Missions Opportunities 2024
Declare His glory among the nations; His marvelous works among all the peoples!
Psalm 96:3
We all have an important role in the body of believers. God has uniquely gifted each one of us to serve Him. “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10). As we go forth in His power, sharing our faith and serving others, we will bring glory and honor to Him. Our Mission is to:
“To make His name great among the nations (Malachi 1:11) by motivating, equipping and involving our congregation in local, national and global outreach”
Christopher J.H. Wright said “It is not so much the case that God has a mission for his church in the world, as that God has a church for his mission in the world. Mission was not made for the church; the church was made for mission – God’s mission.” Everything we as a church and as believers do for Kingdom work is like placing a new puzzle piece in the great mission of God. One day the great puzzle of God’s mission in the world will be completed as Matthew 24:14 mentions: “this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come”.
If God is moving your heart in declaring His name, glory, and marvelous works among the nation please check below opportunities for you to help us complete the great puzzle of God’s mission.
SERVE HERE
IN OUR CHURCH
One of the best ways to get connected at Bethany Church and help others connect with Jesus is through serving. Whether it’s being part of welcoming guests, teaching kids about Jesus, or singing on our worship team, there are many ways to use your gifts! We encourage you to check out below the different ways you can serve at Bethany Church.
SERVE NEAR
IN OUR CITY
Every day, people in our communities have physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs, and we want to be a church that meets those in tangible and practical ways. We’d love for you to join us in serving our city by partnering with a local outreach organization, or intentionally loving your neighbor. Check below local serving opportunities.
SERVE FAR
BEYOND SAN ANTONIO
You can join God in the work that He is doing around the globe. God created you to make a difference in this world. There are a few different ways you can do that. Consider going on a global mission trip or sponsoring a child for Christmas. There’s no better time to humbly roll up your sleeves and reach people with the hope and love of Jesus.
MONTHLY HOMELESS OUTREACH
Our church’s mission is rooted in love, and one impactful way we express this love is through our monthly homeless outreach program. Together with our dedicated church youth, we assemble meal bags filled with warmth and nourishment. These monthly acts of kindness aim to share God’s love with those experiencing homelessness, providing both physical sustenance and a reminder that they are valued members of our community.
To amplify our impact, we frequently collaborate with local churches and organizations like CBC (Community Bible Church) and Heaven for Hope. Through these partnerships, we organize special events that extend our outreach beyond the regular monthly efforts. Together, we leverage our collective resources to make a more significant difference in the lives of those facing homelessness. These collaborations exemplify the unity and compassion at the core of our shared mission, spreading the transformative word of God and radiating hope throughout our community.
In our efforts, we recognize that our mission goes beyond the distribution of meal bags; it is about creating a sense of community and uplifting one another through the boundless love of God. As we work hand-in-hand with our partners, we are not just providing sustenance; we are collectively spreading a message of hope, compassion, and the enduring love of God that has the power to transform lives and bring positive change to our community.
LOCATION: VIA bus station
DURATION: Half day
HOW TO HELP: Volunteer and/or donate
CONTACT PERSON: Marius David Juravle – davidjuravle2000@yahoo.com
The Medical Mission Team provides Medical Support to rural and underserved population in Mexico. Our medical team accepts medical professionals, prayer warriors, children ministry assistants, hair stylists, cooks, and videographers/photographers. Our team focuses on health for the whole body, including physical, mental, emotional, and most importantly, spiritual.
Medication refills, counseling, wound care, health education, and spiritual health are all part of our primary mission. Hospital evangelisms, church services, and building connections with the locals are our secondary focus.
DATE: APRIL 10 to 17, 2024
LOCATION: Matamoros, Mexico
COST: $380 (+ personal travel cost to San Antonio, Texas)
HOW TO HELP: Prayer for the team and the mission work is always welcome and appreciated. Donations of gently used clothing, new medical supplies, and funds are also welcome. With Gods help, the medical team visits Mexico twice a year in April and October.
CONTACT PERSON: Adeline Haj – adelineflorian@yahoo.com ,
(503) 896-3400
MATAMOROS, MEXICO
APRIL 10 to 17
2024
The nonprofit organization Y4K will be traveling to Cuba for the first time this year. The need is very great, the poverty is dire and supplies are extremely limited. They will be taking medicine to local hospitals and clinics, reaching out to local churches, and doing local evangelism in the villages.
The goal is to organize 2 mission trips to Cuba per year in Spring and Fall. Due to special visa requirements, joining on this trip is not possible at this time. The hope is to make it possible for others to join us soon. Brother Manu Negrila will be traveling with the team. Please keep him in your prayers.
DATE: April 15 to 23, 2024
LOCATION: Cuba
HOW TO HELP: Support in prayer and donations for medicine.
CONTACT PERSON: Emanuel Negrila – emanuelnegrila@gmail.com
The project in Puerto Cortes, Honduras was started by the non-profit organization God Will Provide International Mission. It opened up in November 2011 and since then it has grown to encompass an orphanage, a rehab center, and a local church. God opened many doors in Honduras and the organization established the Life Change Center, the Missionary School, and Homeless Ministry to help better serve the comunity and fulfill God’s plan for the children and people of Honduras.
In June 2024, a team from the US together with brother Jason will be traveling to Honduras. They will serve communities with Kids Ministry Vacation Bible School, Evangelism with local contacts, and some light construction to finalize or update few projects. Each Individual will be reponsolae fro purchasing their own flight. The cost of $700 covers the lodging, food, transportation, and food/candy/supplies for the kids and locals.
A valid US passport is necessary. Honduras requires that your passport be valid for 6 months after the return travel date. If you do not yet have a current U.S. passport, go to http://travel.state.gov/passport.
DATE: June 6 to 14, 2023
LOCATION: Honduras
COST: $700 per person plus flight
HOW TO HELP: Prayers and donations
CONTACT PERSON: Jason Obrian – jasonobrian12@gmail.com
The Medical Mission Team provides Medical Support to rural and underserved population in Mexico. Our medical team accepts medical professionals, prayer warriors, children ministry assistants, hair stylists, cooks, and videographers/photographers. Our team focuses on health for the whole body, including physical, mental, emotional, and most importantly, spiritual.
Medication refills, counseling, wound care, health education, and spiritual health are all part of our primary mission. Hospital evangelisms, church services, and building connections with the locals are our secondary focus.
DATE: October 2024
LOCATION: Matamoros, Mexico
COST: $380 (+ personal travel cost to San Antonio, Texas)
HOW TO HELP: Prayer for the team and the mission work is always welcome and appreciated. Donations of gently used clothing, new medical supplies, and funds are also welcome. With Gods help, the medical team visits Mexico twice a year in April and October.
CONTACT PERSON: Adeline Haj – adelineflorian@yahoo.com ,
(503) 896-3400
MATAMOROS, MEXICO
OCTOBER 2024
Romania is still working to overcome the physical, economic, and emotional damage caused by the oppressive communist rule before 1989. Many Romanians are still struggling due to low incomes or lack of accessibility to medical or social services. Corruption and economic problems persist, with Romania still having a very high poverty rate.
Brother Traian Popa, through collaboration with the Bethany Church and key members or Pastors from the Romanian Pentecostal churches, established ways to help. Before Easter and Christmas, financial donations are collected to help purchase lambs and pigs. The meat is then given to needy or elderly people to bless them before the holidays.
Another way to bless brothers and sisters is through care packages. Twice a year, wheelchairs, adult diapers, and other goods or products are collected through donations from church members. As a result, care packages are made and sent from Houston to Romania. The packages are then distributed to needy families, elderly people, or people with disabilities from Oltenia, Bihor, or Maramureș.
LOCATION: Romania
HOW TO HELP: Financial donations, wheelchairs and adult diapers donations.
CONTACT PERSON: Traian Popa, (602) 400-2777
Tower of Refuge (TOR) is a non-profit organization that is currently focused on positively impacting the physical and spiritual needs of the impoverished people of Jacmel, Haiti. Their mission begins at the Bread of Life Orphanage which was established in 2010 to support each child’s spiritual, physical, and social needs. Other projects were created alongside this mission to continually help the community by providing food, supplies, and spiritual encouragement.
The current programs are: Orphanage – to provide food, shelter, safety, health care, education, and a loving family environment for Jacmel’s orphaned and abandoned children; Seminary – to offer biblical training for Haitians, equipping them to evangelize, plant churches, pastor churches, teach, and mentor new believers; School – to provide an inspiring, Christ-centered, life-changing education for children whose parents are unable to send them to school; Mobile Medical Clinic – to bring medical services directly to Haitian men, women, and children in need who do not have access to conventional care; Farm – to raise chickens, pigs, cows, goats, and fresh produce; Church Planting – to plant and build new churches in and around Jacmel so that more Haitians can know Jesus Christ, Mission Trips – to mobilize teams to travel to Haiti and work with in-country staff members to meet the most pressing needs of the people of Jacmel.
LOCATION: Jacmel, Haiti
HOW TO HELP: Prayers for the current state of the country, for God to help bring up godly leaders, donations and coming on future trips
CONTACT PERSON: Razvan Secrian – razvan@thetowerofrefuge.org
The organization Vital Solutions exists to serve those who find themselves in vulnerable and/or hopeless situations, specifically in areas that lack resources for sustainability. To accomplish its goal, the organization sends out teams on mission trips to different countries a few times a year. Trips are up to two weeks long and allow the participant to serve in the building programs, teaching, or medical camps.
A team from Bethany Church led by Brother Jason will be teaming up with Vital Solutions to help build a school in Nyeri Kenya, also to build a playground, water tower, bathrooms, and fix up the local church.
DATE: 02/26/2024
LOCATION: Nyeri, Kenya
COST: $1000 (plus airplane ticket)
HOW TO HELP: Pray and donate for materials.
CONTACT PERSON: Jason Obrian – jasonobrian12@gmail.com
NYERI, KENYA 02/26/2024
MBOUR, SENEGAL – 1/28/2024
The organization Y4K (Youth for the Kingdom) began working in Western Africa in 2008. In 2017, to be more central to the neighboring countries, God opened a door to build a base in Senegal. It started with the construction of an elementary school. In 2021, pressured by the hardships of rentals for the mission teams, Y4K began construction of a mission base adjacent to the school.
Besides the construction of the mission building and school, they’ve been doing outreaches to villages in the area with medical teams. God has moved surgeons, internal medicine doctors, and pediatricians to serve on the medical teams.
Concurrent with the medical outreach they’ve taken the opportunity to testify Jesus Christ to the villages they serve. Most of our evangelistic outreaches also include some form of treats for the children and children-oriented activities.
The trips usually span several months from November through March with different teams rotating in and out depending on their ability to stay and the amount of personnel that can be housed and transported. Brother Manu served with one of the teams in January/February of this year.
DATE: January, 2024
LOCATION: Mbour, Senegal
HOW TO HELP: Pray as we are working in a 95% Islamic area. Come and joins us on a trip. We can use everyone from surgeons to cooks, evangelist to mechanics.
CONTACT PERSON: Emanuel Negrila – emanuelnegrila@gmail.com
MISSIONS AND OUTREACH 2023
Blanket Homeless Outreach
As we prepared for the coldest day of the year, we could not help but think of those that are less fortunate than us.
We decided to go in Downtown San Antonio and reach those that were left in the streets in this cold weather.
We asked the church ladies group to help us raise funds to provide blankets and a warm bowl of soup and within less than 2 hours, we raised enough funds to purchase over 90 blankets.
We found big groups of people under bridges and in garbage bag tents. We were able to not only give them a blanket, warm bowl of soup but also pray for those in need.
LOCATION: Downtown San Antonio
DURATION: One evening
HOW TO HELP: Prayer, funds and joining in future events.
CONTACT PERSON: Claudia Ghiurau
MATAMOROS, MEXICO – 12/01/2023
Our annual Matamoros Orphanage trip organized by Bethany Church was truly a blessed one, this year. With the help of the church and personal donors, we were able to deliver gifts to over 450 children and adults who were part of the orphanages and the churches we visited. Because of the generosity of our church the gifts that we bring provide shoes, clothes, toiletries, school supplies, candy, and toys. Every year we provide reusable plastic plates for some of the orphanages and this year we were able to also supply pots and pans for an orphanage in need.
For the second time, we were able to go to the Island where the community allowed us to use the city hall and evangelize and bless all who wanted to come. It’s truly beautiful to see the young and old gather together to hear the word of God and receive a blessing from Him.
One of the most memorable things we experience every year is the joy we see on the children’s faces when they see us come back year after year, through our visits they know that they have not been forgotten or abandoned by the church and most importantly by God. They know that all that we do is because of Him who died for us all and made us a big family that cares for one another.
DATE: December, 2023
LOCATION: Matamoros, Mexico
HOW TO HELP: Prayers, donations and coming on future trips
CONTACT PERSON: Jason Obrian – jasonobrian12@gmail.com
VANUATU 10/30/2023
The organization Vital Solutions exists to serve those who find themselves in vulnerable and/or hopeless situations, specifically in areas that lack resources for sustainability. To accomplish its goal, the organization sends out teams on mission trips to different countries a few times a year. Trips are up to two weeks long and allow the participant to serve in the building programs, teaching, or medical camps. One of the most recent projects is the one in Vanuatu.
A team from Bethany Church led by brother Jason teamed up with Vital Solutions to help build the first school in the jungle of Vanuatu for the tribe people. On this trip, the foundation was set and the framing was done for 6 classrooms. Future trips are required to fully complete the project.
DATE: 10/30/2023
LOCATION: Vanuatu
HOW TO HELP: Pray for future teams to be able to finish the project, and donate for materials needed.
CONTACT PERSON: Jason Obrian – jasonobrian12@gmail.com
TABARA BRADATEL, ROMANIA – 08/2023
Tabãra Creștinã „Brãdãțel” is a Christian campground facility in Romania that offers multiple programs aimed to help people disconnect from the mundane and connect with God out in nature. One of the programs is called “300 de tineri din Oltenia la Bradatel”. The goal is to help young people from Oltenia to hear the Gospel and experience radical transformation.
In August 2023, Brother Jason Obrien and Brother Ben Anca traveled to Romania to help serve at Bradatel and helped minister to the youth that was participating.
DATE: August, 2023
LOCATION: Bradatel, Romania
HOW TO HELP: Prayers
CONTACT PERSON: Jason Obrian – jasonobrian12@gmail.com
PUERTO CORTEZ, HONDURAS – 06/01/2023
The project in Puerto Cortes, Honduras was started by the non-profit organization God Will Provide International Mission. It opened up in November 2011 and since then it has grown to encompass an orphanage, a rehab center, and a local church. God opened many doors in Honduras and the organization established the Life Change Center, the Missionary School, and Homeless Ministry to help better serve the comunity and fulfill God’s plan for the children and people of Honduras.
In June 2023, a team from the US together with brother Jason traveled to Honduras to work at the orphanage. During this trip, the team built a playground for the kids and new cabinets for the orphanage kitchen. The team was able to do a full kitchen remodel. One of the other projects for this trip was organizing VBS for the kids in the orphanage and the local communities.
DATE: June, 2023
LOCATION: Puerto Cortez, Honduras
HOW TO HELP: Prayers
CONTACT PERSON: Jason Obrian – jasonobrian12@gmail.com
The project in Maasai Mara Kenya was started by the nonprofit organization Vital Solutions in 2016. The organization planned, built, licensed, and launched the Vital Solutions Health Center for the Masai tribe in Empopongi, Maasai Mara. The clinic is operated by a local Kenyan team of 5 medical professionals.
The clinic operates as an Urgent Clinic treating work injuries, animal attacks, (i.e. elephant crashes, lion bites), burn victims, and overall provides medical care to a community that otherwise would not have access to health care.
Occasionally, Vital Solutions also sends/takes medical teams from the US to volunteer a the center. Brother Jason traveled in February with a team to help finish the nurses’ sleeping area for the clinic which serves the local tribes’ medical needs.
DATE: 02/28/2023
LOCATION: Massai Mara, Kenya
HOW TO HELP: Pray
CONTACT PERSON: Jason Obrian – jasonobrian12@gmail.com
MAASAI MARA, KENYA 02/28/2023