Early In Our History. . .God gave us a strategic location on Gause Boulevard – one of the most traveled streets in our city.  For decades we were land-locked with just under two acres of property.  This reality limited opportunity for expanding our ministry.  Additionally, the brown house on Eighth Avenue and the oil change on Ninth Avenue partially blocked the visibility of our buildings from Gause.

In 2007 the Lord began expanding the footprint of our land by making available a lot behind our parking lot on Eight and Louisiana Avenues, and two lots on Ninth and Louisiana Avenues.  We now own six lots south of the church.  However, the zoning ordinance for those parcels restricted us to specific future use.

But God wasn’t finished with His surprises.In 2008, after years of prayer on our part, and in His good and perfect timing, the Lord moved the owners of both the oil change and the brown house to offer Bethany the opportunity to purchase their properties.  The purchase of these properties would give us both greater visibility and the opportunity to expand our ministry.

The Time is NOW !!  Almost 10 years ago we began a very successful pre-school ministry called Amazing Grace.  We quickly reached capacity in our enrollment.  When we explored expanding that program, the City told us that without extensive renovations (e.g. sprinkler system, fire wall, etc.) we had to shut down.Reluctantly we complied.  At that time we promised our congregation that we would go back into the pre-school ministry as soon as it was feasible.

With God’s blessings and your support, we plan to build an Open Arms Child Development Center.  For years to come, this center will serve many families in our community with children from six weeks old through pre-school.  We will not only share the love of Jesus with approximately 90-110 children, but we will equip families to build homes centered on Christ.

The Plan. . .Our capital funding campaign began in the Fall of 2008.  We asked the entire congregation of Bethany, former members, as well as our friends in the community to consider a three year sacrificial commitment in support of our plans to fund as many of the following mission and ministry opportunities as possible:

1.Purchase the oil change property ($450,000).Completed December, 2008.

2.Purchase the brown house and lot ($177,000).Completed August, 2009.

3.Support the Fan into Flame campaign to plant 2,000 Lutheran Church Missouri Synod mission churches, revitalize 2,000 existing congregations, and fund mission projects locally, nationally, and globally ($50,000).

4.Construct an Open Arms Child Development Center (with 8 classrooms, kitchen, offices, multi-purpose unit, playground, parking ($1,200,000 estimated).  Opening Planned for Fall, 2010.

Bethany Lutheran Church has been blessed by God to be a blessing to our community.  By sacrificially sharing the resources the Lord has entrusted to us, we can change the lives of children and families in our community for time and eternity.  If you want to be a part of this exciting undertaking to grow the Lord’s kingdom by sharing your blessings (monetary, time and/or talents) contact the church office for more information and you, too, can be Blessed to be a Blessing.