more excited. In addition to the 1,000+ players we have 210 amazing coaches who volunteer their time so that our program can thrive in the community. We also have 80 team coordinators who help keep their teams organized. The sports that these children are playing include baseball, softball, soccer, flag football and volleyball.
We never start a season without a mission’s project to help local children’s homes. Our theme is “Children Helping Children”. This season we are asking every child to bring a toothbrush and underwear or socks on Opening Day. The local homes that we support are Devereux, The Center for Children and Young Adults, Haven Hearts and Project Plus. These homes have expressed a need for the above items and with 1,001 children we are hoping for 100% participation.
Also, we don’t leave the adults out. Each spring we offer men’s softball and basketball leagues and a women’s basketball league.
Wonderful things are happening in the recreation department. We are continually making improvements to the fields and surrounding areas. With the generosity of some of our participants we added a beautiful playground to the soccer area. We will soon be starting a recreation program at St. Philip UMC, beginning with soccer and flag football hopefully growing from there. We look forward to even more great things happening at Mt. Bethel.
In Jesus’ Name We Play!
We have a ton of camps and trips scheduled for this summer, so we thought it would be useful to put them all in one place for you. Here you go!
Preschool Summer Camps
Vacation Bible School
- Beach Party | June 9-13 | 4 years - rising 6th grade
- Power Lab | July 7-11 | 4 years - rising 6th grade
Students
Music & Dance
Recreation
Education Ministries — $ 144,200
Worship Ministries — 346,600
Pastoral Ministries — 116,300
Missions & Apportionments — 1,060,140
Evangelism — 1,287,000
Children’s Ministries — 750,000
Adult Ministries — 71,300
Youth Ministries — 753,000
House, Grounds, Upkeep & Utilities — 1,544,000
Debt Service — 1,600,000
Administrative — 1,570,000
(All are approximate)
Total Operating Budget — $10,000,000
How many lives and souls does it affect?
Are we making a difference?
Are we growing the Kingdom of God?
Mt. Bethel is making a difference and, yes, we are growing God’s Kingdom! 2007 was an excellent year! And it’s all because of you, the members of Mt. Bethel and your faithful commitment to the Cause of Christ. And today, we are eagerly anticipating what we can do for Christ in 2008. We are almost there, folks – the goal to fund the needs of the new year is within reach. The Budget is based on the pledges received. The list of the names of those who have pledged has been published . . . and sent to heaven. God knows the hearts and names of each one. Now, does that fact cause your heart to leap for joy . . . or not? Would more folks pledge if we printed the names of the non-pledgers?! We are a church, not a civic club, and our needs are great if we are to carry out His ministries. We are all in this together, and together, we can make a difference for Christ. Pledge because it’s the right thing to do. There will be no lists, other than the one in heaven, pending the approval of our Administrative Council.
For the Cause of Christ,
Randy Mickler, D.Min.
Senior Pastor
No doubt, there are many ways to answer that question. Some people ask that question wanting to know the physical features of Mt. Bethel.
- How many acres? 46.
- How many square feet? 235,000.
- How many employees? 172 full-time, 202 part-time.
- How many members? 8,600.
- What’s the budget? Operating budget is $10 million, debt from buildings is $11 million.
- How is the budget spent? 16% debt service; missions & local ministries 34%; staffing 50%.
- How is the budget funded? Individuals tithing or giving (they aren’t the same thing).
- How many people give? Out of 2,557 giving units, 2,339 give.
Mt. Bethel is all of that, but so much more! We are an outwardly-focused church and that is a big reason Mt. Bethel is effective. This outward focus has produced a caring church that reaches out for children through a Day Care Ministry, Preschool Ministry, Elementary and Middle High Ministry through the Mt. Bethel Christian Academy. The Older Adult Center cares for the parents and grandparents in the community. Our Recreation Ministry cares for the children, youth and adults, members and non-members of the community. It’s the same with our Missions Ministry - caring for the least, last and lost around the world and across the street. Our Special Needs House houses three of God’s special young men. Our efforts through our sister church, St. Philip, near Osborne High School will soon be providing day care for single moms and a Recreational Ministry, plus many other outreaches to the Latino community.
Mt. Bethel is an “outwardly focused” church. Why is it important to claim that distinction? Because inwardly focused churches care for only their own members and abandon their mission to the world. A church for others is willing to do whatever it takes to reach unchurches people with the Gospel of Christ.
That’s what Mt. Bethel is all about, a place where the Word of God is preached every Sunday. A place where Christians are not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Mt. Bethel is a launching pad for Christ-centered people wanting to serve Jesus Christ. A place and a people willing to reflect God’s love through sacrifice and service, in the name of Jesus Christ.
What are you all about?
If you desire to make a difference in the world . . . we have a place for you!
Randy Mickler
Senior Pastor
We’ve just released some new features on our site that integrate directly with Twitter, the very popular micro-blogging service. We’re doing this in an effort to make it easier for you to get the information you need.
We’re starting it in two areas - the upcoming High School Girl’s Retreat and our ever-popular Recreation Update. We will likely do this will other events in the future, depending on well it goes.
We’ve been very careful in our implementation of this, in not changing any of the old ways of doing things. If you’re used to just clicking the “sunshine icon” on the front of the site to get the rec update, you still can - that’s not going away. We’re simply adding more ways for you to stay updated.
If you’d like more information about how to use this new technology, please visit this page. Let us know if you have any comments or suggestions.
Mickey
Wow! What a FUNTASTIC day hundreds of people had at Mt. Bethel’s Jubilee! The day began with 92 sports teams and over 200 coaches filing into the Sanctuary for the fall sports kick-off celebration. Kids (preschool through 8th grades) represented their game of choice: flag football, soccer, baseball, softball, and volleyball.
Mt. Bethel’s iPraise choir sang “Out to the Ball Game,” and then all the kids and their families rushed to the fields for games or to the midway for all kinds of entertainment – turbo swing, inflatables, mini Nascars, air brush and balloon artists, dunking booth, Toby rides, and rock wall climbing. To top it off, families could enjoy live music while they ate barbeque sandwiches or grilled hamburgers and hotdogs underneath the tents. Ball games continued throughout the day. It was truly an amazing day. Check out the pics…
Johnna
Mt. Bethel Recreational Ministries began its 2008 Spring Season with 1,001 children participating, making up 17 leagues and 106 teams. This is a record breaking number for this ministry and we couldn’t be more excited. In addition to the 1,000+ players we have 210 amazing coaches who volunteer their time so that our program can thrive in the community. We also have 80 team coordinators who help keep their teams organized. The sports that these children are playing include baseball, softball, soccer, flag football and volleyball.
