Bethany UMC
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The Gift that Keeps on Giving!

By Randy Fenimore

I have been a member of Bethany’s Foundation Board for the past four years.  When I was first asked to serve on the Board, I said yes before I really knew what I was signing up for!  My first thought was that this must be a building committee as foundation and building, seem to go hand in hand.  Even though our family has been attending Bethany for many years, I had never heard of Bethany UMC Foundation before.  I have sat in Bethany’s Church pews hundreds of times and never noticed those small little manila colored envelopes with bold letters:

Bethany UMC Foundation
The Permanent Endowment Fund Supporting Our Ministries and Outreach

My guess is I’m not the only one who does not know what our Foundation is and what it does!  While the word “Foundation” does have a strong connection to “building”, the type of building the Foundation provides is in the spiritual sense and in supporting those in need.  The cool thing about the Foundation is that the money you contribute remains in the fund; only the income earned from your contributions is distributed according to the terms of the specific fund - hence the phrase - “The gift that keeps on giving”.   

The Foundation currently has five funds:

  • The Unrestricted Fund
    Is used for outreach and mission projects, ministry projects of the larger United Methodist Church and educational scholarships and grants.
  • The Lee and Maxine M. Grote Philanthropy Fund
    Is used for Bethany older adult ministries, medical support or equipment for those with severe physical challenges and support for those in catastrophic situations, particularly older adults.
  • The Missions Scholarship Fund
    Is used for scholarships to support participation in mission projects as approved by the Missions Team of Bethany United Methodist Church.
  • The Jane Sanders Youth Ministry Fund
    Is used to provide scholarships to youth needing financial assistance to participate in Bethany United Methodist Church youth ministry events and programs.
  • The Dan and Alice Stultz Senior Pastor’s Literature Fund
    Is used by the Senior Pastor to purchase literature or media to enhance his/her personal spiritual formation.

In addition, it is possible to create a new designated fund within the Foundation, provided the initial gift is at least five thousand dollars.

During 2010, the Foundation disbursed $9,354 to support Bethany’s adult, youth and children’s missions and outreach efforts and to assist ministerial candidates. 

There are several ways you can contribute to the Bethany Foundation

You can do this as part of our normal church offering, or as a contribution in memory of or honoring a loved one through Gifts and Memorials.  One of the other very significant ways one can contribute to support our endowments is to designate the Foundation as part of your will.

For more information, contact the Finance Office at 512-258-6017

The Bethany UMC Foundation – A great way to provide for the future
these are gifts that will truly keep on giving!

For additional information regarding our Foundation, please contact John Howard or any of the members of the Foundation Board

Randy Berry

Anita Bradberry

Randy Fenimore

David Garvin

John Howard

James Locker

Jim Mitchon

John Rishling

Mike Ward