HERE.... - BethesdaBC.com

From the fullness of his grace,
we have all received one
Blessing
after another.
John 1:16
2015 Winter Newsletter
Vision:
People of all abilities belonging to interdependent communities where they
are valued and empowered to share their essential God-given skills and
abilities.
Mission:
Walking alongside families and serving people of all abilities, experiencing
the joys and challenges of life together.
Welcome to Individuals and Families
New to Bethesda
Welcome to Rachel, Ali, Kyle, David, Julia, Megan, Justin, Tyana, Celesteal,
Carly, Cody, Jayden, and Nicholas who are new to Bethesda and receiving
Residential, Community Inclusion, Home Share, Family Support and/ or
Employment Services.
Visit us at:
www.BethesdaBC.com
Dear Friends,
Christmas is upon us once again. It is such a blessed time of year, as we
reflect on the birth of Jesus. It is hard to imagine the excitement and
sense of hope that invaded the hearts of God’s people when the Angel of
the Lord announced, “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to
all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born
today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” (Luke 2: 10-11).
I pray that God stirs anew that same sense of joy and hope in your
hearts as we celebrate all that we have received. I would also like to
challenge us to be intentional about having the indescribable gift of love,
joy, peace and hope overflow from us contagiously into the lives of those
God places in our paths.
In all its purity, we often receive this gift from the individuals we
serve. Without pretense or prejudice, they freely share God’s love and
acceptance with us. We have much to learn from those we serve!
As we experience Christmas and all its meaning this year, I pray that
you will experience God as Jehovah-Shalom.
The Hebrew Meaning of Shalom
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, Unabridged, Electronic Database.
Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc.
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“I thank God upon every
remembrance of you”
- Philippians 1:3
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Completeness
Contentment
Soundness
Wholeness
Health
Welfare
Safety
Prosperity
Peace
Rest
Harmony
Safety
Tranquility
The Absence of Agitation and Discord
God Bless,
Jody Siebert, Executive Director
Employment Services
“My name is Christopher and I am very excited to work at Hallmark on the Lake and Park. I really enjoy helping other
people in many different ways. I am proud to bring my skills of sweeping and housekeeping to Hallmark. I am shy with
people at first but once you get to know me, you’ll find that I am a loyal friend. There are a couple of things I enjoy. One of
these things is coffee. You will often find me drinking some Tim Horton’s from my travel mug! Another thing that I enjoy
is talking about the Canucks hockey team. I love to listen to 106.5 FM. I know almost any song and artist played. I live
with my mom and dad and my brother and his wife. I love going to my church and I love to read the Bible. I am looking
forward to meeting new people in my job at Hallmark and I will continue to give it my best. I am so happy to be a part of
the Hallmark team.”
When Christopher expressed interest in finding a job, Employment Services provided the opportunity for him to
prepare for employment and explore his interests and talents in order to ensure that the job he found was the
right fit for him. It started with a meeting where Christopher was able to set some goals. While searching for a
job, he attended a pre-employment workshop and tried out a couple of jobs to see where his talents and skills
would be best utilized. When asked what he liked to do, he replied with, “I like to clean and do yard work.”
An opportunity came up at Hallmark Retirement Communities, a local retirement community that offers both
assisted and independent housing options. The job entailed helping with the upkeep of the yards and the
buildings at both locations: Hallmark on the Park and Hallmark on the Lake.
Christopher spent some time preparing for his job and his interview at Hallmark. He created a portfolio to take
along for his interview and he came to Bethesda Head Office to meet with one of the Regional Directors for a
practice interview. When asked the question, “Where would you like to be in 5 years?”, he replied that he would
like to be the manager at Bethesda Center and then with a smile on his face, he headed off for his first interview.
He did well and let his soon-to-be boss know that he would “always try his best to do a good job and make the
boss happy.”
He started at Hallmark on the Lake
working one day a week helping with
the upkeep of the yard and buildings.
In a very short time, he was asked to
help out at Hallmark on the Park as
well.
Christopher enjoys his work and enjoys
chatting with residents before and after
his shift. Sometimes people come and
have a coffee with Christopher during
his break. He has a smile for everyone
and not only does he keep the grounds
looking good, he spreads cheer to all
he meets.
Christopher at his practice interview with Regional Director, Francine DeJong.
Employees and Volunteers Recognized for Service
5 Years:
Sophal Ngan, Colleen Daley, Ryan Bauer, Virginia Tompke, Jonathan Michel, Merida Harms, John
Rodriguez, Anne Livera, Alisha Trelenberg, Gina Taganas-Ramos, Ayla Fortin, Tiqvah Byl
10 Years: Marilyn Taylor, Desiree King, Jessica Murray, Amy Friesen, Margo VanVeen, Clara Hofsink, Ma Nona
Linsangan, Kathryn Davis, Pat Gale, Erick Hinton, Barbara Kupchanko, Matthew Rigby, Petronella McMurphy,
Renny Oevering, Alie Veldman, Ken Cooper
15 Years: Jonathan Paterson, Katherine Devitt, Amber Steel, Alain Houle, Susan Lenzmann, Elissa Poh, Susan
Taylor, Jennifer Northcott, Sara-Jane Bennett, Lisa Peters, Laura Byron, Debra-Leigh Young, Dianne Lamb, Sonya
Keulen, Greg Lee
20 Years: Susan West, Wilma Voth, Jeanette Wardrope, Adoracion Capa, Norma Parzyszek, Heidi McLellan,
Christina Sader, Sara Wielgosz, Pamela Wellwood, Colleen Borreson, Angelika Ouellet, Katrina Windley, Colleen
Erzinger, Alida Kruk
25 Years: Mary Aikema
30 Years: Winny & Sid Veenbas
35 Years: Dennis Oenema, Diana Campbell
40 Years: Fannie Scholtens
In Appreciation
We want to express our sincere appreciation to those
who have given generously over the past year to support
Bethesda’s ministry:
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The Church Community of BC for your gifts
The Business Community for supporting Summer Camps
Timothy Christian School for their Thanksgiving Day gift
The Fraser Valley Christian Hockey Association for their
Benefit Hockey Tournament
The participants of the “Roll N Stroll” Walkathon
Friends redirecting Union dues to Bethesda
In Honour of Jayden Beukema
In Memory of Gary Drost
In Memory of Jill Thorburn
In Memory of Johanna Wierda
Roll N Stroll
“It’s not how much we
give, but how much
love is put into giving.”
Mother Teresa
This year’s events in Richmond, Abbotsford and Kelowna
raised $6403.20 towards helping people with disabilities in
Guatemala access supports and mobility aids to help them in
their daily lives.
Vedder Terrace
Construction continues on the site of our newest project in Chilliwack. This multi building facility will provide
individualized housing options for people with disabilities. Andrew, Joanne, Yoshi and Jacqui got a look at their
new townhouses being built during a site visit last month. They are among several individuals that have already
been approved to move into Vedder Terrace when it is completed in the spring.
Chilliwack Prayer Walk
On a sunny November morning, eight staff members from Head
Office came together in Chilliwack for a time of prayer. They started
at the Vedder Terrace construction site. Beginning with a time of
devotion, they reflected on the words in Philippians 2:15-16 “Then
you will shine among them like stars in the sky, as you hold firmly to
the word of life.”
Prayers were raised for the construction deadlines, worker safety,
and project funding. They continued in asking for welcome and
acceptance from the Chilliwack community, as Bethesda seeks to
provide a place of belonging for people with disabilites. They also
prayed for the individuals who will be moving into their new homes.
As they ended their time together, they sensed God’s presence and
assurance that He is in control.
Mt Lehman Legacy Artwork
The Mt Lehman Legacy Artwork, shown below, is a reflection of Bethesda’s Ministry to individuals with disabilities
and their families. The artwork was commissioned by Shea Chang as a legacy to Mt Lehman Home representing
Bethesda’s journey over the last 45 years.
As you move from left to right, the Artwork depicts Bethesda’s first 21-person group home which opened in
1977, moving to renderings of the people who we have served and continue to serve, emphasizing the rich
relationships we have shared along the way. Next the picture moves to a depiction of a current 2-4 person group
home where some of our individuals live today. During the years since Mt Lehman Home opened in 1977, there
has been a philosophical shift in the sector from institutional to community living. This move from institutions,
to smaller group homes and now to more individualized living arrangements and support is represented from
left to right in the painting, depicting the move from past to present.
The dove outlined in the art represents God’s leading and faithfulness to Bethesda’s ministry. Captured within the
dove are representations of the support that Bethesda currently provides: housing, family support, supported
Diana Buurman Award
Tace
The Diana Buurman award was created to acknowledge community members, outside of Bethesda, who exemplify
acceptance of people with disabilities. Award recipients are acknowledged for going above and beyond in the
way they value and creatively support individuals with disabilities. They understand and appreciate Bethesda’s
mission and goals and have the ability to assess the needs, skills and interests of people and inspire them to
develop their potential.
The Diana Buurman Award is a framed copy of the Legacy Artwork and will be presented annually.
This year the award was presented to Pizza Hut Abbotsford. Pizza Hut, where Gary has been employed for over
25 years, has shown community leadership in providing employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
They have been consistently supportive and faithful in their commitment to Gary. Salama Taha attended
Bethesda’s Annual General Meeting to receive the award on behalf of Pizza Hut.
Thank you Pizza Hut for all you have done to help change community perceptions of people with disabilities.
AGM Highlights
102 people attended Bethesda’s 44th Annual General meeting to hear about Bethesda’s continued work serving
individuals with disabilities and their families. The Board president, George Boer, welcomed everyone and
opened in prayer, thanking God for His Faithfulness to Bethesda’s ministry.
Jody Siebert provided an overview of services, focusing on the activities of Bethesda over the last year:
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38 new individuals welcomed to Bethesda over the last year
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32 individuals participated in our summer camp programs
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3 new head office staff hired – Senior Accountant, Regional Director and Home Share Manager
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Review of our new Community Living project in Chilliwack – Vedder Terrace
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New Langley Day Service Site
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Reached 400 employees
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New Strategic Plan, new refreshed logo and a new Bethesda video
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Very successful Accreditation Survey – reaccreditation for another 3 years
Board president, George Boer, thanked Nick Hogewoning , Winnie De Vries & Ian Moes for their service.
Greta Nicholson, Bethesda’s Senior Accountant presented Bethesda’s financial statements for the 2014-15 fiscal
year.
250 ballots, including mail-in ballots, were received from members with the following results:
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Board nominees Leslie Scholtens, Darren Leffers & Eric VanderGriendt were elected for 3-year terms
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Bethesda’s Audited Financial Statements for April 1, 2014 – March 31, 2015 were approved
Jody Siebert closed the meeting in prayer thanking God for the many blessings and opportunities He has given
Bethesda.
Summer Programs
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Collaborative artwork created by the
participants at Camp Bethesda 2015
32 families supported
14 children participated in summer day camps
19 adult campers at Camp Bethesda
14 staff and volunteers
Camp Bethesda is a one week camp for adults with disabilities that took place at Stillwood Camp and Conference
Center on a sunny week in August. Campers arrived eager to see their friends from years past and meet the
three new campers joining us for the first time. This year’s theme was “keepers of the light” and God’s light
shined across all areas of camp, from singing “One Little Candle” as a group to making lanterns to light the way.
The campers had a wonderful time enjoying a wide variety of activities.
When Dann was asked what he wanted for his birthday this year,
he replied that he wanted a really big computer. His reasoning
silenced the room and brought tears to the eyes of all those that
were listening. “I want to be someone important,” he said.
It was the beginning of a new adventure when Dann moved into
Bethesda’s Penticton Home in February 1999. He quickly made
friends with his housemates and staff, winning them over with his
big smile and keen sense of humour. Dann is always in the mood
for a party, especially if it includes good food and time with the
important people in his life.
Dann loves to stay busy and is very enthusiastic about fundraising.
He has developed quite a resume of annual fundraising events
that he takes part in. Each year he participates in Bethesda’s Roll
N Stroll fundraiser for Guatemala. He also volunteers at The Salvation Army Christmas Kettles, the MS Walk,
Penticton Home’s fundraising lunch for Guatemala, and hands out bottled water to participants at the Annual
Penticton Triathlon.
Dann is very knowledgeable about anything Western. He has attended rodeos in the Okanagan Valley and
in Washington state. He loves horses and enjoys reminiscing with family about their experiences when they
lived in the country when he was a child. These family visits are very important to Dann and they always put
a huge smile on this face.
Dann aspires to be a businessman. He would like to be the Director of Operations for Penticton Home and
have his own office. Dann has had input into creating his job description to make this dream a reality. He
loves to organize, so he will participate in planning daily activities and organizing special events. Dann will also
continue with his current duties of shredding, filing, sending and receiving emails.
Dann has designed and printed his own business cards and enjoys exchanging them with others. If you have a
business card you would like to exchange with Dann,
he would be very pleased to add your card to his
collection. Please mail your business card to:
Dann at Penticton Home
c/o Bethesda Christian Association
105-2975 Gladwin Rd
Abbotsford, BC
V2T 5T4
BETHESDA CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
Financial Policy
Spending of funds is confined to Board approved services
and purchases. Each gift designated toward an approved
service will be used as designated with the understanding
that when any given need has been met, designated gifts
will be used where most needed. Gifts are acknowledged
and receipted with a tax deductible receipt. Bethesda is
a charter member of the Canadian Council of Christian
Charities (CCCC).
George Boer, President
Jody Siebert, Executive Director
105-2975 Gladwin Rd, Abbotsford BC V2T 5T4
(604) 850-6604 Fax: (604) 850-7242
Email: [email protected]
If you wish to support Bethesda’s ministry, please visit CanadaHelps.org to donate online,
or mail your donation to the above address.