This community bank just for women started in the small Andina village of San Cristóbal in 2007 with $6000 in seed capital from Randolph and Bethany UCC donors.  An hour bus ride from Cuenca, the beautiful 15 century city in the Andes, San Cristóbal is a village of indigenous and mestizos; people who have lived there for centuries. With the $6000 in seed money, the women took complete ownership of the project:  they created the bank, making all the decisions about who could borrow, what they could borrow for, and then administering the bank completely on their own! In 2009, they now have more than $10,000 in circulation and more women wanting loans than they have money to lend. And the best part - no defaults. They are using the money mostly for production of chickens and guinea pigs (cuy) for sale, and expanding their artisan work. They also use the loan fund for emergency loans to members.

 

When the project founder, Carolyn Tonelli, returned in January, 2009, to see how they were doing, she praised them for flourishing in the face of global bank failures. This is a bank of solidarity and they support each other in times of distress, carrying the loans until the women get back on their feet. The women themselves decided to address the need for additional lending capital by expanding the bank to include a savings program. Carolyn used a part of the small amount she raised before her return to help fund the training.    

 

The community bank continues to thrive and grow. Carolyn plans to return every winter to give them moral support and to receive her dose of unconditional love and friendship.   There is also interest in other surrounding villages where women want to start branches.   If she is able to fund raise to accomplish this, the community bank may be branching out!

 

If you are interested in learning more and/or contributing please email Carolyn Tonelli. 

 

As Christians, we are surrounded by issues everywhere we turn. What is the Christian response to truly advocating for peace, responding politically to hunger or homelessness? What should we be doing about health care, unemployment, immigration? Is global warming a Christian issue? Voter registration? Ecumenism?

 

Each member has an assigned area to study and present. Together, the committee tries to find ways to raise consciousness about each issue.  The committee’s work is closely aligned with the charge given to the mission committee, but this group presents options for agendas and actions which may not necessarily be embraced by the entire congregation.

 

If studying current social and political issues, and trying to help guide fellow Christians to a clear understanding of what might constitute a meaningful response interests you, contact Betty Edson. 

 

Borderlinks is an organization that takes groups of people interested in immigration issues to visit our border with Mexico and view firsthand the variety of aspects related to this complex issue.  In 2007, Bethany sent a group of people that have shared their experiences with the church membership, and are discussing what more to do. If this project stirs your curiosity or inspires you to action, contact Betty Edson. 

 

This shelter for victims of domestic abuse is located in Cuenca, Ecuador, and is the only shelter in the city. Women come there to live with their children for as long as they need to get back on their feet. Besides food and shelter, the Casa provides social, legal, educational, and psychological services. The laundry (Mujers con éxito - which means Successful Women) also started in 2007 with the help of Carolyn Tonelli and seed money from Randolph folks. The laundry is owned and run by the residents of the Casa, and is located beside the Casa. It provides training on how to start and run a small business, work cooperatively, and gives the women both work experience and a small amount of money. It was considered heaven-sent by the Casa staff when Carolyn arrived in 2007 with money to start a vocational training program, which they had no resources to start at that time. The laundry, too, is flourishing and self sufficient, so much so that the staff was able to acquire a substantial grant from Germany to expand the training program to add commercial food preparation. The women are all excited and engaged and feeling like they have real opportunities for economic independence for the first time in their lives.

 

If you are interested in learning more and/or contributing please email Carolyn Tonelli.

 

Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity

 

This project was started by Cam and Kinari Webb, recipients of the Bethany 2009 Tikkun Olam (Healing of the World) Award. They are working to integrate essential medical care with environmental protection strategies for endangered rainforests in Borneo.  Health in Harmony is in the process of purchasing an ambulance to transport patients from outlying villages to the clinic for

 

There is early talk about Bethany members going to Borneo, and an ongoing need to educate members about this project and encourage financial support. Contact: Brent and Regina Beidler. 

          

Bethany UCC agreed to give financial and emotional support to three girls from the Valle region of Honduras. We have written to them on a regular basis and given financial support. In the spring of 2008, three members of our church were able to go to Honduras and visit two of the girls.

 

The education of young women in Latin American countries is particularly crucial. We are pleased that all three girls have now graduated high school. We are continuing to support one of the girls as she starts university, and we are working on supporting mini-libraries in elementary schools. If you are interested in being involved with this work, please contact Carol Rogers.  

 

These volunteers organize receptions at funeral services for church members, meals for families with new babies or family members who are ill. It’s a fundamental ministry, and volunteers are always needed, if interested contact Wendy Ross. 

 

Beidler Family Farm in Randolph Center, VT, hosts a potato patch on their farm to benefit the Randolph Area Food Shelf (RAFS). Volunteers are needed for both the spring planting and the fall harvest. To volunteer, contact Brent or Regina Beidler. 

 

Begun in the 1970’s by Bethany with other area churches, RAFS is considered a model for food shelf programs around the state. The food shelf, which is currently housed in Bethany House next to the church, is looking to expand into a larger space.

Volunteers are needed to staff the food shelf operations from 3-5 pm on weekdays, to stock shelves, and to help unload the supply truck when it arrives. There is also a critical need for money, and the food shelf welcomes direct contributions or gifts collected from special fundraising projects. If you can help, please contact RAFS. Contributions may be mailed to RAFS, PO Box 202, Randolph, VT 05060. For more information, visit the RAFS website.

 

Since 1990, area churches have run the Randolph Ecumenical Emergency Committee on Housing to provide emergency funds for housing needs (heat, electricity and rent) to help prevent people from becoming homeless. It provides services to residents of Braintree, Brookfield, and Randolph.

 

Since the committee deals with fiscal payments, they need ongoing monetary support. Bethany, both as a corporate body and through its individual members, is key to that support.  For assistance, contact 802-728-9506.  

 

Bethany has an historic connection to this small church just up the road. We have pledged to be a sister church, holding them up in prayer and connecting with them in our ministry. Carol Hodgdon leads this program, attending dinners at the church on the third Tuesday of every month. She would love to have people join her. If interested contact Carol Hodgdon at 802-728-9102. 

Inspired by the work of Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, who has led the building of scores of schools for children in Pakistan and Afghanistan since 1996, Lee Khan is providing the leadership for Bethany Church to provide the finances to build a school for girls in the tribal area of Northern Pakistan. She has established B-Bay (Bethany’s version of E-Bay!) as one of the funding mechanisms for this project.

 

Lee invites your prayers, and would probably also welcome personal words of encouragement or offers of help! If interested in learning more, please email Lee. 

 

Bethany has an open-door policy when it comes to youth, and offers them not only traditional Sunday school opportunities, but a variety of after-school and weekend programs. 

Bethany offers a full range of classes each Sunday morning during worship hours. Sunday school teachers are always needed, and are offered a rich curriculum and support from our youth pastor, Robin Junker.

Youth mentors are needed to meet with Jr. and Sr. High Youth Groups  and participate in various outreach projects, adult/teen discussions about life and god, and field trips. Most important, it’s about having fun with teens! If you would like to be involved with the next generation of incredible human beings, please contact Associate Pastor Robin Junker. 

Zienzele is an African word which means “to be self-reliant”. The Zienzele Foundation works with AIDS orphans in Zimbabwe. Projects include basket making, sewing, raising goats, creating vegetable gardens, and making peanut butter and soap. Founder Nancy Clark, recipient of the Bethany’s 2008 Tikkun Olam (healing of the world) Award, travels to Zimbabwe annually and has enrolled over 1000 orphans since its inception in 1999. Volunteers can adopt a family, help sell baskets, or host a Zienzele night for friends as an educational outreach. If interested, contact Nancy Nicholas.