Bethesda Means Sharing Christ

carpenter’s place

Missions Emphasis in 2010

When you read the paper or listen to the local news each day you are aware of all the needs in our city... 16% unemployment, people losing their homes, drugs, violence.  Are there good things happening in all this?

Yes, there are, and our Missions Team at Bethesda will help us explore many good things that are happening in Rockford and perhaps ways that we can help.  We know all local organizations are feeling financial stress and shortages, but people support and prayer support makes a difference!

We will learn Sunday by Sunday about different aspects of ministries in Rockford: what they are doing, how they are doing, and how we can make a difference in their ministry.  We want this to be an educational program as well as an opportunity to reach out in a hands-on way.  Begin now by praying for Rockford, its needs and opportunities.

We begin the year (January/ February) learning about The Carpenter’s Place.  Look for a sheet of their needs in this “Beacon.”  We have collection bins at the church or you can drop items off directly at 1149 Railroad Avenue.

TOURED THE CARPENTER’S PLACE FACILITY

SERVED BREAKFAST AT CARPENTER’S PLACE

MET WITH SHERI GLOVER

ALLAN’S STORY

Allan Barsema, one of the co-founders of Carpenter’s Place, along with his wife, Cathy, became interested in the life of people who lived on the street when, as a high school student, his photography job took him on a series of field trips to Chicago’s poorer sections.  Allan never thought he would live a life that resembled the ones he observed.  Several years later, however, he found himself in a situation echoed by many of The Carpenter’s Place (CP) guests today.

While in Alaska over 20 years ago, life had taken a turn for the worse.  Allan had distanced himself from his family, grown dependent on alcohol to dull the pain of living, and became an isolationist living in a small abandoned trailer.  At his lowest point, with intentions to carry out a plan determined to end the misery, he drove himself to a remote mountain drop-off.

Arriving at the mountain location, Allan paused to say his last prayer before pressing on the gas pedal and releasing the brake.  He began to ask forgiveness for what his death would mean to his family and daughter.  As he sat there, he began to become strangely aware of the beauty in the mountainous river valley in front of him, and began to ponder the design.  God spoke to Allan at that crucial point.  He thought, “There must be a God... and He must have a better plan for my life than I do right now.”  So Allan placed the car in reverse instead of forward, and eased off the mountain, eventually returning to “the states”.  He returned home with a backpack, some boxes of books, and a poster that he cannot recall where it came from or who gave it to him.  That poster is a view of a mountain with the end of a snow bank and the beginning of a small stream beginning to flow from under it through lush green grass.  The caption reads: “What appears to be the end, may really be a new beginning!”

With his family’s help, he started to rebuild his life and his career... a very long process.  After eight years of recovery, Allan met his current wife, Cathy.  Together they purchased and rehabilitated a run-down building on Railroad Avenue near 7th Street.  Allan couldn’t help noticing the people who were living on the street; while they had shelters and various services available to them, they would just wander the streets during the day.  Twelve years later, seeing many of the same people that entire time, Allan and Cathy decided to try to help.  They provided an open door that would welcome in the people on the street.  This personal ministry to those who were homeless, taking to heart the lesson that “Jesus was a carpenter, a shaper of lives,” was the birth of The Carpenter’s Place.

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