About our building
Bethesda Christian Church is located at 40601 Bethesda-Belmont Rd in Bethesda, Ohio. Bethesda is easily accessible from Interstate 70 by exit 204 through Barnesville or exit 208 Belmont/Bethesda/Morristown/Flushing. Our building is a "Lighthouse on the Hill," and is visible from St. Rt. 147 on the eastern side of Bethesda. Our building is a single story structure with plentiful handicapped and other parking. Air conditioning and geothermal heating keep our building comfortable year round. Along with a beautiful auditorium, classrooms and the minister's office, we have a wonderful library with a large selection of books, videos, and audio tapes for all ages. We have a large fellowship hall and a foyer where members and visitors are greeted and fellowship together. Weekly bulletins and monthly newsletters as well as other informational materials are available. Dedicated on April 17, 2011, our current building has been utilized in many different ways in the Lord's service. From Sunday and Wednesday worship services to children and teen programming to Vacation Bible School to Community Days to small group ministries it has been the goal of the leadership and the congregation to fully use the building for Kingdom work.
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Our church library
We have hundreds of titles of books, videos, CDs and DVD's on a multitude of topics! There's plenty for the children, for men & woman, boys and girls. There are adventures, Christian fiction, basic Bible stories, topical books (family, finances, spiritual growth). We appreciate Ruth Ridgeway for her many years of service establishing and maintaining each item. Our Samaritan Missionary Ladies are continuing in this work and have put much time, money & LOVE into this wonderful resource and ministry!
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Samaritan Missionary Ladies
Our ladies meet on the first Tuesday night of each month at 6:00p.m. for a time of devotion, fellowship, & missions projects. They are a crucial part of our missions support in our congregation. These ladies 1) pack Shoeboxes for Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child every October/November, 2) provide bereavement dinners for funerals within our church family, 3) oversee our church library & Cradle Roll, 4) provide special gifts for our shut-ins at Christmas, 5) co-ordinate the collection & disbursement of our annual Easter 30 Pieces of Silver missions offering, 6) help with specific benevolent needs, 7) support several missionaries on their own above and beyond those that we support as a congregation.
We appreciate these faithful ladies & encourage other women of the church to join with them!
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Small Groups
BCC offers a variety of opportunities for meeting together outside of Sunday morning worship. * Sunday evening Bible study and prayer service at 6:00
* Wednesday evening Bible study and prayer service at 7:00 * Two small groups for adults allow for deeper study of God's Word and fellowship. We hope that these and new groups will grow and strengthen for the upbuilding of each person involved and the body at BCC.
1st and 3rd Sundays at 6:00 pm- This group meets at the home of Rodney and Laurie Lucas. 2nd and 4th Mondays at 6:00 pm- This group meets in the fellowship hall at BCC. * JULIETs- Just Us Ladies Into Eating Together- 2nd Wednesday of the month at noon at Schlepp's * ROMEOs- Retired Old Men Eating Out- 2nd Thursday of the month at 9:00 at Schlepps * BCC Crafters- every other Thursday at 3:00 in the fellowship hall * Summer softball- BCC participates in a softball league with other local churches. Players and sideline cheerleaders are welcome!
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Kids and Teens
BCC strives to provide quality programming for our kids and teens. Sunday School for ages 3- high school - Preschool
- Kindergarten- 1st grade
- 2-3rd grades
- 4th grade and up
- 2 adult classes
Junior Church - For kids through 5th grade during sermon time
- Beth shares the love of Jesus through prayer time, lessons, videos and crafts. There's usually a yummy snack as well.
Teen youth group - Meets Sunday evenings at 6:00
- Our Youth Director Alison Loase uses a variety of Bible study materials and activities to engage kids in middle and high school
Vacation Bible School - VBS always includes lessons, music, crafts, food and lots of fun with a great theme chosen by our team.
- We have classes for kids age 3 through 6th grade.
- We use VBS as an outreach into our community
Elkhorn Valley Christian Service Camp - We have kids and adults alike who participate in programming at Elkhorn. Summer youth programs include single day camps for young kids, full week camps on mainside, at wilderness, and expedition offsite. Week-end retreats in late winter and spring build excitement for summer at Elkhorn.
- Elkhorn Valley Christian Service Camp
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BCC Crafting Group
The BCC Crafters meet every other Wednesday at 3:00 in the fellowship hall. Each person brings their own talents and ideas to the group their projects. The Crafters have been sharing God's love with residents at local nursing homes through handmade cards and decorations. A willingness of heart and love for God's people are more important than talent and ability!
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Nursing/Retirement Home Services
We hold services at 3:00 on the 1st Sunday of the month at the Walton Home in Barnesville. We've also had the same opportunity at Emerald Pointe and Astoria Place on occasion. These 45 minute services include singing, sharing in the Lord's Supper, and a message from Scripture. It is a joy to bring a special time of spiritual celebration to the lives of those residents! You can join with us! We must not forget or neglect these dear souls! Tim holds a Bible study at the Walton Home at 10:30 on Wednesdays. The group is studying through the New Testament.
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LifeWise Academy for Union Local
What is LifeWise? The 1952 U.S. Supreme Court decision Zorach v. Clauson determined that teaching the Bible during the public school day was constitutional and therefore legal in all 50 states under three conditions: 1) the program must be held off site of school premises, 2) no government funds can be used, 3) parental permission is required for child’s participation. In addition, students can't be excused from core classes to attend LifeWise. LifeWise is anchored in Scripture, focused on excellence, and community driven. We are blessed to have a supportive administration and teaching staff in the Union Local School District who go the extra mile to make sure our students are able to attend. Our minister is a member of the board and a teacher for LifeWise Union Local OH, and several members of our congregation are teachers and volunteers.
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Fellowship of Christian Students
Fellowship of Christian Students, or FCS, was originally known as Fellowship of Christian Athletes, is a time for students to voluntarily meet during their lunch to ask questions and be a witness to their peers. Local ministers meet with the students at Union Local Middle and High Schools on a designated day once a week. Our minister has been very involved with the group since its inception.
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Belmont County Right to Life
www.belmontcountyrighttolife.org
The Belmont County Right to Life group meets monthly at BCC on the 2nd Thursday from 7-8:30pm at Eat N Park in St. Clairsville. We discuss the current advances for LIFE in the county, the state, the nation & globally. We believe that LIFE begins at conception and should end at natural death. The Sanctity of Human life demands dignity & respect for the pre-born as well as the aged and infirmed. We endorse 4 crisis pregnancy ministries in the area: Gabriel Project in Barnesville, Miracle of Life Support Group in St Clairsville, Wellspring in Cadiz and AIM in Steubenville.
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MidOhio Food Collective
A large truck with a variety of produce and other grocery items comes to BCC from the MidOhio Food Collective the 1st & 3rd Thursdays each month for distribution. The parking lot opens at 9:00. Folks from the area are able to get a lot of good, healthy & fresh food. There is a simple registration process requiring some brief background information, but there is no income criteria. We appreciate all of our volunteers who help in this community ministry!
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