Bethlehem Foundation

Once In a Lifetime Experience at ELCA Youth Gathering

Bethany Lutheran Church in Williams, MN, near Lake of the Woods, is transforming lives despite challenges. It serves a community with a rising poverty rate but is making a difference through outreach and faith programs. In the last three years, Bethany has launched new Family Faith Nights, Youth Group, Confirmation, and Sunday School programs.

The Bethlehem Foundation is excited to sponsor 10 young people to attend the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. This gathering is a powerful experience for faith formation and to realize the nationwide Lutheran community. It promises to be a “Becoming Together” moment for all of them, many of whom haven’t been farther than 200 miles from home.

Supporting Our Scouts

It’s great to see kids experiencing God’s creation outside, and the Bethlehem Foundation did its small part to help early this year by funding new camp stoves for BSA Scout Troop 46, which meets at Bethlehem’s Minneapolis campus.

The old stoves were dysfunctional and environmentally unfriendly with non-recyclable and expensive fuel containers. Thanks to the $1,000 foundation grant, the troop has three new 3-burner stoves. They’re working great already and they use refillable full-size propane tanks. They wish to share that the grant helps them live three parts of the Scout Law: Helpful, Kind, and Reverent!

YAGM Update from Senegal

Late last year, the Bethlehem Foundation provided a grant to Carl Norquist to support his ministry with the ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission. He’s currently in Yeumbeul, Senegal, and shared a newsletter with his supporters in December. Here is a short excerpt:

I work in communications for Services Luthériens pour le Développement au Sénégal, a nonprofit which operates in Yeumbeul and Linguere. SLDS runs schools, a health clinic, a farm, and offers vocational and social outreach workshops in the community. My role with SLDS involves managing social media and taking pictures of their events.

On December 7, I was asked to attend a training workshop on violence against women and girls. The women brainstormed ways to talk about violence against women and girls and explored tools to identify and advocate for potential victims. They did this in small groups and roleplayed scenarios.

To be present is what YAGM calls us to do. I felt that when I accompanied the women to lunch and laughed with them afterward. My voice is not the one that matters, but I can help to lift the voices that do.

A New Piano for the Choir Room

In late January, Bethlehem was approached by Gill Brother’s Funeral Chapels.  They were looking for a home for the grand piano in their New Hope Chapel.  Owner, Dan McGraw, offered the piano to Bethlehem as a gift.  All that was required of us was to pay to move it.

Director of Music, Mark Paisar was quick to go to New Hope and confirm that the piano was in excellent condition.  The Foundation Board was also able to act quickly, providing an immediate grant to cover the cost of moving the instrument and addressing any other transition costs.  It all fell into place.  Within two days, the piano found a new home in the choir room of our Minneapolis campus.

We are so grateful to Dan McGraw and Gill Brothers for the incredibly generous gift.  We are also blessed as a Foundation to have the resources to so quickly facilitate this amazing opportunity.

Dinner Church Is Back and Bigger!

Last winter, the Minneapolis campus of Bethlehem piloted something called “Dinner Church.” It brought people together during the season of light for fellowship during dark days. Cooking duties rotated for each meal and the dinner was capped at about 25 people, held in Langemo Lounge. Guided by Pastor Heather Roth Johnson’s leadership, registration was filled every time!

Supported by a new grant from the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Foundation, Dinner Church is coming back for Epiphany in 2024.
One of the goals of the church for 2024 is to foster connections with each other, particularly intergenerationally. Dinner Church seems to do this so well – bringing together singles, couples, and whole families of all ages for fellowship.

TRUST Inc. Launches ‘Lunch & Learn’ Series

A $7,500 grant from the Bethlehem Foundation will help TRUST Inc. lauch a new monthly “Lunch and Learn” workshop series to help build community for our aging adults and people with disabilities.

The new program will be held at Bethlehem’s Minneapolis location and will promote learning and educational enhancement while embracing the art of community through education and conversation around a variety of timely topics. These could include technology training, health and wellness issues, and food resourcing, among. A meal will also be served.

Bethlehem was a founding member congregation of TRUST dating back to 1970 and there is a long tradition of Bethlehem members serving on the board, including Cindy Tinter and current Foundation Treasurer Steve Tjeltveit. Click the button below to learn more about TRUST, Inc.

Planned Giving

Learn about how estate planning tools can financially support not only your loved ones but also the Bethlehem Foundation.

Contact [email protected] for more information.

Stock Gifts

There are two ways to make a donation of stock or securities: through an electronic transfer authorization or physical delivery. To ensure that we can acknowledge your gift for income tax purposes, please notify the Stewardship Office in advance of the transmittal. Click here for a Stock Transfer Form.