Bethlehem Missions:  "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." --Matthew 28:19 (NASB)
We are to go and be Jesus to others, whether they are in Gaston County, North Carolina, United States, or the world.  God has commissioned us to fulfill people’s needs whether spiritual, emotional, or physical wherever and however they may present themselves to our church body.

L.O.F.J. is an acrostic that means Love Offering for Jesus.  These offerings will be used to fulfill needs as described in our Missions Statement.  Although every person in our church body can not go and fulfill these needs physically, they can financially support these efforts through LOFJ. 

There are several ways that you can serve. There are opportunities to Serve at Bethlehem, to Serve in the Community, and to Serve Nationally and Globally. Please see the opportunites below.

24/7 Churchwide Prayer

God has given us a wonderful facility, but unfortunately things do break. Our purpose is for our facilities to stay in good repair and shape so God’s work can be done. Everyone can help, skilled or unskilled. We change light bulbs, build walls, or do whatever God sends our way. We meet once a month at 6:30 p.m.
Contact Person:  Steve Davis, 704.810.0773

This ministry is a great opportunity to work “behind the scenes” and is perfect for anyone who is eager to serve. Each Saturday afternoon, a volunteer force of about ten people bring out, unstack, and place chairs in the Family Life Center in preparation for Sunday services. This only takes about one hour! Each volunteer is asked to serve once per quarter for three quarters out of the year for a total of three hours of service. Summer off! You can sign up as an individual or as a group - all are welcome.
Contact Person:  Jon Evans, 704.810.0218

Children’s Choir Ministry provides a graded choir program for all children, four years old through 5th grade on a regular weekly basis. We provide children with valuable spiritual and musical experiences during every weekly session. We train the children musically to be our future musicians and provide them with performance opportunities through a Christmas musical, a spring musical, and a Children’s Day choir.
Contact Persons:  Andrea Farris, 704.865.4486

                                   Candace Nichols, 704.869.8237

Deacons are servant leaders who minister to the physical and spiritual needs of our church body. The primary focus of this ministry is to serve our senior citizens, single parents, and those not involved in small groups. We assist our pastors and are considered to be an extension of the pastor’s ministry, called according to Acts 6:1-7.  We help promote the growth and development of our church by meeting needs, which allows our pastors to do what they are called to do – leading our church to become passionate, fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
Contact Person:  Ben Swann, 704.868.8430

The Drama Team provides teens and adults with the opportunity to use their talent and passion for acting by performing in skits during our weekend services.Contact Person:  Robert Lovelace, 704.922.5786

New Testament Elders have the overall responsibility for the oversight and direction of the church. We are to seek the mind of Christ, who is the True Head of the church, in all matters through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Elders must be able to teach and exhort the church in sound doctrine and refute those who contradict the truth.  Elders are to lead by example and provide instruction for the maintenance of healthy relationships within the church body.
Contact Person:  David Armstrong, 704.825.4583

This ministry serves behind the scene, not to set policy or run ministries, but to achieve God’s will for Bethlehem through finance and to supplement the efforts of our elders, Senior and  Executive Pastor, staff, and Servant Leaders.
Contact Person:  Neil Dowell, 704.824.8593

Not just about parking cars or helping traffic flow out quickly, the Parking Lot Ministry focuses on making a positive first-contact with people as they enter the Bethlehem campus.  For men and women, those involved in this ministry serve about once a month and help promote order and safety in our parking lot areas—all while being intentional to represent Christ as potentially being the first influence on someone as they come to Bethlehem.
Contact Person:  Tim Boggs, 704.263.2423

This ministry offers an opportunity to use music as an encouragement for the believer and a magnet for the seeker. Our goal is to produce musicians who are fully devoted followers of Christ.
The following are requirements:

• By audition and interview only
• Read music/chart
• Spiritual gift assessment

Contact Person:  Marc Holcomb, 704.865.2415

The Preschool & Children’s Ministry strives to reach children for Christ by providing activities and programs that challenge babies through kindergartners to grow spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, physically and socially. This ministry includes all children, preschool through elementary ages.
Contact Persons:  Amy Giles &
                                   Leanne Fontenot, 704.823.1600

God’s Word is like a seed and our goal is to allow that seed to be effective beyond Sunday. By copying sermons on tape and CD we allow people to take copies of the message for themselves or to share with others, all for the purpose of growing in Christ-likeness.
Contact Person:  Julie Caldwell. 704.922.8032

All Bethlehem Student Ministries are currently under construction. Our Student Ministry team labors diligently to provide students and their families with the leadership necessary to lead lives that honor God, so they might influence others to lead lives that honor God. 
Contact Persons:  Julie Gantt & Matt Pennington, 704.823.1600

To provide technical support for all services and productions and assist staff members with AV needs.
Contact Person:  Josh Gaddis, 704.823.1701

This ministry offers an opportunity to serve by seating guests and taking up the offering for our worship services.
Contact Person:  Dean Darby, 704.868.8800

Our goal is to minister to people at Bethlehem (particularly visitors) that need assistance in finding classes, nursery locations, or desire information about Bethlehem and its ministries, programs, etc.
Contact Person:  Donna Vrla, 704.865.2415

Bethlehem seeks to be a place where no one stands alone because everyone has a small group to call their own. Small Groups at Bethlehem are great places to connect and grow. The purpose of each small group is to be a “community with a cause” and to be a place where people

• Grow spiritually
• Grow relationally
• Care for each other
• Explore purpose in life

Contact Person:  John Angell, 704.823.1600

Our hospitality does not end when a guest leaves our campus. Through a process of phone calls, cards and a personal visit with a gift from Bethlehem, we work hard to show that a big church like Bethlehem is small enough to welcome each guest.
Contact Person:  Shelby Harvell:  704.823.1600

Through a faith-based network, Bethlehem joins with other ministries to provide compassionate, loving support of meals, shelter and counseling services to the homeless families of Gaston County, while fostering and promoting growth for a successful transition to independence.
Contact Person:  Jill Laurie, 704.864.2016

Life Share is a network of Small Groups that  provide care, support and recovery opportunities.
Contact Persons:  Debbie Swann, 704.868.8430, First Place
                                    Becky Benson, 704.824.9714, Divorce Care
                                    Doug Robinson, 704.823.1600, Celebrate Recovery

At 10:30 a.m. on the first, third, and fifth Sundays of every month, our ministry provides a worship service for residents at Alexandria Place.
Contact Person:  Lynn Holcomb, 704.853.2451
Forget-me-Not Ministry visits Carillon once each month.

Every Friday morning from 5:30-7:30 a.m., we prepare and serve a full breakfast to the homeless at the Salvation Army Shelter in Gastonia. Teams of four rotate Friday servings…No special “cooking skills required –just a willing heart and a desire to help others is all that is needed.
Contact:  704.823.1600

Special Kare is an inclusive preschool for special needs and typically developing children.  Our program offers challenging learning through structure and play therapy for all preschoolers.  Special Kare is a ministry of Bethlehem Baptist Church and it exists to provide a quality preschool experience for all children. The Special Kare staff provides quality teaching as well as heartfelt love for all children involved.  Christ is the center of our preschool teaching and His guidance provides the direction of our program.
Contact Person:  Michele Stewart, 704.860.3501

The Sports Ministry at Bethlehem offers year-round opportunities for children and adults to participate in activities that are fun and also beneficial in many ways. Relationships are built, health and exercise is promoted and, most of all, sports are used as a tool to introduce individuals and families to Jesus—and invite them to have a relationship with Him in the church body at Bethlehem. All sports programs at Bethlehem are for both the Bethlehem population and the Gaston County community.
Contact Person:  Matt Vanderbilt, 704.865.2415