Other Ministries

Missionary

Bethlehem has helped to financially support Missionary Bette McCrandall for more than twenty years. Bette serves as Supervisor of Schools for the Lutheran Church in Liberia. She served tirelessly through the long civil war that caused so much hardship in the country for many years. Twice Bette was evacuated, by military helicopter, for a brief time, when the war drew dangerously close to the mission compound in Monrovia.

Her dedication and years of service have been marked with distinction. She has inspired countless young people in Liberia and in many cases, has provided the fees necessary for their education.

This congregation is privileged to continue financial support for Bette as she concludes her years of service with the Liberian Church, in this her last term as a missionary, before her retirement.

On the fourth weekend of each month, worshipers are invited to give their gifts to help support the work of Missionary Bette McCrandall.

Global Mission

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America engages in God's mission in more than ninety countries around the world. Its ministry abroad is distinguished by the concept of accompaniment, which is a unique sharing of gifts and ministries. The North/West Lower Michigan Synod, of which Bethlehem is a part, has three companion synods. We are in partnership with three global churches.

Christian Lutheran Church in Honduras
This church consists of a small number of congregations, in one of the poorest countries of the hemisphere. Honduras has a high rate of illiteracy and very few basic services. The Christian Lutheran Church in Honduras witnesses to God's grace with a holistic message of the good news of Jesus Christ. The ELCA helps with theological education and the work of women's ministry and youth ministry. This synod has sent teams to build Habitat for Humanity houses in the country. It has also sent medical teams, provides the salary for a social worker and lunches for kindergarten children, who often have that as their only meal of the day.

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
This church, established in 1523, re-emerged when religious freedom was restored in 1988 and grew stronger, after its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. It describes its ministry as "Following the example of Jesus who healed the sick and had compassion upon the poor the downtrodden and those who live without hope." The relationship between our two churches is in its beginning stages of development and accompaniment.

Evangelical Lutheran Church-Papua New Guinea ELC-PNG - Papua District
A Companionship Covenant was recently signed between our synod and the PNG church, which was founded in 1886. As working partners we share one another's visions, life and mission. We encourage one another and participate in one another's ministries through prayer, communication, and exchange of resources and people.