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Vision 2020

 
 

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship…. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ, we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:1, 4-18)

I. EVANGELISM

1. According to God`s commandment in the Bible, we will use any opportunity to give priority to organizing special evangelism services. Based on our experience from the previous years, we will organize two special evangelistic events, when we will focus on:

(a) International Women’s Day – Saturday, March 7;

(b) Christmas Concert – Sunday, December 13.

The church members will invite unconverted people, fasting and praying for their salvation and getting involved when asked to. The manifestation of hospitality both in our homes and in our church will help our guests feel welcome, and thus they will want to return to a place where they were treated with attention, interest, and friendliness.

2. The year 2020 will be named “2020 – The Kingdom of God”, in hopes that the believers will better understand the Biblical concept of God’s Kingdom. One of the sermons each Sunday morning will talk about the theme “God`s Kingdom”.

3. The salvation of all people was the main reason for which the Savior Jesus Christ came to earth and was the main subject of His sermons. Mission and evangelism were His main methods to save people. As his followers, we feel responsible for the salvation of our generation, and for this reason this year we will continue to produce and sponsor an evangelistic TV program in Romania, broadcasted through the national television channel NASUL TV, through the well-known Christian program called “The Good Shepherd”. According to the statistics, the “The Good Shepherd” program is watched by over 200,000 Romanians weekly. This evangelistic program is produced in the recording studio of our church, and it is made up of the pastor’s sermon, meditations, and Christian songs. This program will be broadcasted in the entire country, on NASUL TV, each Saturday morning between 10:00 and 11:30 AM, Romania time. The cost of filming, editing, and broadcasting is approximately $4,150 a month.

4. We will also broadcast a program through the Christian television Credo on Mondays between 4:00 and 5:00 PM. The program will be replayed on Tuesdays, between 12:00 and 1:00 AM, and Fridays, between 9:00 and 10:00 AM. Consequently, we will have at least 12 hours of monthly broadcasting. These programs will contain studio sermons, church services, and sermons, as well as musical groups, bands, and solo songs. The cost of these programs is $1,300 per month.

5. The Evangelistic and Charity Crusade in Romania with the Orchestra and Youth Choir, June 22 – July 7. The budget needed for this project is $55,000.

6. The church website and “The Good Shepherd” website, through the live or recorded broadcasts and other resources they offer (sermons, articles, pastors page, and church services) are free means of evangelization, discipleship, and worship for all who access them. They are also a method of ministry through the donations certain people can make to the church.

7. Sermons in the English language during Sunday evening services and exhortations to prayer during the Sunday morning services for the generation of our children who are English speakers.

 

II. DISCIPLESHIP

1. Conferences and teaching seminars with church departments or with groups of believers or ministries: families, men, women, preachers, leaders, teachers. In the first half of 2020, we will have one seminar for families, one for men, and another for women.

 

2. Services of insistent prayer for the Baptism with the Holy Spirit; before and during these times, sermons will focus on teaching and motivating the congregation. 

3. Bible lessons in Sunday School from 10:20 am to 12:00 pm for children ages 3 to 14. Children will be on vacation after the 7th of June and will begin their courses again on the 20th of September.

 

4. Romanian language lessons for Sunday School children, every Sunday from 9:30 to 10:20 am.

 

5. Bible lessons, worship and prayer with the children of Bethany Kids, each Sunday evening, between 6:00 and 8:15 PM. The English-speaking preachers of our church will take turns delivering a short sermon in English.

 

6. Awana Bible lessons, worship and games each Thursday, 6:15-8:00 PM.

 

7. Retreat with Sunday School boys & girls between the ages of 11 and 14 – April.

 

8. Youth camp on April 24-26.

 

9. Vacation Bible School for Sunday School children – VBS, July 13-17.

 

10. Summer Camp for Sunday School kids (tentative – August)

 

11. Every second Sunday evening of the month will be „Youth Night”. The musical program will be led by the youth choir and orchestra.

 

12. Two annual meetings with the church leaders and the Pastoral Council, after the Holy Communion service – February 2 and October 4.

 

13. Catechism class for those who wish to be baptized. The first water baptism will take place on Sunday morning, April 19.

 

14. Bible Memorization Contest, Saturday, September 26, from 9:00 AM. The award ceremony will take place on Sunday morning, October 11.

 

15. The Sunday School Teachers Conference will take place on Saturday, October 24.

 

16. The Children’s Convention will be organized by Bethany Church, October 30-31.

 

 

III. WORSHIP

1. One or more periods of fasting and prayer of 3, 7, 21 or 40 days during the year. The first period will consist of 21 continuous days of fasting, January 4-24. On Friday, January 24 we will have a special service, ending the 21 days of fasting with a joyous celebration.

2.  Prayer and singing on every: (a) Sunday, 9:00–9:55 AM; 6:00–7:30 PM; (b) Tuesday, 7:00–9:00 PM; (c) Thursday, 7:00–8:00 PM; (d) Friday, 7:00–7:30 PM.

3. Interceding prayer group every Sunday between 5:00 and 5:45 PM.

 

4.  The Sunday School children will have 30 minutes of prayer and singing in the prayer room, every Sunday between 9:00 and 9:30 AM.

 

5. The Kids Choir will perform periodically and at certain church events.

 

6.  The Thursday service musical program will be led by a rotation of one band/group.

7.  The Christmas Concert on Sunday evening, December 13.

 

8.  Sunday School children’s caroling will take place on Saturday morning, December 19. The youth caroling will take place on Sunday evening, December 24.  

 

 

IV. FELLOWSHIP

Meetings with the entire congregation or in small groups, with the purpose of knowing each other better, refreshing the vision and strengthening the spiritual unity of the church:

 

1. The General Assembly of the church members on Sunday, January 26 AM, from 9:00 AM.

2. In 2020 we will have two fellowship meals:

(a) The church picnic, Saturday, August 15, Bunker Hill Park, Niles. Approximate cost: $10,000.

(b) The Thanksgiving Meal, Sunday, November 22. Approximate cost: $6,000.

 

3. Several services of vigil, prayer, and fellowship. Good Friday prayer service, April 10.

4. Conferences and seminars with various groups of believers: families, brothers, sisters, leaders, teachers.

 

5. Fellowship meal with the elderly on Saturday, June 6.

 

6. On the last Friday of the month, after the service, a meal for the youth (8:30-10:30 PM).

 

7. The Sunday School children will have their graduation program on Sunday, June 7, in their classrooms. At the evening service, they will have a program in the sanctuary and the congregation will praise God for them, asking for a continuous blessing upon their future. 

8. A community Holy Communion at Bethany Church, with all the Pentecostal churches in Chicago, Thursday, April 9.

 

 

V. MINISTRY

1.Completion of the parking lot and the studio at CC.

 

2. This year we will organize two fundraising dinners and the funds will be applied to the “principal”.

 

3. The Mircea and Cornelia Alasu family is responsible for visiting, encouraging, and helping the elderly persons/families.  

 

4. The Dionisie and Tenzi Olărescu family is responsible for visiting, encouraging, and helping the widows/widowers.

 

5. The church will have a special account in the treasury, collected from the Holy Communion offerings, the Tuesday night offerings and from one or two special offerings throughout the year, for the purpose of helping needy brothers/families. The Church Board will conduct detailed research of each case and will help the particular person or family according to the need they have, but also according to the financial means of the church. In addition, the Church Board and the censors shall keep their identities confidential.

 

6. A family in the church sponsors two pastors and a musical conductor in Romania with $950/month.

 

7. Sunday school sponsors Nevaeh Missions, Kenya with $4,520 (the place where Ben and Jessica Radut are missionaries).

a) Three houses for widows at $700 each - total $2,100;

b) 600 birth certificates for children at $3 each - total $1,800;

c) Medical insurance for 5 families (with many or sick children) at $60 each – total $300

d) Sleeping mattresses for 8 poor families at $40 each - total $320

Total annual cost: $4,520.

8. The Ben & Jessica Răduț family, members of Bethany Church, are missionaries in Kenya. They bought a piece of land on which they wish to build a hospital in the near future, with God's help. In 2020 they plan to build a fence around the property, dig a well, build a warehouse and a bathroom. The cost is $25,000.

9. Transportation for elderly church members to and from the Sun./Tues./Thurs. services.

 

10. The Church Board will evaluate the church leaders. The ministry of each church leader is renewed each year or every two years.

 

11. Bethany Land offers care for children ages 1½ to 3, during the two Sunday services with the help of volunteers.

 

12. At Bethany Kids, the teachers organize Bible programs with children ages 4-7 years old during the Sunday evening service. By rotation, one of the English-speaking preachers of the church will hold a sermon in English.