Bethany Christian Services

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Bethany Christian Services listed by MinistryWatch.com as a 2007-2008 Shining Light ‘Top 30’ Exemplary Ministry.

MinistryWatch.com desires to see overall giving to Biblical Christian values increase and as such we developed this format to highlight those ministries which are exemplary. The list is a sampling of the “best ministries” and outstanding examples when we consider Philippians 4:8 and weigh and take account of those ministries that are excellent and worthy of praise.

These ministries are called ‘Shining Lights’ because they are indeed models of letting their Christian light shine before men so that the Gospel may be proclaimed and God be glorified. Consequently, we are shining a figurative light on them so that donors may be aware of their good works and other ministries may learn from their examples.

While identifying the best ministries is challenging given the selfless work that so many do for the cause of Christ, MinistryWatch.com believes that the list of 30 excellent ministries will be helpful to many. Each of the ministries has the following important features in common:

• They have a legitimate nonprofit ministry and purpose.
• Have shown a willingness to treat donors fairly via a Transparency Grade of “A”.
• Are unashamed of being identified as an evangelical Christian ministry.
• MinistryWatch.com researchers knows of no significant issues that would be of concern to donors.

A high MinistryWatch.com Financial Efficiency Rating was not a requirement for inclusion on this list although most do have good ratings. Many factors were reviewed and strengths in other areas can offset weakness in financial efficiency when determining whether a ministry should be of interest to donors seeking to be good stewards of their giving. Only you can decide for yourself with confidence if a ministry shares your values and with your giving plan.

This is just another step in our mission of encouraging Christians to give more of their talents and resources to Kingdom-building efforts. In short, we wish to help spread the Gospel of Christ by helping Christians give more and more effectively to the works of the Lord. If the Lord uses our list as part of that process, we will have been a blessing to both those ministries who have been ‘good and faithful servants’ with the Lord’s resources and to Christian donors who are seeking to be good stewards of their giving.
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MinistryWatch.com’s Take


Bethany: Now as Then

The ministry of Bethany Christian Service (“Bethany”) began on June 3, 1944 in Grand Rapids, Mich. On that day, two Bible college graduates, Marguerite Bonnema and Mary DeBoer, agreed to take into their care a three-month-old baby whose life and been threatened by her father. These young women meet the baby’s mother and grandmother near a railroad crossing, received the child, and never heard from the family again. Thus, Mary and Marguerite founded a foster care ministry for neglected, abandoned and homeless children. The choice of the name “Bethany” is an interesting one. The names “Mary and Marguerite” bring to mind the “Mary and Martha” who lived in Bethany and there showed hospitality to the Lord Jesus Christ. Bethany Christian Home was designed to be “a place where Christ’s presence could be felt and where His blessing would be sought and enjoyed.” This purpose is being realized today through Bethany’s “quality social services.” The bulk of these services consist of adoption-related activity, including crisis pregnancy counseling, counseling for adoptive families and individuals, recruiting volunteers for foster care and a variety of post-adoption services.

Enriching Lives

Mary and Marguerite’s small apartment was the original Bethany Home. With the help of local businessman Andrew VanderVeer, they were soon able to purchase 13-acre estate to serve as the campus for their new ministry. Sixty years later, this property is still home for Bethany, which has blossomed into an international organization with more than 900 employees working on behalf of children, young people and families around the world. Bethany is widely known as an adoption agency, but their Christian care extends to women struggling with unplanned pregnancies and other at-risk persons. In all, Bethany touches the lives of more than 30,000 people each year.

Over the years, Bethany has placed more than 25,000 children into adoptive families. Approximately 9,000 of these are international children. Families who seek adoption services through Bethany come for a variety of reasons. However, they are all seeking to provide a permanent home for a child (or children) waiting to be adopted. Some wish to adopt a child know to them – a child in their foster home, the child of a relative, or the child of a pregnant acquaintance who wisher to make adoption plans for her baby. Some families want to open their homes to an international child. Some couples have struggled with infertility and have decided to build their families through adoption. In each, Bethany maintains that, “[b]y reaching out to a child who needs a home, adoptive families find their lives immeasurably enriched.” Bethany offers a number of adoptive options. Qualified couples can choose between international or domestic adoption. Adoptive families and birth parents can choose a confidential, open or semi-open adoption plan.

In cases of international adoption, Bethany works within the parameters established by national governments in order to provide adoptive homes in America for needy children. Bethany chooses its international contacts carefully. Its overseas adoption program directors work carefully with local authorities and orphanages in order to ensure the best possible adoptive process. In addition, Bethany offers a variety of in-country social services in eight developing and war-torn countries. For those who want to contribute to this work, but are unable to adopt, Bethany has developed a child sponsorship program through which funds are raised in order to pay for the ongoing care of children waiting for adoption. Each of the 16 countries with which Bethany works has its own eligibility rules for adoptive parents. Certain requirements, however, apply to all programs. These include: One parent must be a US citizen; no more than one divorce per spouse is normally considered acceptable; couples must have been married at least two years; Bethany does not allow the adoption of two unrelated children at the same time. For Bethany’s part, potential adoptive parents must attend a Bethany Christian Services International adoption meeting, complete and receive approval of a formal application (with attendant fees), undergo assessment by a Bethany social worker (with more than 75 offices nationwide, Bethany is able to cover a lot of ground), complete the court process for adoption, and, if necessary, travel to the adoptive child’s home country.

For couples considering domestic adoption, Bethany provides online information, informal consultation and a formal interview process. Usually, the birth parents select the adoptive home for their child. Bethany does not guarantee placement of a child, but they do point out that many families who apply through them adopt not only one, but often two or more children. Bethany provides networking ideas for linking potential adoptive parents with birth parents. They also work cooperatively with many pregnancy care centers so that birth parents are informed that adoptive parents are available. Adoptive parents and birth parents, with Bethany’s help and mediation, decide whether to pursue open (birth parents meet the adoptive family and arrange for ongoing contact with the child), semi-open (birth parents choose adoptive parents via non-identifying written material and all future contact with the child is mediated by the agency) or confidential (the agency chooses the adoptive family and there is no contact between the birth family and the adoptive family) adoptions. Bethany discusses the advantages and disadvantages with all parties before a decision is made.

Saving Lives

Bethany was founded upon Christian principles expressed as concrete acts of love to needy individuals. Mary and Marguerite’s practice of making their home a safe haven for at-risk people continues to be a vital aspect of Bethany’s Christian work and witness. In addition to the adoption and counseling services provided at Bethany’s main campus and through the local offices, Bethany has established a Christian residence home for pregnant women age 18 and over. This latest “Bethany Home” has been providing adoption-minded women with a place to stay since 1986. Although Bethany understands that some women will make the choice to parent their child, the focus of the program is upon helping women during pregnancy and to prepare them for the emotional and practical aspects of giving up their babies for adoption. In every case, there is no cost to live at Bethany House. Residents are provided with a variety of services beyond room and board. Each woman is enabled to apply for pregnancy related health care (if they have none). Those without a diploma attend continuation classes or study to pass the GED. Residents who are in college are encouraged to continue their classes. Bethany residents are also encouraged to volunteer or work part-time in order to improve their employment skills. The general time frame for residency is six weeks postpartum to receive post-adoption counseling.

Bethany is a pro-life organization which does more than talk a good moral game. They give women sound counsel and provide them with tangible services, gently helping thousands each year to see the validity of adoption in cases of an unexpected pregnancy. In addition to the services provided through Bethany House, a confidential counseling line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for pregnant women. Those who would like to meet face-to-face with a counselor are referred to one of Bethany’s 75 local offices. By encouraging these women to consider adoption, and pointing them to the thousands of families who are eager to provide a loving home for a child, Bethany undoubtedly saves the lives of many unborn children each year. At the same time, women are spared the pain and guilt of abortion, and eager couples are given the great joy of becoming parents.

Constancy and Change

Bethany’s vision is to provide loving, Christian homes for children around the world. The organization was founded on Christian principles, and promises to “remain a distinctly Christian ministry represented by dedicated Christian staff, board members, and families.” Bethany’s adoptive services and related social outreaches are a direct outworking of its Christian beliefs. This is especially evident in their statement of faith, a part of which affirms that, “as the creator of life, God Himself begins each human life at conception and gives to each person, as His image bearer, meaning, dignity and value.” Furthermore, Bethany claims that “the Christian Church, as the community of believers, has an obligation to protect, preserve, and enhance life as fully as possible for each person, born and unborn, from the beginning to the end of life.” For Bethany, these fundamental convictions “will not and must not change.”

Bethany does, however, recognize that some things can change and need to change in order for its ministry to grow in scope and effectiveness. One emerging area of emphasis for the future will be to develop closer working relationships with local churches. “Partners in Prayer,” a new program involving church participation is already underway. The purpose of this program is to get children out of foster care and into permanent families. Churches can get involved by means of prayer and by recruiting potential adoptive families. Thus far, 25 churches have become active “Partners.” Another area of increased focus will be finding homes for children with special needs. To this end, Bethany has initiated a new fund-raising campaign entitled “We Are Their Hope.” The funds generated through this campaign will be used to directly assist families who are willing to adopt these special children – children born with fetal alcohol syndrome or drug problems; children with multiple physical or developmental challenges; older children who have spent years in orphanages; and children who have been abused and neglected.