Bethel has had a long history of supporting missions. As an American Baptist Church, we promote four different national mission offerings each year—America for Christ, One Great Hour of Sharing, World Mission and Retired Ministries & Missionaries. We set goals and always meet them. We also give to the local ABC Great Rivers Region, of which we are a part, and local missions as the need arises. 

In addition to financially supporting the missions of American Baptists, we have had groups who have taken mission trips to Cuba, Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, and numerous US locations. We also support an American Baptist global consultant for health care, Kristy Engel, who recently spent time in Ukraine delivering much needed medical supplies.

More locally, we choose a different community organization about every quarter to support with needed supplies, monetary donations, and volunteer help. In the last year we focused on In2Action, which helps men recently released from prison by providing halfway houses and life training; City of Refuge which helps refugees with housing and other ways to get settled into life in Columbia; and True North, which is a women’s shelter. We also participate in events like Columbia’s PrideFest and Columbia’s Earth Day celebration.

There are many ways to become involved in missions and community outreach with Bethel. We love to support whatever our church community members want to be involved in.

Bethel Church participates each year in “Pride Fest.” Notice our pastor’s t-shirt: “This Pastor Loves You”