The HOPE story for January, 2006

Most of us look forward with hope for a good 2006. However, many families are in distress due to illness, divorce, poverty, drugs, incarceration, abandonment or other social issues.

Each month many families in crisis call us looking for a place for their children to stay.  In November, these families represented over 40 children. Bethel can not help in every situation, but let me tell you about one of these cases where we were able to help.

A CASE IN POINT

In November our community outreach manager received a call from a State caseworker who was working with a family in distress in a nearby county.  The ailing grandmother is raising three of her grandchildren.  One of them, Sarah, age 11 has lived with her off and on for most of her young life.  Sarah's mom and dad are both in prison.

Sarah recently began to defy her grandmother, and had resorted to physically hitting her.  Sarah was not having problems at school, just at home.  It was like acting out was Sarah's way of crying out for help for herself and her grandmother and her two siblings. Sarah also has health issues that adds stress to her life. The State worker has gotten some help for her grandmother for some home care tasks.

HOW IT HAPPENS

The State caseworker encouraged the grandmother to consider placing Sarah at Bethel for a while.  In mid November they all came to visit Bethel.  After spending the afternoon in one of our cottages with the houseparents and the other cottage girls, Sarah decided that she would like to give Bethel a try.

During the first week of December, the grandmother and her other daughter brought Sarah out to begin her stay at Bethel.  The cottage houseparents welcomed Sarah into their cottage. After showing everyone Sarah's room and having a nice lunch, Sarah hugged her grandmother and aunt and kissed them goodbye.

Sarah will have frequent contact with her family.  She will probably be at Bethel through this school year.  Sarah will work on her anger issues while at Bethel.  One of Sarah's siblings may follow her to Bethel.

A BETTER ALTERNATIVE

Without a home like Bethel, Sarah would be placed into State's custody. There, family interaction and Christian nurturing is often hindered.  Thank you for helping Bethel stand ready to minister to children of families in distress.

For the protection of our precious children, names have been changed.

Pray for all children whose families are in crisis, with no extended family to help.  Pray that a neighbor, teacher, church member, pastor, doctor, policeman, emergency responder, judge, prosecutor, criminal attorney, school, hospital or other agencies social worker, counselor, or YOU will see their plight and encourage them to contact Bethel Bible Village.

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The HOPE story for December, 2005

Last month we were able to bring joy, peace and hope to a family in crisis.  We accepted two young brothers, Curt and Frankie ages 9 and 7. They and their mom, Mattie had been living from hand to mouth in a deteriorating two-room house about 30 miles from Bethel's campus. Mattie, a single mom, is partially disabled and can only work part-time.  She also has some emotional issues that limit her job opportunities. She was becoming unable to maintain a safe home environment for her boys. She did not want to place them with the State. (Names are changed to ensure confidentiality.)

A friend in Mattie's support group told her about Bethel. One Saturday Mattie brought the boys by to see Bethel and talk with our staff.  Curt and Frankie spent that afternoon playing basketball with the other children and meeting one of our houseparent couples. Mattie and her boys were pleased with what they saw. During the following week, Mattie and her sons made a decision. The boys agreed to live at Bethel for a while, until Mattie could once again provide for them.

Mattie sees Curt and Frankie every week and calls them in between visits. We have put Mattie in touch with a vocational counseling group that is helping her find a better paying job.  Bethel has become their extended family.

Bethel provides a home for these boys.  There is no place like Home for Christmas.

Your gifts help Bethel be an available Christian extended family for families in crisis like Mattie and her boys.  Bethel is able to fill the gap, while maintaining family relationships.  Otherwise these children would be placed into State's custody, where family interaction and Christian nurturing is often hindered.  (See below for gift suggestions.)

For the protection of our precious children, names have been changed.

Pray for all children whose families are in crisis, with no extended family to help.  Pray that a neighbor, teacher, church member, pastor, doctor, policeman, emergency responder, judge, prosecutor, criminal attorney, school, hospital or other agencies social worker, counselor, or YOU will see their plight and encourage them to contact Bethel Bible Village.

Bethel stands ready to be an encouraging surrogate extended family for children of families in crisis.
For 51 years (since 1954), Bethel has been God's House for 1,333 'orphans of the living': providing them hope and safety in the name of Jesus Christ.

Help spread the good news today.  Inform your friends and your church of what Bethel is doing to bring safety and hope to at-risk children.  If you know of a family in crisis who needs help caring for their children, tell them about Bethel.

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The HOPE story for September, 2005

Let me share with you about one of our 'Encourager'.

Allen (his real name with his permission) is one of our after-school tutors. Just a year ago he was one of our residents.  Since then Allen has completed his first year at U T Chattanooga, where he is preparing to later study Dentistry at Meharry Medical School in Nashville.  Allen is active in his church, located downtown near the University.

Allen first came to Bethel back in 1999 when he was in the 8th grade. Before that, Allen spent 3 years in several foster and group homes.  He told me: "I was angry at everyone at first because of not having a real family. But soon I began to enjoy my life at Bethel.  I could see that my houseparents and others at Bethel really cared about me. I think of my Bethel houseparents as real parents."

Other than the few weeks he spent in our on-campus classroom when he first came, Allen never needed any extra tutoring.  He studied hard, played varsity sports and worked at a grocery store while in high school.

This past March, Allen asked Danette, our Education Coordinator, if he could be an after-school tutor.  Allen told her that he wanted to do something to give back a little of what Bethel had given to him. He tutored through the rest of the school year, and he is back again helping this school year.

Allen shared this with one of our social workers;  "I tell the older residents that they need to set the example for the younger ones.  At first they did not want to listen to me, because they thought of me as being just like them.  But now, they have swallowed some pride and they listen to me.  When I go to my apartment after tutoring, I feel good about what I did for those two hours."

When asked to sum up his experience at Bethel, Allen replied:  "Bethel was a life-changing experience physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  Even now when I come back to visit, everyone lets me know they are pulling for me. That is encouraging. I tell people Bethel is a good place to grow, period!"

Your gifts and prayers allow us to continue providing Christian mentors to young people like Allen.

Please pray for Allen as he pursues his dream of becoming a dentist.  Also pray for "orphans of the living" who are still living in a life that is a nightmare of fear and despair.  Pray that God will lead them to a place of safety and hope where they can nurture their dreamsÑa place like Bethel.

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The HOPE story for August, 2005

Let me share with you about two precious little boys whose mom was in crisis. Kenny and Tim (not their real names) ages 12 and 7 came to Bethel in the summer of 2004. Their mom placed them at Bethel privately because she was homeless and had no means of support.  None of their extended family would take responsibility for the boys.

Each boy has a different dad. One dad never communicates.  The other dad, still in prison wants to have contact with his son.

Their Bethel Social Worker shared that mom has been good to call her sons, but she has not come to visit them as often as they would like.  They love their mom dearly and want to be with her.

The boys have been a hand-full for their cottage houseparents.  Their houseparents have suffered a few bruises, both under their skin and in their hearts.  Thank God for our Christian houseparents.

Both boys were behind academically when they first came to Bethel.  Kenny was reading at a first grade level.  Tim did not know his ABC's, nor could he count to 10 when he first came.  He failed the first grade.

Our Education Coordinator, Danette arranged for Kenny to have an after-school tutor in our on-campus classroom last school year.  He was failing all of his subjects the first half of the year, but by year's end he was able to pass all of them.  Recently in summer school he took extra classes in Reading and Math.  He has been enrolled in the Wilson Reading program.  Kenny got to go to the Kids Across America Christian camp this summer.  Tim was too young to attend, so he spent a week with his mom instead.

This fall we were planning for Kenny to get extra help at the Sylvan Learning Center.  He already thinks he would like to be a lawyer. He loves to argue.  He gets embarrassed that he is behind academically.

Tim could not pass the milestone test for the first grade when he came last year.  He has had one of our older residents tutoring him this summer.  He can now count to 100, and he knows his ABC's.  Tim was going to be tested to see if he could go on to second grade and not have to repeat the first grade.

The plans we had for these boys this school year will have to wait. Their mom recently came to sign them out back to her care. She placed them at Bethel privately, and still has legal custody of the boys. She has been offered a job in another city where she has a support group of friends.

Please pray that mom's job works out.  Pray that God will watch over her and Kenny and Tim. Pray that the Christian foundation laid for the boys at Bethel will serve them well during this new venture in their lives.  We thank God that their mom cared enough to place them at Bethel until she could again provide for them.

Bethel stands ready to be a surrogate extended family for "orphans of the living".

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The HOPE story for July, 2005

July is when we celebrate our nation's independence from the tyranny of a foreign power. Many of our Bethel children have faced oppression caused by neglect and abuse at the hands of their own family.

Three months ago we received a call from Mrs. Jones (not her real name) who lives about 90 miles north of Chattanooga.  She was seeking a temporary home for two young sisters.  Their mom (Ollie, not her real name) was going to jail for six months for possessing illegal drugs.

Mrs. Jones had taken in Ollie and her daughters, Tammy and Diane (not their real names) ages 13 and 5.  Mrs. Jones had also accepted temporary legal custody of the girls. Otherwise they would have been placed in the hands of the State.

There is no other extended family. Tammy's dad is unknown. Diane's dad shows his face occasionally.  When he does come, tragically the girls are eyewitnesses to his physical and verbal abuse of their mom.

The Monday after Mrs. Jones called, our placement coordinator and one of our social workers spent an hour on the phone with Ollie and Tammy.  They explained how Bethel works. They wanted to insure that Tammy understood what to expect at Bethel. Tammy and Diane didn't need another broken promise.

Two days later and one day before Ollie was to report to jail, Mrs. Jones drove on campus with Ollie and her girls. Our placement coordinator and social worker spent about an hour filling out forms and reassuring the girls.  Tammy especially seemed to appreciate that she and Diane would get to visit often with their mom and with Mrs. Jones.  Little Diane was more nervous, frequently tugging on her mom's arm.

After this meeting, everyone walked over to the cottage where the girls would be living; just beyond the fishing pond.  There they met their houseparents. Their housemom had made a chocolate meringue pie that morning in honor of Tammy's and Diane's arrival.  After showing the girls to their room, the housemom served everyone a piece of that (still warm) chocolate pie. The pie seemed to ease little Diane's mind.

The girls have settled in and made friends with their four other cottage mates and with some of the 33 other girls and boys on campus.  Mrs. Jones has been so helpful in keeping the girls in touch with their mom.

Please pray for Tammy and Diane and for their mom, Ollie.  Thank God for friends like Mrs. Jones. She shared Christ with Tammy one week before coming to Bethel, and Tammy accepted Jesus.

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The HOPE story for June, 2005

Bethel stands ready to be a substitute Father, mom and extended family to children whose families are in crisis.

June is when we honor our Fathers.  Most of us were blessed with a wonderful dad.  You may have had an adoptive or foster dad.  Whatever your Father's relationship, I hope you will honor him in a special way this month.

Most of the children who come to Bethel have a living biological father.  In many cases they have not seen their dad in many years, if ever.  Most have never had a positive male role model in their lives, until they came to Bethel and got to know their cottage housefather.

One of our housefathers shared with us what one of his cottage boys told him. While driving to a ball game, this young man, Bobby (not his real name) started talking about his dad.  He said his dad was forbidden by law from being around him and his five brothers and sisters.  He shared that he saw his dad at a shopping mall a few months ago (his dad did not see Bobby).  Bobby told his housedad:

"I know it's not good to be around my dad. But I do want to know where he is living. He is my dad after all."

What a grown-up perception by a 12-year old! The love a child for their father is a powerful force.

Our Bethel housedads and housemoms and other staff teach our young people about their Heavenly Father.  They share with them that God can help fill the emptiness from the absence of their earthly parents.

Thank God for dedicated substitute dads like Bobby's Bethel housefather.

May God bless all the loving Dads (biological, Bethel, foster and adoptive dads) throughout our community and country.

Bethel provides Christian surrogate dads and moms for the children of families in crisis. Their parents either can't or won't provide a safe home for them.

Pray for God to give all children in crisis a substitute Father, mother and extended family until their family's crisis is over.

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The HOPE story for May, 2005

FACTS: (In 2003 in the U.S., according to the National Council on Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, 906,000 children were documented to have been neglected or abused: out of the 3,000,000 children cases that where referred to the various Child Protective Services for investigation. Of these cases 61% were neglect, 19% were physical abuse, 10% were sexual abuse and 5% were emotional abused.) See www.acf.dhhs.gov for more statistics.

Bethel stands ready to be a substitute Mother, dad and extended family to children whose families are in crisis.

May is the month we honor our Mothers. Most of us are blessed to have a godly mom. We wondered why she worried so much about us when we were growing up. She made sure we got enough to eat: that we had clean clothes; and as much as she could she made sure that we stayed out of trouble. Our mothers value us.

I want to share with you about a "mother that didn't have to be". Her name is Missy. She is a relief housemom for two of our Bethel campus residences, including our Mother/Child residence. Missy is an alumnus of Bethel. She and her twin brother came to Bethel when they were 15. Their mother was dying, and there were no family members willing to care for them.

Back in 1983, Missy's Bethel housemother, Mrs. Deborah (and Mr. Floyd) became her substitute mom (and dad) for the next six years. At age 21, after completing a year and a half of nurses training at Chattanooga State, Missy took the opportunity to become a nanny for a family in Chicago and later in Berkely, CA.

After 9 years of caring for this family's small children, Missy responded to a need back at her Bethel home. Missy told us: "Bethel is my real home. The family that God gave me. They showed me unconditional love, when my biological family would not. They taught me to be who I am today. They taught me to walk with Christ."

In 1998, Missy became an associate housemother for a cottage of six siblings. Later she moved to our girl's independent living residence for two years. Now she is helping nurture six young girls in our Exchange residence and three moms with babies in our Williams residence.

Missy has never been a biological mother. But she has done a lot of mothering to young people in the past 15 years.

Last August, Missy assumed even more of a mothering role. Missy became the legal guardian of a 4-year old little girl. Missy had been sponsoring her up to that time. We asked Missy why she made this decision. She replied,

"I knew if I did not take this responsibility, that Beth Ann (not her real name) would be placed for adoption. She would lose all contact with her biological mother and father. Beth Ann knows her mother and father, and sees them occasionally. But Beth Ann knows that her real home is with me. My goal is to raise Beth Ann in a Christian environment. She will have contact with her natural mother and father, as she may desire. I never planned to be a single mother, but I would not trade it for anything in the world."

Bethel is a place of opportunity for young people like Missy and Beth Ann, who had no one willing to care for them. The best opportunity we offer is for them to learn of the saving power of Jesus Christ.

Please pray that God will give all neglected children a safe place to call home.

For 50 years (since 1954), Bethel has been God's House for 1,317 'orphans of the living': providing them opportunities and exposure to good things in life.

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The Hope Story for April, 2005

FACTS: (In 2002 in the U.S., according to the National Council on Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, 896,000 children were documented to have been neglected or abused: out of the 3,000,000 children cases that where referred to the various Child Protective Services for investigation. Sixty percent of these cases were neglect, 20% were physical abuse, 10% were sexual abuse and 7% were emotional abused.) www.acf.dhhs.gov for more statistics.

Bethel strives to bring opportunity to neglected and abused children, who previously had no hope.

Opportunity is all that one of our young ladies was wanting. Lacy (not her real name) is now a senior and making plans to attend college. During her freshman year, it did not look like college was in Lacy's future.

Lacy, along with her four older sisters, came to Bethel when she was in the 5th grade. They had been living with their uncle for a year. Family environment precluded their mom and dad from caring for them. However, these girls continue to maintain contact with their mother and other extended family.

Her freshman year, Lacy was placed on the special services academic tract. She had difficulties in being assertive and communicating what she wanted.

But by her sophomore year, Lacy's true charming personality began to blossom. She asked, no she insisted, on being on the regular academic tract, with her friends. With the help of Bethel's education coordinator, Lacy's teachers accepted her heart-felt appeal. In her junior year, she was on the regular tract. If you could see Lacy's beaming smile, you would know why they gave her this opportunity.

Between her sophomore and junior years, Lacy and two of her cottage mates went on a mission trip to Central America. Their assistant house parent had arranged this trip through their local church, Silverdale Baptist. This experience had a life-changing impact on Lacy. After coming back, she was truly inspired. She is now looking forward to college, and becoming equipped to help others.

Lacy has applied herself, and has maintained passing grades on the regular academic tract. She is now scheduling auditions for music scholarships at Chattanooga State and at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. I wish you could hear Lucy's beautiful voice.

Lacy has also put her hands to work at two part time jobs: McDonalds and Outback Restaurants. She is saving money. About six months ago, Lacy purchased one of the cars that were donated to Bethel. Over the past year, she has recruited two of our support staff to give her driving lessons. I think Lacy has overcome that assertiveness problem!

According to Lacy's social worker, she attributes her academic success to the opportunities provided by Bethel. She is so thankful for her Bethel education coordinator, and for her special tutors. They have worked with Lacy (and many others) every afternoon in our Howard and Marie Russell Learning Center.

Lacy credits the encouragement from her house parents and from other campus staff for her overall success. She said, "My experience at Bethel means so much to me, it has changed me".

Bethel is a place of opportunity for children like Lacy, who had no hope. The best opportunity we offer is for learning of the saving power of Jesus Christ.

Please pray that God will give all neglected children a place of safety and opportunity. May God keep Bethel standing ready to be such a place. May God use you to help neglected children find a place of opportunity, like Bethel Bible Village.

For 50 years (since 1954), Bethel has been God's House for 1,312 'orphans of the living': providing them opportunities and exposure to good things in life.

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The Hope Story for March, 2005

FACTS: (In 2002 in the U.S., according to the National Council on Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, 896,000 children were documented to have been neglected or abused: out of the 3,000,000 children cases that where referred to the various Child Protective Services for investigation. Sixty percent of these cases were neglect, 20% were physical abuse, 10% were sexual abuse and 7% were emotional abused.) See www.acf.dhhs.gov for more statistics.

Bethel strives to bring good things to life for neglected and abused children in our care.

Back in January, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga womenÕs basketball team (Lady Mocs) came out to Bethel and spent two hours teaching our boys and girls warm up exercises and technical basketball skills. The players divided up into groups of 2 and 3 and spent valuable one-on-one time with each of our children. I wish you could have seen how our children responded to the personal involvement of these unselfish young women.

After the clinic, which was held in our memorial gym, the Lady Mocs sat around tables with our children and autographed their basketball posters for each child. Two of the players saw one of our very shy girls sitting by herself, and they voluntarily went over and sat and talked with her. The smile that came over her face was priceless.

Our children and staff attended a Lady Mocs game later that month, at the special invitation of the team.

Thanks to the generosity of several donors and a will bequest of one of our deceased donors in 1993, Bethel has a nice gymnasium for special events like this. The gym is also used by our children and other community children for winter YMCA basketball.

In April, thanks to the thoughtfulness of a friend of Bethel, all of our children will get field-level first base box seats for the Home Opener of the Chattanooga Lookouts minor league baseball team. They will be able to talk with the first baseman if they want.

Bethel is pleased that we can expose our children to special times like these. But the most important thing that we expose our young people to is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, through the lives of their Christian house parents and weekly church attendance.

Bethel, through our house parents, counselors and teachers, is coaching these young people to make good decisions. Decisions that will make life better for them on this earth and for eternity.

Pray that God will direct all neglected children to a place of security and direction, like Bethel.

For 50 years (since 1954), Bethel has been God's House for 1,310 'orphans of the living': providing opportunities and exposure to good things in life. Above all we expose them to the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ.

May God use you to be "His Mentor", to help neglected children find a safe place, like Bethel Bible Village.

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The Hope Story for February, 2005

It's February! We naturally turn our thoughts to that special someone we love. For children in crisis, often no one is there. Through your prayers and gifts to Bethel you can "Be There" for them.

Bethel is where God's love abounds and relationships grow for "orphans of the living".

One of the young people helped by Bethel is Kristie (her real name with permission). Before coming to Bethel, Kristie became pregnant and wound up in a crisis center in Memphis in 1998. Neither her family nor her unborn child's father or his family were ready to accept responsibility for this child. From the crisis center, Kristie was directed to a pregnancy home in Bristol, TN.

After her son Matt was born, she did not know how she was going to provide for him. She was 500 miles away from home, with no one to help her son. In early 1999, while finalizing Matt's adoption paperwork, someone (God's messenger) suggested she contact Ms. Pat Ball, Bethel's Mother-Child program's coordinator.

Kristie recalls of Bethel- "I was so happy just to be in a safe place in Bethel's Poindexter cottage. My social worker, Pat Ball, listened to me and treated me like a real person. My son Matt loved Bethel. He had loving Christian adults and adoring children to coddle him. Matt went to Bethel's Howard and Marie Russell on-campus daycare while I went to school. We experienced God's love everyday. Without Bethel, I would not have my beautiful family."

In the summer of 2000, Matt's father, Dan initiated renewed contact with Kristie. After a few months of phone calls and letters, Dan hitchhiked from Memphis to Chattanooga (300 miles) to be close to Kristie and Matt. In April 2001, Kristie and Dan were married in the Crabtree Chapel on Bethel's campus. Many of Kristie's and Matt's Bethel family were there.

Kristie's husband Dan recalls: "Ms. Pat Ball at Bethel was ÔGod's Messenger' to me. After coming to Chattanooga, she counseled me often. Through Pat Ball's wisdom, God confirmed to me that I was doing the right thing for my family."

The love of Kristie and Matt was being nourished at Bethel. The love of Kristie and Dan (Matt's dad) was also allowed to rekindle. The love of Jesus Christ was being instilled in their lives. Kristie and Dan have both accepted Christ as Savior.

Kristie and Dan have been married for four years, and have another beautiful child, 3-year old daughter, Danni. Kristie is staying home being a full-time mom to Matt (6) and Danni (3). Dan has a good job at a local automobile dealership.

Your prayers and gifts can ensure that Bethel will "Be There" ready, with open doors, outstretched arms and loving hearts.

Children in crisis like Kristie and Matt were, need a safe nurturing place to turn, when they reach the end of their road.

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The Hope Story for January, 2005

Bethel Bible Village Children's Home is known for "being there" for children in crisis.

Bethel has been there for Rocky (not his real name), age 17. His mom placed him at Bethel four years ago. She was encouraged by local officials to place him at Bethel, before he got into serious trouble. Rocky's mom didn't discipline him, his biological father was never there and his step-dad did not want anything to do with Rocky. He was also habitually truant from school.

Rocky did not like Bethel at first, but he soon adjusted due to the caring hearts of his house parents and the acceptance by his cottage mates. He still maintains contact with his mom and his siblings, and has learned to develop healthy boundaries with his family.

During his second summer at Bethel, Rocky accepted Christ at a Christian camp. What a difference this has made in how Rocky's faces the challenges in his life.

After spending two years at Bethel, Rocky went to live with his Uncle Dexter (his mom's brother). This arrangement worked well for six months until he sensed that everyone in Uncle Dexter's family did not welcome him. Rocky then requested to come back to Bethel. Again, Bethel 'was there' for Rocky. He told his Bethel social worker that Bethel was the only place that would ensure he graduated from high school. He will be the first graduate in his family.

While at Bethel, Rocky has developed a passion for computers. His house father and other staff have worked with him so he could learn not only how to operate the computer, but also how to do some elementary computer programming.

This Christmas, a local business arranged to get him a personal computer and printer. Rocky was ecstatic. He plans to take some college-level computer courses while still in high school.

Bethel has 'been an environment' where Rocky can grow physically, mentally, and spiritually. Over 1,300 'orphans of the living' have had this same environment.

Please pray for all of the children of families in crisis today. Pray that God will 'be there' with them until He directs them to a safe and caring place like Bethel Bible Village.

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