Volunteers from Bethlehem Baptist Church in Clarkesville fanned out across Habersham County on Saturday. They put their feet to their faith to help others.
About fifty church members helped with projects at seventeen locations. They painted and planted at Camp Hawkins, installed insulation for Habitat for Humanity, helped the local addiction recovery center Freedom Hill do some reorganizing, and assisted members of the community in their homes.
This special day of service, known as Beyond Bethlehem, benefited and blessed many. Among those the volunteers served were active-duty military members and senior citizens.
Lighting the fire
Beyond Bethlehem began more than a decade ago to encourage Christian service beyond church walls.
“Everybody’s big on serving internationally and nationally,” says Beyond Bethlehem Coordinator Brenda Nicholson, “and I think it’s great that our church focuses on community missions. We want the community to know they’re important, and we want to be involved.”
“We want to serve the community in Jesus’ name and in his example.”
Over the years, Beyond Bethlehem has become a regular, highly-anticipated mission outreach. So much so, says Nicholson, that right after Christmas, people start asking about it. Not only does this annual day of service help the community, but it also has an inward effect, bonding members within the church family.
“When people volunteer, it blesses us and helps us to be aware of the needs of others. It lights a fire in us to want to do more.”
