LFC, Bethesda partnership aims to upgrade, maintain 170-plus sites

Laborers For Christ (LFC) — a program of Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) — and Bethesda Lutheran Communities have embarked on an extensive partnership over the next three years to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at Bethesda program sites while advancing the Gospel.

Members of the Laborers For Christ team who worked on a pilot project to renovate Bethesda Lutheran Communities’ property in Cypress, Texas, in 2015 are, from left, Project Manager Rich and Linda Husfeld, Gary and Cincy Trombley, Rob and Sue Meyer and Don and Cathy Mickelson. (Rich Husfeld)

For that partnership, Laborers For Christ members will help Bethesda update and maintain more than 170 of its 300 program sites across the United States. The joint project got underway Jan. 11 in Texas, with LFC updating homes where people supported by Bethesda live.

In a news release announcing the new LFC/Bethesda venture, LCEF Senior Vice-President of Ministry Support Max Biesenthal says it “has the potential to benefit the Kingdom beyond measure.” Observing that “Laborers For Christ and Bethesda are two iconic Lutheran service organizations,” Biesenthal continues that “it is a perfect fit for us to work together and share Christ’s love.

“As the Laborers do the work,” the news release notes, “local Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod congregations will be engaged and offered volunteer opportunities. Many people Bethesda supports are involved with LCMS congregations, where they are active members in worship, fellowship and volunteer activities.”

“This partnership connects two Lutheran organizations committed to helping others by empowering people with hearts of faith and hands of service,” said Jim Pressnell, Bethesda’s vice-president of Religious Life. “Because faith is alive in everything Bethesda and Laborers For Christ do, our partnership celebrates our calling to serve alongside each other.”

The news release describes Bethesda Lutheran Communities as “a Lutheran organization that provides homes and other services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities so they can live the lives they want.”

It notes that “Laborers For Christ helps put ministry in motion by serving as the hands and hearts to accomplish God’s plan for LCMS congregations, schools, camps and service organizations such as Bethesda. [Its] members assist with remodeling projects, building brand-new facilities and updating physical structures for optimal efficiency and ministry impact at a cost savings.”

Since its founding in 1980, Laborers For Christ has helped complete more than 870 such projects.

For more information about the new partnership and how to support Laborers For Christ, visit teambethesda.org/lcef.

Posted Jan. 15, 2016