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our purpose

Our Purpose

Loving God

This is the most important thing for us. It is because of His great love that we are motivated to respond by loving Him back, with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

Deut. 6:4-9, Matthew 22: 37-40

 

Loving People

God’s love for people is clearly revealed through the sacrificial life of Jesus Christ. We seek to love people as Christ first loved us.

Matthew 22:37-40, John 3:16

 

Making Disciples

As we are being challenged and changed by the message of Jesus, we are lovingly encouraging others to follow Jesus and join His mission.

Matthew 28:19-20

​A DISCIPLE is a follower of Jesus who is centring his/her life on loving God and loving others.

Our DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY is the Intentional Disciplines we practice as we study, learn, pray and do. It’s our Intentional Transformation… It’s how we grow and strengthen our belief in Christ, and follow him more nearly as we act out our love for God and love for others.

 

Our DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY encourages all...

● To connect and grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ

● To be transformed by studying the Bible and the principles of the Christian faith

● To connect with other believers for support and accountability

● To be in service to others for the purpose of the mission and vision

values

Our Values

Worship

We long to make Jesus Christ our greatest hope and boast, our deepest longing and delight, and our most passionate song and message.

 

Gospel

We never outgrow our need for the gospel because it not only saves us, but also transforms us through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Service

As Christians, we are empowered to love others as Christ has first loved us using our God given gifts.

 

Community

We are a church family that meets in various small and large settings to care for one another as we encourage each other forward in our shared mission.

 

Discipleship

We commit to be and to develop faithful followers of Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit to Love God, Love People & Make Disciples.

history

Our History

Way back when...

In the Bible, Bethany was a village where Jesus’ closest friends lived. That pretty much sums up what we want to be – friends and followers of Jesus Christ working in the heart of the community around Houghton le Spring.

Bethany Church is a meeting place for people who love and desire to serve the living God, and for those who are seeking to find out about the Christian faith.

The church first met in Houghton in 1903. Over the years our Sunday morning meeting venue has moved from a room above a chemist shop in Newbottle Street to a small hall in Union Street. Then to a bigger hall in Mautland Street until they moved into a purpose built church building in Neasham Place in the 1960’s. The church continued to grow through the 80’s and 90’s with Sunday services moving to Kepier School. In 1997 we opened our current building on the site of the former Houghton Grammar school. Since then we have had the privilege of playing a significant role in the formation of new church families in Sunderland, Bethany City Church opened in 2004.

Now gathering around 200 people at our Sunday service, our congregation and range of activities have grown, but our commitment to the life-giving message of Jesus has not changed.

team

Meet the Team

Here at Bethany Church  it would be impossible to do what we do without a family of volunteers.
Alongside these, we have a leadership team of Elders, who with our Pastor,
carry the responsibility for the doctrine, pastoring, & direction of the church.

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Jason Mayhall

Pastor

I was born in  Virginia and relocated to Louisiana where I lived the formative years of my life. When I was eight years old, I recognized my sinfulness and need for forgiveness and trusted Christ in response to the Gospel message. I remember being so overwhelmed by what I had done, that I cried in the pew and instantly told my brother beside me what happened.

 

My early years in the faith could be described as external conformity with internal disinterest. My Christian walk consisted of rather superficial and sporadic obedience to maintain a status quo and stay in my mom’s good graces. It was not until my University years that I began to mature into a more committed follower of Christ. Through the ministry of my local church, I gained a deeper understanding of God’s mercy and grace which revitalized my walk with Christ.  It was this personal spiritual formation that God used to confirm His calling to a lifetime involvement in the local church. I went theological school at Dallas Theological Seminary and graduated with a Master of Theology.

 

I am married to my best friend, Candice, and we have 4 wonderful children who keep us laughing (and praying!):  Jonah, Camden, Cohen and Julep. I enjoy playing almost any sport, especially basketball. A favorite pursuit of mine is reading books that stimulate my thinking, strengthen my teaching, and deepen my love for God. We love to travel as a family to experience cultures different from our own (and are thrilled to be living in North East England!). Always one for a good conversation, I love building relationships with family and friends over a good meal or a nice warm cuppa.

 

Elders
Our Elders at Bethany Church
Contact details:
elders@bethanychristiancentre.co.uk

Peter Gill

Norman Holmes

David Keith

Richard Rust

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