Bethel Bible Chapel: Capital Expansion Project

Willing Hearts Fundraising Campaign

Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering... ~ Exodus 35:21 NKJV

Why Are We Expanding?

If the Lord wills, and for His glory, we are expanding to improve space and accessibility for all ministries and to provide a more secure environment for children’s programs. This capital expansion project is about more than a building—it’s about investing in the future of our church. We want our whole church family involved, embracing giving as a blessing, not a burden. We boast not in ourselves but in the Lord, knowing that He is the one who provides and sustains.



What is Phase 1?

Based on strong Church support, here is the vision for expanding Bethel Bible Chapel:
Phase 1 includes key improvements to better serve you and our community:

• Large foyer addition to foster fellowship and connection. 
• Library/Community Room with a kitchenette for study, meetings, and gatherings. 
• New washrooms for improved accessibility. 
• 60% larger Fellowship Hall for church events. 
• Nursery and Primary Sunday School rooms relocated to the first floor for accessibility. 
• 2.5x larger Kids Wing/Sunday School area with enhanced security under our Plan to Protect.
• Total building size increasing from ~15,000 sq. ft. to ~29,000 sq. ft 

Construction begins July 2025. Aiming for completion by June 2026. 

Cost and Fundraising Goal

Phase 1 is estimated at $6.6 million. Lord Willing, our goal is to raise $1.5 million by December 31, 2025. Why $1.5M? Over the past few years, the Lord has generously provided the funds to start this project—we have chosen $1.5M as the fundraising goal to minimize our mortgage.

Why Give?

Supporting the Willing Hearts Fundraising Campaign is more than a donation— it’s an investment in God’s kingdom. Your generosity helps expand a space where lives are transformed, and faith grows. Thank you for helping build a legacy of worship and outreach!

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work... You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, 11 NIV

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 NIV

Ways to Give

• Prayer – Seek God’s guidance & provision
• One-time gifts
• Support the mortgage through increased regular giving
• Stock/bond transfers
• In-Kind Donations
• Volunteering – Offer your skills as needed

How to Give

• Cash – place cash in an envelope and put in one of the wooden boxes on either side of the sound booth in the main auditorium
• Cheque – make cheques out to “Bethel Bible Chapel”
• Online - https://www.bethelbiblechapel.com/give
• E-Transfer – send to office@bethelbiblechapel.com
• Stock/bond transfer – contact treasurer@bethelbiblechapel.com for more information
• In-kind donations – must be approved. Contact Andrew Sarlo, asarlo@stgroup.ca

Designate gifts for the expansion as “building fund”. To receive a receipt please ensure to include your name, mailing address & email address.

Understanding how obedience, submission, wisdom, and authority work in this broken world is critical if we are to live the faithful Christian lives we are called to. Following Christ means we must be willing to break the “rules” for a higher loyalty and authority. But that must be done with wisdom, grace, and with a mature understanding of the consequences and rewards.

There is a humility inherent to prayer that we often don’t consider until our expectations, hopes, and plans are put up against God’s gracious and perfect provision. I want to look at three types of humility we need to cultivate to live as contented and joyful children of the Father.

If you are new to Bethel we would welcome you to join us for lunch on Sunday, May 25th from 12:30pm to 1:30pm. We would be happy to get to know you and share with you some information about Bethel.

Please send a message through the Contact page or sign-up in the hallway across from the kitchen.

God be glorified for the life and witness of Jack Correll and I pray God will raise up such examples in every generation and church to shepherd the people of God until Jesus returns.

Providence addresses the question of why, and to what end and purpose does God work His power and rule over everything? Providence is about the purposeful sovereignty of God.

It’s that time of year…  the Pregnancy Centre’s annual Baby Bottle Campaign!  

Option 1:  You can pick up a physical baby bottle at the church on Mother’s Day weekend (and fill it with cash, change, or a cheque) and bring it back to the church on Father’s Day weekend.

Option 2:  You can fill a virtual bottle instead, if that is the method you prefer!  Simply go to our website: https://www.algomapregnancy.com/donate to give on-line with your credit card.  If you need assistance, give us a call at 705-759-9100 and we can process your credit card over the phone.  E-transfers can be sent to: info@algomapregnancy.com  (if sending an e-transfer, please indicate your name and mailing address in the message).

In God’s design for our lives, salvation in Christ is never about getting in the door then getting comfortable. So, having younger friends whom you are bringing along in the Lord is part of Christian maturity and necessary for a healthy church family.

In the last post we can think about a Frodo and Gandalf type of friendship, and now let’s look at Frodo and Sam. With this relationship in mind, the best example of friendship I know in the Bible is between David and Jonathan.

Happy New Year to you all! Usually this time of year I do a year-end-wrap-up post of some kind summarizing some of the content I appreciated over the past year. This year, I want to share with you my “2022 Book of the Year.”

Men, you are invited to come and pray on Wednesday mornings at Bethel at 9:30am. Meet in the Fireside Room.

In a three-part series, I would like to encourage you from God’s Word to consider how you might make good friends, or, more specifically, with whom you might make good friends.

The following is an adaptation of the message I delivered that evening in the shadow of the cross.

The Conquer Series is a group study which every man should attend. 

Chains are being broken. A cinematic teaching series for men (18+), offering proven principles & practical tools to be a warrior & walk with sexual integrity. These groups are designed to be a safe environment for men to receive sexual discipleship. With 68 percent of men in the church viewing porn on a regular basis, this is a course that every man should attend so you are equipped with the tools you need to help other men in this fight. This is a place where men can contend together, find support & freedom.

A typical Conquer Group is made up of 5 to 6 men. The setting is casual. One video per session (for 10 weeks), discuss topics presented in the video, and be given a weekly mission to apply the lessons you’ve learned from the Conquer Series.

INTERESTED? Contact Len Peake, send a message through the contact page, it goes directly to Len.

*New groups will be announced on the News & Events page

We’re home! The Sarlos and Zappacostas have returned, and we are thankful for God’s blessing in travel, health, and safety. Thank you to all of you who prayed and supported us. You were there with us in the Spirit of God.

I want to suggest that the Bible does not see suffering as something that interrupts our ministry as servants of Christ, but rather, suffering is itself a type of ministry; one that the Church and our world desperately need to witness. I want to call all of us to prepare and lean into a ministry of suffering.

In last Sunday’s text, Jesus teaches two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus, “starting with Moses and all the prophets”, about how the Jewish scriptures, what we know as the Old Testament, testify to Him. Meaning, that Jesus told these disciples how the Bible points to his life.

Below is an infographic I made comparing the different types and manifestations of anger.

The Gospel has not changed, but through some conversations with family and friends, I came to see one aspect of the gospel message that I had missed in my summary.

The God of scripture is one who is intimately involved in this world and invites us to see his sovereign hand of providence in every sunrise and beat of our hearts. The Bible reveals a God on whom we must depend for every detail of life.

I would like to share a few of the prophesies that Jesus fulfills and outline the different ways Jesus can and does fulfill the expectations of the Old Testament.

I wanted to share some of the things that I found helpful in 2021 with the prayer it could bless you in 2022.

Some of the oddest characters in all the Bible have to be the Wise Men from the East who come to visit the infant Jesus. But what do their three gifts mean for us today?

From the Question Jar: Were the Old Testament saints "Christians"? How should we understand God's work to save people before and after Christ?

It's that time of year again. The Halloween decorations are taken down and Christmas decorations begin to fill the aisles of Canadian Tire and Dollarama; and the word “Joy” begins to appear again on festive décor all over.

Here are some things we can put in place to help us maintain the growth that happened at camp and keep our eyes focussed on Jesus in the usual things of school, family, friends, and life.

From the Shores of Sugar Lake

Greetings all! The blog has been a little quiet over the last few weeks, but here is a special edition coming to you live from Walford Station, ON.

Last week, our dear Joey Summers went home to be with the LORD after 104 years of life. She will be missed by many who treasured her warm smile, passionate worship, consistent presence, and welcoming heart.

Do you have questions about God, the Bible, Christian Worldview, or life in general? Submit your questions below so we can grow in God's Word together!

I came across a verse not long ago that jumped off the page at me. I wrote it down on a sticky note and popped it in my pocket to read again later in the day. That verse was Psalm 90:12,

There is a fear of God that can drive us outside of God’s will. As we read through the Bible, it does not take the people of God long to swing the pendulum in the wrong direction.

This Sunday, I will be preaching on Luke 12:1-12. In this passage, Jesus teaches his disciples about fear in light of growing opposition from the Pharisees and the threat of violent crowds pressing in to hear and see him. Jesus tells us, what and who we should and should not fear.

Bethel Family! We want to hear from you! Please fill in this form each week so we can pray for you and your family.

Please click here to go to the connect card.

I had the privilege of teaching in our Sunday School this past week to some of the families and children of our Church. In Sunday School, they are working through the miracles of Jesus during his earthly ministry.

The blessings of preaching through a book of the Bible verse by verse are many.

Small groups at Bethel: Get connected through small groups!
Groups of about 10-12 will be meeting weekly at Bethel or in homes starting the first week of October.

Small group days/times/locations are available below. We appreciate the opportunity to study God's Word together. This season of small groups we will be studying the book of Acts.

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer or Andrew Sarlo or send a message through the Contact Page. 

Nicholas and Esther were called to serve the Lord at Bethel Bible Chapel in April 2020. Nicholas was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie and grew up at Bethel. Esther was born in Markham. They met while studying at Wilfrid Laurier University where they both completed the Business Administration program. They served together on campus with Power to Change leading Discipleship groups and organizing the weekly student meeting. Nicholas completed his Master of Divinity degree at McMaster Divinity College in 2016. Nicholas and Esther love singing, going to musicals, and trying new recipes together.

Nicholas is the third generation of Sarlo preachers and seeks to bring the authority of God’s Word into every aspect of his life and ministry. Whether that be preaching a sermon from the pulpit, leading a devotional at youth group, visiting with a Church member, or playing a crazy game with the youth; all of it is for the glory of God.

Nicholas leads Bethel’s Youth Group along with an amazing team of volunteers. He also writes a blog for the purpose of building the church up in the knowledge and love of God in Christ. Nicholas is also involved with Small Groups, worship, and coordinating Bethel’s Plan to Protect policies for volunteers and staff. 

“I am excited to see what God will do through the saints at Bethel, and I am so honoured to be given a place to serve and equip the saints for the work of ministry in Sault Ste. Marie.”

Nicholas’ favourite verse is Ephesians 1:3-4.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”

Ruth McLellan is a full-time worker at Bethel with a special emphasis on women's ministries, Ladies Coffee Hour and Ladies Bible studies. She also anchors the Pastoral Care program at Sault Area Hospital. Ruth is a faithful prayer warrior and pianist utilizing both gifts on behalf of those she serves at Bethel. Her servant's heart makes her a good choice as a mentor and role model. Past service at Bethel includes assisting at Camp ABK and teaching Sunday School. Ruth started out as an elementary school teacher, a skill she utilized teaching Religious Education from 1979-90.

Previous to this Ruth attended a year at Emmaus Bible College. Not long afterwards she was commended by the Elders at Bethel as a full-time missionary to India where she worked from 1966-1978, among some of the nation's most needy people. Ruth worked with many desperate orphans and eventually managed five mission schools in the area. Her missionary experience involved reaching out to the Christian community and young people from the assembly in the near-by town of Kollegal. In typical McLellan fashion, Ruth's home in Kollegal was frequented by College and Career students and others who were drawn to learn more about Jesus in Bible study groups.

On her return to Canada, Ruth earned a BA Degree at Algoma U. She followed this with a program of studies leading to an MA Degree in Christian Education from the Winnipeg Theological Seminary. Ruth also undertook a rigorous 2000 hour, 'hands-on' background enabled Ruth to take the position of Chaplain at the Sault Area Hospital (SAH) when it became available in 1993. In 2011, the new SAH planned to terminate the spiritual support for the ill, the Elders approached hospital officials and offered to fund the program on condition that Cathy Martin and Ruth continue ministering as they had done so faithfully for many years. Thankfully, this resulted in a ten year contract to retain the program. The SAH is the only hospital in Canada that we know of with such an agreement! God is good!

Ruth also leads morning devotions four times weekly at the Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre.

Activities and interests for Ruth include music, reading, making time for family and friends, the piano and outdoor pursuits such as canoeing and star gazing!
One of her favourite Bible passages is Psalm 27, especially verse 8.
One of her favourite hymns is "O My Soul Arise and Bless Your Maker."

Len & Becky Peake were called to join the ministry staff at Bethel Bible Chapel in September 2009. They provide leadership, vision, direction and support to some of the children's and youth-related ministries at Bethel. Len & Becky presently oversee the Awana ministry. Len shares in the Bethel preaching ministry.

Len & Becky bring to their ministry at Bethel enthusiasm, energy, creativity, passion and a genuine love for guiding and involving youth in Christian activities. The Peake's ability to relate to and connect with children and teenagers has been enhanced by their experience at Aush-Bik-Koong Bible Camp (Camp ABK).

The Peake's commitment to the gospel message and spiritual growth of children/youth is evidenced by their active involvement, over the years, in children's and youth ministries such as Sunday School, Youth Group, Awana, College and Careers and as Kitchen Coordinators at Camp ABK during the summer months. They have enjoyed the opportunity at Camp ABK to work alongside other Christians from churches across the north.

Len is a graduate from Nipissing University's Bachelor of Education program and has spent some time teaching at the elementary school level. Len & Becky served on a short-term mission to Honduras in 2003, teaching English as a Second Language.

Len was born in Harare, Zimbabwe and immigrated with his family to Canada when he was three years old. He grew up in Brampton and North Bay, Ontario. Becky was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie. As is often the case with Bethel teenagers, one summer she attended Camp ABK where she met Len. Over the next few years the relationship matured and in 2001 Len & Becky were united in marriage on the same campgrounds where they met!

Len & Becky have been blessed with five active children, Abigail, Micah, Hannah, Joe and Levi. There is never a dull moment at the Peake's home. Len loves playing sports, interacting with children and youth and spending time with his family. Becky enjoys skiing, music, cooking and being with her family.
Favourite Bible verses: Len - Matthew 6:33, Becky - Isaiah 41:10
Favourite hymns: Len - All the Way My Saviour Leads Me, Becky - In Christ Alone

Len can be contacted at Bethel by phone: 705-254-2191

I have always loved a good cliff-hanger. That moment when your favourite TV show or book gets to the last minutes or pages and suddenly,

I said in my last sermon that March 2020 was the first time, by my knowledge, that Bethel had cancelled a church service in its 100-year history

I have the privilege of serving the church daily, which means I have had to take a lot of time in the past year to think about “church”.

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.

I have always been one to count down to Christmas. As a kid I would embody the words of the Christmas song, “Tiny tots with their eyes all a-glow will find it hard to sleep tonight.”

This past Sunday marked the first Sunday of the Advent season.  Advent means “arrival” and it is the time of year we remember and celebrate the coming of Jesus

At our Church we are working through the book of Jonah in our Sunday morning sermons and in small groups. Jonah is a small book in comparison

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness“. – 2 Timothy 3:16

Thanksgiving is often a mixed bag. On a normal thanksgiving Monday, some of you have the responsibility of becoming world-class chefs

I am a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier’s BBA program and one of the classic first-year projects for people who wanted to be super involved was the pitch competition.

Welcome to the third instalment of our exploration of the book of Job

This week’s instalment of the Job series is tackling a big fish, “Bad things happen to bad people”.

I have a confession to make: I am a forgetful person. I have more single gloves than pairs. I forget birthdays, meetings, to-do list items

"But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavoured the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face-to-face...

Good morning friends. As things ramp up for the launch of our fall ministries, I will be not be writing a formal blog post this week.

Last week, I introduced a new series that will take us through the book of Job. The issue is, we don’t know who to trust among Job’s friends

There are certain books throughout of a Bible-in-a-Year plan that tend to bog down the momentum. If you persevere through Leviticus

In Luke chapter 7, we encounter our last lesson from the life of John the Baptizer. From his prison cell in Herod’s palace

“…Out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

– Jesus, Luke 6:45

Over the course of this “stay-at-home” season, Esther and I worked through a virtual marriage retreat

Over the past few months, Esther and I have been doing a virtual marriage retreat

Esther and I bought our house in May 2019, and one of the things that came with it was a 10×10 garden

This Sunday we arrived at Luke 6:20-29, which is the start of the “Sermon on the Plain”. In this passage

And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles…

Luke 6:13 ESV

This is the second instalment of an on-going series on some of the hymns I love. Rock of Ages

Around this time of year, we are used to seeing headlines in magazines like “Get Beach Ready” and “The Perfect Swimsuit Diet“

As of Friday, June 12, 2020, houses of worship in the region of Algoma can open for worship up to 30% of their capacity

In light of what is going on in the United States and around the world right now, I feel it is appropriate to change the direction

It is a tremendous understatement to say the Covid-19 pandemic has occupied much of our cultural conversation

This week’s blog will be the first instalment of an ongoing series reflecting on some of the hymns that I love. If the term “hymn”

This past Sunday was Mother’s Day, and I had the privilege of preaching to moms about moms from the Bible

As I am writing this, it has been over 50 days since the people of Bethel Bible Chapel have gathered for worship

In a world saturated with opinions, fake news, rants, and data why add to the pile? A question worth answering.

Today is my first day as an employee of Bethel Bible Chapel. It is such an honor, privilege, and blessing to be given the opportunity to serve this Church, this city, and our God in this way

Field of Service: France

Mission Organization: MSC Canada

Ministry: Brad & Catherine Dickson have been serving in France for nearly 40 years. Brad is from Saskatchewan and Catherine is French. They have been involved primarily in Church planting and leadership training. They have participated in four Church plants and are currently working on a fifth project. At this point in their ministry, they focus particularly on training and encouraging younger French leaders. To accomplish this, they spend hours in discipleship and mentoring with a view to multiplication. Brad also teaches in a Bible School and in a Church planters training programme they helped to found. They also have a love for Asian immigrants and work with them particularly in their present location in Manosque, France.

E-mail Address: b.dicksonfrance@icloud.com

Praise & Prayer:
April 2025
Dear believers at Bethel Chapel in the Soo,
We want to thank you very sincerely for your regular and faithful support of our ministry. May God richly bless your fellowship as you seek to serve him in Sault Ste Marie!
We would like to ask for prayer for two upcoming events:
On Easter Sunday we will have a special service to which we are inviting as many friends as possible. After the service, there will be a shared meal and then games in the afternoon. Please pray that many will come and hear the Gospel.
On May 25th, we will hold our very first baptisms in our Church plant here in Manosque. Four people have committed to baptism. They are all adults and none of them grew up in a Christian home or have any Church background. Two of the them are Chinese, one is Korean and one is French. We praise God for these first fruits of our labour here. It will be a time of rejoicing. Pray for all the guests that will come that day. We ask our baptismal candidates to give their testimony. May many people be touched by the Gospel. Pray also that these new Christians will stand firm against the criticism from family members which some of them are facing.

Field of Service: Northern and Eastern Ontario, Canada

Organization: Awana International Canada

Ministry: Dave, and his wife, Joyce, live in the North Bay region. They have four grown children and eight grandchildren spread from Saskatchewan to Hong Kong. Dave works with the Awana Ontario Team to serve churches in Northern and Eastern Ontario as they strive to reach children and youth with the gospel of Christ. The team's aim is to serve local churches as they develop their children's and youth ministries. Awana provides training and resources so that leaders will be able to impact their communities for the Kingdom of God and thus to change the world for Christ.

E-mail address: d.kinsey@awanacanada.ca

Prayer & Praise: 

Field of Service: Bolivia, South America

Mission Organization:MSC Canada

Ministry: Enoel grew up in Bolivia in a Christian home where his father was the pastor of a small church. He became a believer at seven, and was baptized at fifteen. Enoel graduated from Hebron Theological Seminary; then became a full-time worker in a church in Bolivia. Enoel met Leisa while she was on a missionary work team in Bolivia, and they married in October 1990. In 1993, they were commended from SBC to the mission field in Bolivia. They have four girls, Rebecca, Andrea, Jessica and Elizabeth.

E-mail Address: enoelsuarez@gmail.com

Areas of Ministry:

• Radio Ministry
• Translation
• Leadership Training
• Evangelism
• River Boat Ministry

Field of Service: Belgium

Mission Organization: MSC Canada

Ministry: In 1975 a family of five moved to Belgium. We are now 12 and still in Belgium. We came to do evangelism as we had been doing in Canada since we were saved in 1970. Everybody had to know that wonderful gospel message that had changed us so much. We moved house four times in our little province of Limburg, in 1980 we settled down in Houthalen. There are now 12 assemblies in Limburg. Our son, John, married Yoko, they have Hailey (20) and Liam (8). Our youngest daughter, Joy, married Johan, they have Nevan (21), Lani (19) and Dillon (12). Julie is executive secretary at ETF in Leuven. She works from home because all the students are doing their Biblical studies from because of the virus!
We praise the Lord we are His, it is a privilege to share the gospel though the interest has waned a lot through the years. Now refugees are wanting to hear the gospel. We have had contact with them going back seven years. A time to laugh and often a time to cry. Some have been saved, some sent back. Some came so close and circumstances pulled us apart. Some have stayed in our home, some have been baptized and come into fellowship with the saints. We mostly have contact with Iranians at the moment. We had 30 coming to a Bible study that is now on hold, we are trying to reach them through the Internet. Our hearts go out to them.

Prayer Update - March 2023

FAMILY
I miss Beryl very much but have great comfort in knowing she is with the Lord. I have supper with my family every evening which is a great help.
My granddaughter, Lani, Joy and Johan’s daughter, has Lyme disease which makes her very tired. She cannot work but she is very creative and makes beautiful things. She is trusting the Lord for her future!!
Yoko, John’s wife, has been in the hospital for 5 weeks with an infection in her hip. She needs a hip replacement but has to wait until she is infection free.
Julie is not married, she works at the Evangelical Theological Seminary as executive secretary. She enjoys it very much but there is a lot of responsibility that comes her way.

MINISTRY
Beerse, the second assembly that we started in 1975, is going through a very difficult period. It may not survive unless the Lord steps in and helps solve the issues. I will spare you the details but it is weighing heavily on my mind!! Please pray for Beerse.
In Houthalen, where I live, a couple in the assembly is having a very hard time. P&G have been married 40 years, have 3 daughters, 2 sons in laws and 4 grandchildren. We are trying to help them with their struggles but it is not easy. We would ask you to pray earnestly for them.

Field of Service: Kenya

Mission Organization: MSC Canada

Ministry: I (Julia) have been living and ministering in Nairobi, Kenya since 2006. I began my missions journey with International Teams, and served on a small team that ministered primarily to urban refugees for about seven years. I am currently sent out under MSC Canada, and serving at 'Amani Ya Juu' (Swahili for 'Peace From Above') which is a Christian, social economic enterprise committed to peace and reconciliation for marginalized women from many African nations and cultures.
Although I wear many hats at Amani, one of my main roles is 'Ministry Coordinator' where I help to organize and oversee all of Amani's spiritual and social programs which include: daily times of prayer, Bible study & worship, monthly medical clinics, kids & teen camps during school breaks, home visits (i.e. to visit moms with newborn babies, to comfort our sisters during times of bereavement or illness, etc.), and annual retreats / days of prayer & fasting.
I've been married to an amazing Kenyan man named Kenny Nyaga since 2016 and we love music, coffee, worship, ministry, our local church / the global church, and our calico cat named Lola!

More about Amani Ya Juu: Amani uses beautiful African materials to create high-quality fair-trade home goods and accessories. We sell our one-of-a-kind products both online, in our centre in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and in our onsite shop here in Nairobi. We also have a lovely garden café where we serve some of the best mochas and salads in the country! I help to make sure we've got new and delicious recipes in the café, and that our quilts and clothing are only made with the very best colour combinations! The aforementioned are the income-generating streams of Amani.
More than anything, our hope and prayer is that the ladies in our care find peace; peace with God, peace within, and peace with others. Everything we do points to and is motivated by that one powerful theme.

Ministry website: www.amaniafrica.org

E-mail: clark.julia@gmail.com

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Prayer Requests 
March 2025

Hello dear friends & family!
I believe I need to start this letter with an apology to my Canadian crew! I had mentioned in another update of mine that, because we’d fervently prayed for Christmas snow with Imara when we were last in Canada, he got it in his head that whenever we pray for Canada, we should always pray for snow - even when it’s July. So, it seems that the prayers of this righteous little boy are indeed strong & effective, and we are truly sorry for the mountains of white stuff that you are currently buried under! Sending sunshine for the melting, and Robaxacet for the aftermath of all that shovelling! 
And since Kenyans say ‘Happy New Year’ until at least April (if it’s the first time they’re seeing you) let me adopt that particular cultural norm and wish the same to you all! If you happen to follow Amani on Facebook, then you might’ve seen some posts at the beginning of the year that featured a few of our precious ladies and their hopes & prayers for 2025. 
A few of the common threads were:
- Safety & peace within Kenya’s borders
- Growth at work that leads to economic increase
- A home, or piece of land to build on, that better meets the needs of their families
- Better physical health 
- Knowing God & His Word on a deeper level
And the church said ‘Amen!’ If you’d like to join us in these prayers, I know that Delphine, Ingrid, Yvonne, Dorcas, and the rest of the Amani family would be so very grateful!
Again, in a previous update, I’d asked you all for prayers regarding Imara (unbelievably) starting school: the where, the when, the provision for tuition fees, etc. We are very happy to report that the Lord answered those prayers with incredible kindness and clarity! Last September, Imara started preschool at a lovely, Montessori kindergarten. It’s one of those old, colonial, stone houses that’s found a new life as a place of learning for the smallest and cutests of students. The classes are quite small, the principal is a friend of Ken’s from back when they were teenagers, and the teachers are all wonderful and love the kids to bits, so it’s been a very soft landing for Imara (and his parents) to start his educational journey. He was absolutely ready for this season to begin, and immediately grabbed the hand of his new ‘fwend’ and headed off to play, with no tears or drama! Well - no tears on his part. Plenty of them were brimming - ok, streaming down my face, which is surprising to no one who knows me. The morning drop-offs have gotten significantly easier for me since then (as I was assured of by many that they would), especially since he’s absolutely thriving in this new environment! He’s such a gregarious people person that having this built-in crew of those-of-similar-height to hang out with every day is just the bee’s knees as far as he’s concerned! The principal told us recently that he’s become a bit of a local celebrity, and everyone knows when he’s arrived at school - from his signature clomping up the stairs, to his boisterous morning greetings to each classroom as he passes. AND the icing on this Montessori cake is that his music teacher is my old teammate from the International Teams RefMin team - Jack Mutua! After being desk neighbours for 7 years and serving in the trenches together through sun & storms, Jack is 100% family, and it’s both a joy and a full circle moment to hear Imara singing some of the same children’s songs that we used to teach our Somali kidlets back in the day! 
Imara is always asking, “Do you know this one, Mama?”
“Yes, sweet boy, I absolutely do. But just remind me how that second line goes again, please and thank you!”
In an endeavour to communicate more often with all of you lovely folk, I’m going to keep my letters a little shorter but more frequent. So, keep an eye out in the next month or two for another bite-sized snippet of what’s going on over here! As someone who loves words, and minored in English in university, there is the temptation to feel that I need to write an O. Henry novella with each email. May the spirit of succinctness rest upon me, in Jesus’ name : )
As always, thank you for reading. For caring. For praying. For giving. For cheering us on.
Literally couldn’t do it without you, and we are so very grateful!
How are you doing? 
We absolutely love hearing your stories!
Let us know what life looks like and how we can pray for you!
With tonnes of love & gratitude,

Julia, Ken & Imara

Les and Sharon Frey were suddenly called home as the result of a motor vehicle accident on Wednesday, November 6, 2024. Bethel has supported Les and Sharon as missionaries for 30 years. Their unwavering faith and unconditional love of God and people have left a permanent mark on the lives of all who knew them. Les and Sharon’s selfless devotion, kindness, and generosity impacted countless individuals, as demonstrated by their more than 40 years of missionary ministry in Spain. They will be profoundly missed by their family, friends, Spanish, Wallenstein Bible Chapel and Woodside families, and everyone touched by their kindness and love.

Field of Service: Spain

Mission Organization: MSC Canada

Ministry: Les and Sharon grew up in the Elmira, Ontario area where they were in fellowship at Wallenstein Bible Chapel. They were commissioned as full-time missionaries in 1973 when they first went to Valencia, Spain, serving on a short-term mission team with International Teams then returning to Spain more indefinitely to Zaragoza where they stayed until 2013. Their work over their 40 years in Spain consisted of evangelism, church planting and marriage mentoring and weekend seminars.
They have now returned to Ontario where they live in Elmira and continue to work in Spanish and English as the doors open. They help on a pastoral care team at Wallenstein Bible Chapel and especially care for seniors there. Les gives Bible studies at three seniors residences in the area which are attended by an average of ten each. He preaches twice a month in Spanish at a small church in Kitchener and has multiple opportunities to keep using Spanish.
They have four children and ten grandchildren, three in Spain, four in Iowa and three in the Elmira area. Their son, Chris, is an elder at the church which they helped to start in Zaragoza and grandson Kenny (24), is very active there in music and leadership with youth. Our daughter, Elena, is also very active in Dubuque, Iowa in music and works at Emmaus Worldwide and being mother to four. Our son, Vince, father to three works in the Elmira area and is active in music at his church.

Field of Service: Canada

Organization: Trans World Radio Canada & Thru the Bible 

Ministry: Sandy and I have served in ministry since 1985. Twenty-two of those years overseas. My last ten years of service with TWR Canada I served as President of TWR Canada. I now serve as Executive Director of TTB Canada which provides oversight for the Canadian operation as well as providing oversight for ministry projects in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. We live in London, Ontario in a home we share with our son and his family. Sandy has experienced problems with her back and would appreciate prayer as it appears that this is long term situation. Her greatest limitation is her inability to sit for long periods of time without chronic pain which limits our ability to travel any distance by car or air. We continue to work with the medical community to find a long-term solution.
During the prolonged Covid crisis God has opened doors for ministry in the Middle East, in Southeast Asia. For example, the number of home groups grew by over 30% in India during the last year. We have had similar growth in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Each group has a minimum of 8 people in it. Pray for a project that is just being in Pakistan, 17 partners from inside and outside the country are working together to bring the Gospel to this needy land. I am working on a number of projects in the Middle East that are having a huge impact. I am so thankful that as I stepped out of ministry with TWR that God opened another door where I could work alongside the indigenousness church in countries that are largely closed to the Gospel. I have been able to take what I learned in our ministry and apply it into another.

Email address: ralary@ttb.org

Praise & Prayer: 
- Praise the Lord that we can reach into countries where there are only a handful of trained pastors. Through our partnerships we have projects where we are evangelism, discipleship and leadership development using a systematic approach which is strengthening the local church at a level that has never been achievable before. Digital technology is changing how we do ministry is a positive way.
- We are in the midst of doing a major project in India. Praise the Lord that the number of Home Groups continues to grow in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and now in Sri Lanka.
- Pray for Sandy as she deals with chronic back pain.
- Our scope of ministry is really around the globe, I am now involved in projects in Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Mongolia and Israel. I am doing the majority of this from our apartment in London but I do have trips planned for Israel and Southeast Asia later in the year. Pray that these trips can take place as planned.
Thank you for your continued prayers of our ministry. These prayers are appreciated.

Field of Service: Montreal

Mission Organization: InterVarsity

Ministry: Originally from Northern Ontario, I (Alenna) now live in Montreal, Quebec serving as a Campus Minister with InterVarsity. I am stationed at Concordia University and Dawson College, and I also resource Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario. Being shaped by God's Word and led by the Holy Spirit, the purpose of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship of Canada is the transformation of youth, students and graduates, in all their ethnic diversity, into fully committed followers of Jesus Christ. I have the privilege of being able to build relationships with students, equipping and encouraging them to build witnessing communities on campus where students of all different backgrounds can come and catch a glimpse of the goodness of God. It is truly a blessing to journey with students as they discover Jesus at such a critical stage in their lives.

E-mail Address: apredon@ivcf.ca

March 2025 - Update

Field of Service: France

Mission Organization: MSC Canada

Ministry: We are serving the Lord in Aix-en-Provence, in the South of France. Tim is French and Catrina is part-Canadian, part Northern-Irish, part-French!
Our desire is to see disciples of Christ amongst the students of our city, which is why we are working with the FEU (Foyer Evangelique Universitaire). We've been blessed with great premises, right next to the main campus. We, along with the rest of the team, oranize different events for French, International, Christian and non-Christian students.
There is also a coffee shop, run by volunteers, including ourselves. It is a great place for meeting up with students, working, eating, having a cup of coffee...
Tim works full-time for the FEU, and Catrina teaches English to teenagers in the French school system.
We both love to see the Lord at work in students' lives and being able to be instruments in His hands to help them grow spiritually!

Contact Info: you may follow us on Instagram: @timetcat, @feudupaysdaix and our coffee shop @aix_aucoindufeu

Praise & Prayer

March 2025: News from France
Click the image below for the latest newsletter.

Field of Service: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Mission Organization: Living Hope Native Ministries

Ministry: In the last twenty-four years of ministry, The Lighthouse church was established. Wendell is the pastor of the church. The goal of The Lighthouse is to be a community of committed followers of Jesus with First Nations people and friends welcomed and involved. We hold a kids Bible Club on Garden River each summer and look for other ways to serve our First Nations community members.
We have five children. One lives in Timmins, Ontario, one in Columbus, Ohio, and the others are here in Sault Ste. Marie. Our youngest daughter is still at home with us. We have three grandchildren and are excited about two more coming!

Email: wjgraber@gmail.com

Praise & Prayer
March 2025

Field of Service: Serving campers from North Bay to Sault Ste. Marie

Mission Organization: Aush-Bik-Koong Bible Camp

Ministry: Ryan and Kathleen serve at Camp ABK - a summer camp where we strive to present the claims of Christ through the camping experience. Kathleen grew up in North Bay, and Ryan grew up in Sault Ste. Marie. We met at ABK where we both served on Summer Staff for a number of years before getting married and accepting the position of Managing Directors. Our two children, Lucy and Jack are learning to love all things ABK just like their parents. We love serving at a place where kids are able to have a ton of fun just being kids - and where we get to see the Lord work in the lives of children and adults. He is so good to us, and so good to ABK.

E-mail Address: info@campabk.com

Praise & Prayer:

We are excited at the prospect of a normal summer this year - we plan on running one day camp, 7 overnight children/youth camps, and one family camp. We are looking forward to welcoming young people back to ABK! With this in mind, please pray for the following: 

- Pray that we are able to run a "normal" summer with minimal restrictions
- Pray that we adjust to a "new normal" well if that is where we find ourselves in the Summer 
- Pray that we are able to find solid staff that love Jesus to volunteer this summer 
- Pray that God directs us through the Summer Staff application process
- Pray that we see lots of campers this Summer! 
- Pray for God's protection as we run our programs 

Ministry Funding

This year we plan on replacing our Nurse's Cabin with a new, barrier-free nurse's station and some much-needed office space. We plan on starting this project this June and finishing it by the fall. The estimated cost for this project is approximately $100,000. That includes a nurse's station, a nurse's quarters, and an office. We have approximately $25,000 set aside for the nurse's cabin so far, which leaves us with a $75,000 goal to raise by the end of the year.

Small Group Ministry
Get connected and grow together in Christ

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21

Small groups meet once a week for 1 1/2 to 2 hours in homes across the city or online. Groups of 10 meet to study God's Word, pray and grow together in community.

The fall session runs from October to early December and then breaks for Christmas. The winter session starts up mid-January and runs through to early May. If you are interested in hosting a small group in your home, please contact Andrew & Jennifer Sarlo or contact us.

For the latest info on small groups and to sign-up, please click here.

Discussion Questions for Acts 11:19-30, Dynamic Duos:
 
Opening Question: What is something old you would never get rid of? What is something new you’d like to have?
 
1) Read the passage (Acts 11:19-30) again. Do you have any questions or comments? Are there any terms, places, or people you are unfamiliar with? If someone has a good map of Paul’s missionary journeys in the back of their Bible, look at that together to get your bearings.

2) The Christian message is built on an ancient foundation and new frontiers. What are some of the old things we cannot abandon? What are some of the old things you enjoy most? What about new things?

3) The first missionaries in Antioch shared the message of Jesus with the Jews only. Then others boldly proclaimed Jesus is Lord to the Gentiles. Do you think sharing the Gospel in our culture is more like sharing with Jews or Gentiles? What does the Gospel message to each group consist of?

4) Thinking of your small group members, what are some of the differences in gifting and talents? How have you been blessed by the way God made another member of your small group or our church?

5) The Gospel message is Word and deed, we learn about Jesus, and that transforms how we live our lives. How is the Gospel lived out in this passage? How can we express those two hands of the Gospel in our context?

6) Read Galatians 6:9-10. What priority in compassion is reflected in this passage, as well as the actions of the Church in Antioch? Does your Christian life and the life of our Church reflect this priority?

College & Careers, ages 18-25, meets on Wednesdays at 7:00pm at Bethel for Bible Study.
Monthly events also take place!

Contact Abby B. or Abby P. for more information or send us a message on the Contact Page.

@bethelcollegeandcareers

Awana @ Bethel

Bethel Awana Clubs are meeting this year from September 2024 to April 2025!
Click here to download the Awana Brochure 2024-2025.

Awana combines biblical teaching, scripture memorization and tons of fun. Our clubs run from September to April each year.

Awana Clubs 2024-2025 (these have been updated for the current Awana year!)

Cubbies: Age 3 - JK (HoneyComb Handbook) - click here for the Cubbies verse schedule

Sparks: SK - Grade 2 - click here for information about the Sparks Handbooks

Truth & Training: Grades 3 - 5 (Mission: Evidence of Grace Handbook) - click here for the T&T verse schedule

Trek: Grades 6 - 8 (His Love Bible Study) - click here for the Trek verse schedule

Registration (*New this year - register online HERE)

A paper copy can also be used for registration, print and return this form. Or ask for a paper copy from your child's club secretary at Bethel.

Handbooks and Uniforms

These are available to pick up for your child(ren) at the Awana Kickoff Carnival on Tuesday, September 10th from 6:00 to 7:45pm at Bethel.

Cost

$15 for one Handbook (for all clubs)
$15 for one Uniform (for Cubbies, Sparks and T&T)

Payment

E-transfer to office@bethelbiblechapel.com (please include what the payment is for so that we can keep a proper record).
Cash or Cheque (payable to "Bethel Bible Chapel") can be given to the club secretary.

Need other arrangements or have any questions? Please contact Len Peake, Awana Ministry Director, here!

For general information about the Awana Clubs typically offered @ Bethel, click here!

Awana clubs meet on Tuesday evenings at Bethel Bible Chapel, 6:00pm - 7:45pm.

*New children may join our Awana clubs at any time during the Awana year!

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
- 2 Timothy 2:15

Awana is a program designed for kids - Because Kids Matter to God.

The word "Awana" is an acronym that stands for:

Approved
Workers
Are
Not
Ashamed

This comes from 2 Timothy 2:15

Awana Grand Prix

Click here for more information. The Grand Prix is held each year in January/February.

For more information about Awana visit the Awana Canada website.

Awana and the Awana logo are Registered Trademarks of Awana Clubs International. Used by permission.