August 2026 Issue 2

For many of us, the Bible sits on a shelf or a nightstand, respected but largely untouched. We believe it matters, but we're not quite sure what to do with it beyond the occasional reading plan we abandon by February. Yet Scripture is not passive. Jesus treated it as the foundation of everything He taught, and the weapon He reached for to combat distortions with truth. The early church devoted themselves to it. The psalmist called it sweeter than honey. Something has been lost between their experience of God's Word and ours. This series, PRACTICE MAKES PROGRESS, is an invitation to recover it. 

This fall, we will be relaunching our website, our giving platform, and releasing our new Bethany Church App! Our website will become the front-door for those who are checking out Bethany for the first time, and the app was designed for our Bethany Church family to connect and grow with ease!

Each week until our launch on September 13th, we will reveal a new element of the app to you, so you can see how it was designed to be your tool to stay connected to Bethany all week long! This video will give you a sneak peak at what's to come.

For more information, and to stay up to date on the latest features of our app, click here.

This year's Christmas show is going to be a musical theater style show! The production will take us on a journey of dance, song, acting and many more awe-inspiring talents. In this show, everyone has a place. Whether you dance as a hobby or have a natural gift for singing, everyone who joins the audition process will have a place in this show. We want to celebrate the unique gifts that God has given each of us through this show and convey a message of hope to the community.

This summer, Bethany Church turns 300 years old - not 300 years in this building, but 300 years as a people carrying the same mission. To mark that anniversary, we want to kick off a Listening Tour to hear from you what you believe has kept this church going, where you sense God is leading us next, and what you hope Bethany will be for the generations that follow. This summer, we want to visit with you - in your homes, across all campuses - for an evening of conversation about Bethany's future.

Our Listening Tours begin soon, and here's how to be part of it. Members of our congregation have offered up their homes to host meetings; you can sign up to join us at a meeting nearby for this special summer gathering so you don't miss it!

What we build now, we build for those who come after us. Let's dream about it.

Our next EncounterGod Weekend is coming up! This weekend is an encounter with the power of the Gospel. Come ready to lay it all down at the Cross, be set free by the Holy Spirit, and step into your true identity as a child of the Most High.

Click here to register, this is a weekend you don't want to miss!

Faith Driven Entrepreneur is a gathering of kingdom minded entrepreneurs whose tribe to align their business with their faith. Coming together to encourage and sharpen one another, these leaders build meaningful relationships and discover new opportunities for growth.

This isn't your typical conference - it's 2 hours with battle-tested entrepreneurs who've faced the risk, rejection, and weight you're carrying right now. No fluff, no empty motivation - just founders who've build businesses that honor God without losing their edge, thriving in the grind.

You're not alone in wondering if you're doing business differently; thousands of entrepreneurs know their faith is their competitive edge, and you belong here. Stop feeling isolated - the support you need is right in front of you.

Abortion can leave a quiet weight of grief, shame, or unanswered questions - even years later. We're exploring bringing back Forgiven and Set Free, a confidential, compassionate study for women ready to bring that experience into the light of God's healing and grace. In a safe, non-judgmental space, you'll process your story and discover the freedom of being fully forgiven. If this is something you'd be interested in, send us an email. 

Serving is a great way to get connected with others, make a difference, and make Bethany feel like home. There are countless ways to serve, and we would love to serve alongside you! Click here to see our teams, sign up to serve, or schedule a tour of our serving opportunities!

Seacoast Family Promise is a local missions program supported by Bethany Church, and many other seacoast churches, hosted at the Joshua House near the Barn on our Greenland Campus. They are looking for volunteers to serve alongside their team in helping families experiencing temporary homelessness. Ways to help include: cooking a meal item (main dish, salad, or dessert) or donating personal needs or household supplies. If you're interested in helping, email impact@bethanychurch.com.

Do you have a heart for kids and would love to help them grow in their faith? Invest in the next generation of disciples by serving on Sunday morning with our Kids Ministry!

Email tklouse@bethanychurch.com to get additional information about serving!

There's a few weeks left if you haven't had a chance to fill out your Summer Bingo Card! We have been spending the summer growing through our Bingo Card activities, and you can still grab one at the Kid's registration desk if you haven't already! Remember to bring in your completed Bingo card for an ice cream coupon!

We're so excited for our fall kick off and Move Up Day on Sunday, September 13th! We look forward to welcoming everyone back and growing in faith and community!

Students are invited to a Youth-specific EncounterGod Weekend at our Greenland Campus! You'll hear honest stories from ordinary people who've experienced real freedom through Jesus. No hype-just real people sharing how God met them and changed their lives. The heart of the weekend is to bring the things that weigh us down to Jesus at the Cross, and to let the Holy Spirit bring freedom, healing, and a deeper sense of who you really are as a son or daughter of God.

Please join us in prayer this week for:
 
ChildVoice is an organization that, for 20 years, has been bringing hope and healing to war-affected children and youth in various parts of the world, including Ukraine and Uganda - two countries Bethany is already committed to through the work of our other missionaries.

Lord, we here at Bethany, celebrate with you ChildVoice and their 20 years of faithful service to You. Thank You for their willingness to go to war torn places like Ukraine and Uganda. We ask You to raise up more workers and more resources that will enable them to help more people. Help them to lead those people to You, where they will find healing, hope and a secure and eternal peace.

For more information about ChildVoice and ways to get involved, click here.

At Bethany, we believe that work is a gift from God. We are always looking for hard-working, passionate individuals to join our growing team! Current open positions are:

-Communications Coordinator (Part-Time)

If you're new here at Bethany, are looking to get involved, or just have some questions, come to DISCOVER BETHANY! Learn more about the heart and mission of Bethany Church, meet others in the community, ask questions and explore your Next Steps in faith!

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